A few months ago, I posted a blog about my Soul Place. Salem, MA. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to go back there this year (Stupid Covid). But in August, my friend and I went down to Salem for a long weekend.
Salem, MA for those of you who don’t know, is a tourist town. Tourism is one of their main sources of economy. Late Spring through October 31st is their peak season. If you’ve ever been there during peak season you know that it’s busy. Especially on the weekends.
So from August 14 – August 17th, I went back to my favorite place in the United States.
First off. If you go to Salem and you’re a Harry Potter fan, you NEED to stay at this Air BnB if it’s available. The owner, Hope, is absolutely fantastic. The entire house is decorated to look like different aspects of Harry Potter. Each morning we had a different breakfast (my favorite was the apple poppers? I think that’s what they are. They have a weird name to them).
One of my all time FAVORITE things to do in Salem is Witch Pix. It’s a photography studio, and they recently did a massive overhaul on their sets. They used to just have three backdrops, but now they have one backdrop (Magick Avenue), and two physical sets (Witches Cottage & Olde Salem Village). The sets are absolutely gorgeous.
You can either wear one of their costumes (they fit all sizes), or you can wear your own costume (which is very popular in October).
Up until you go to do your shoot, you wear your mask. You put all your belongings in a tote. At the time of your shoot, your masks come off and are put into a little basket.
We did the Olde Salem Village shoot. Billie, our photographer, was amazing. The photographers direct you through various poses and shots, with a group or individual shots, they have so many different poses and props. You can even ask to do certain poses.
After your shoot, you are directed over to one of the computer screens and the photographer goes through all your photos with you. Witch Pix has several different color schemes for photos as well. Color, Black and White, Sepia or Autumn (Autumn is my favorite).
Depending on the package you purchase you get your photos on a digital album, or you can purchase prints that the print for you right in store.
I can’t wait to do Witch Pix again. I’m very particular about having my photo taken, but Witch Pix is one of my favorite places to do so.
This next time I’ll be doing both Witches Cottage, and Olde Salem Village. Both, while dressed as Sarah Sanderson, and one individually; one with a friend.
Food! Everyone has to eat right? When I’m in Salem I try my very hardest to only eat at local restaurants, not chain restaurants. I’m all for supporting the local small businesses.
Red’s is my favorite breakfast place in Salem. It’s a small building – they have outside seating too now – and has a very cool history to it.
Definitely get there early. And, if you order the pancakes, just get one. They’re massive. Like bigger than the plate massive. The staff is so friendly, and helpful.
Fish and Chips. New England is known for it’s Fish & Chips. My absolute FAVORITE place for Fish and Chips in Salem (and Massachusetts, so far) is Turner’s Seafood. They have locations in Gloucester, Melrose and Salem. I’ve only been to the Salem one, but their fish is right off the boat (they have their own boat).
If you order the Fish and Chips, I definitely recommend the Bistro size, unless you’re sharing, want leftovers or think you can eat 6 pieces of Cod, plus French fries. (Hint: It does reheat well. I’ve brought it home, thrown it in the oven for like ten minutes – I’ll get the exact directions next week – and it’s been perfect.)
With Covid, they were only doing outdoor seating while we were there, which is great. I do recommend making a reservation on their website. Especially during October. They fill up fast.
They also had us order via our phones, using a QR-Code to place our orders and pay, eliminating the need for a paper check and less interaction with other people. The staff is always friendly, and helpful and so very grateful for the business.
Tours. There are so many different walking tours in Salem. Some focusing on the witch trials, some on generic Salem history, food tours, movie location tours. So many tours.
With Covid, tours are limited to a certain amount of people, and even though outside, you still have to wear a mask.
Usually, my go-to tour is the Salem Night Tour through Remember Salem, but this past time, my friend and I did Black Cat Tours.
Jeff, our tour guide, has been a tour guide for many years in Salem. He actually used to be a tour guide for the Salem Night Tour. Which is where I actually first had him as a tour guide. And we both discussed things that happened on past tours (including a proposal in front of the Hanging Judge’s grave a few years back).
He is absolutely fantastic. So engaging, and makes the sometimes dark history of Salem so interesting. I definitely recommend Black Cat Tours.
Downtown in itself is a very interesting place. I typically just walk around, my headphones on, camera around my neck, and I get “lost”. I don’t actually get lost, I know my way around – almost like a local at this point – but I wander with no actual destination in mind.
You can either follow the Red Line (that’s what it’s called) on the ground, or you can follow a map, or just wander.
If you’re a Hocus Pocus fan, there are so many places for you to see in Salem, and even one in Marblehead. I’ll link those below.
For all the years that I’ve been to Salem, and two times that I’ve been to Pioneer Village, I never actually got a photo in front of Thackery Binx’s house. It was blocked off at one point due to damage.
You can’t go in, but you can pose for photos in front of it. I would definitely recommend driving to Pioneer Village. You can park your car and have a picnic in the park, or go down to the water, or you can even walk to Max’s house.
Outside of downtown Salem, my favorite place to visit is Gallow’s Hill (or Proctor’s Ledge). The history behind the location, and the solemn feeling that you get when you’re there is humbling.
You can park at Gallows Hill Park (that’s not where they were hung), and walk to the location. You can walk up into the Gallows area, or you can walk around to the memorial. Sometimes you’ll even encounter a random neighbor who will talk to you about the history of Proctor’s Ledge.
Want to visit outside Salem? Gloucester is one of my favorite places go to on the North Shore that isn’t Salem. The ocean views, the seaport town. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
Two top places in Gloucester that I love to visit are Stage Fort Park, and Hammond Castle. Stage Fort park has ocean views, trails, and even a concession stand (sometimes its open).
Hammond Castle is a real life castle that was built in the late 1920’s by John Hays Hammond Jr. It’s absolutely gorgeous, both inside and out. With a tour admission, you are able to tour the entire castle (I’ll post about that with the next Salem update), and you can also wander the grounds before or after your tour.
Weddings are a large occurrence at the castle. If you visit, you’ll see why.
Lizzie Borden gave her mother forty whacks; when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.
I’ve never been to Fall River before. It’s been on my list to visit, and this past time in August I was able to cross it off my list.
Fall River isn’t as small town as I thought – more industrial than anything. But the Lizzie Borden house is definitely a must see when you’re there. You’re brought on a tour of the entire house, and told about Lizzie’s life, and everything. You can also stay at the house, as it’s a Bed and Breakfast, but it books up fast so I would definitely recommend booking way in advance.
Danvers, the last stop on our tour. Definitely a must visit if you are interested in the Salem Witch Trials. Danvers used to be known as Salem Village (Salem used to be Salem Town, and Peabody used to be Salem Farms).
If you park in front of Highlands School on Hobart Street in Danvers, you can walk down to 176 Hobart Street, where the Danvers Witch Memorial is located.
From there, walk back towards the school, but go past it and across from the Church (where Ann Putnam made her apology to everyone after the witch trials), is Ingersoll’s Ordinary. It’s now a private residence, but it’s an awesome photo opportunity. Ingersoll’s is where the hearings were first held until they got so popular that they had to move them to the Meeting house.
From Ingersoll’s, head right onto Centre Street and walk until you get to 67 Centre Street. You should see a blue sign (see photo). Walk down that path – I swear you’re not going on one of the two houses’ private property.
You’ll approach the Samuel Parris Parsonage Foundation. I don’t recommend going down the stone stairs – they’re very fragile, and not very sturdy.
From there, head back to your car, and if they’re open, head over to the Rebecca Nurse Homestead (149 Pine St, Danvers, MA). Rebecca Nurse was one of the many people accused and put to death for “being a witch”. She was also one of the older people that was accused.
The land is spacious, the house is beautiful, and you can even walk in a replica of the Meeting House that was built for the 1985 movie Three Sovereigns for Sarah.
If you walk down the long path at the back of the property you’ll be able to visit Rebecca’s grave, and several other graves that are back on the Nurse property. They aren’t always open – make sure you check their website for open times, etc. Especially now.
This tour is over, but tune back in after Halloween for the third part of this series. Halloween in a Salem during Covid.
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