Spooky Salem
Your Halloween Guide to America’s Most Sinister City…
You have to admire the brazenness of a city that became infamous for executing suspected witches yet now has an ominous, flying witch as its mascot.
From the taxi cabs, branded ‘Witch City Taxis’, painted a cauldron-slime green to the spooky-sounding restaurants like ‘Witches Brew’ and the local elementary school ‘Witchcraft Heights’; in Salem, Massachusetts, every day is Halloween…
Known for its Puritanical, witch-hunting past, this quirky New England town is now a fun, freaky-kitsch holiday destination and attracting over 500,000 ghoulish visitors a year!
During October, the city’s whimsical side is on full display with an array of attractions likely to fascinate visitors of all ages, muggles and wizards alike.
With all these Haunted Happenings kicking off, why not make Salem your Autumn holiday getaway? Here is tripsology’s guide to navigating America’s most sinister city…
Salem Witch Museum
Do you believe in witchcraft? At Salem Witch Museum, you can explore all things ‘witchy’. Offering an insight into the perception of witches over time, Salem’s most visited museum presents the witch hysteria of 1692 in an educational, immersive and slightly spooky way.
There is also a quirky and eclectic gift shop selling everything from unusual trinkets to unique Halloween costumes.
The cultural immersion and spooky souvenirs give you ‘double the toil and trouble’, making the Salem Witch Museum an attraction worth checking out!
To book your bewitching tickets, click here.
The House of Seven Gables
This iconic mansion, made famous by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a must-see Salem site.
The house, built in 1668 for Capt. John Turner, is now a non-profit museum and a popular destination in many of Salem’s spooky ghost tours. As the inspiration for Hawthorne’s ‘The House of Seven Gables’ the house’s inauspicious appearance fits right in with Salem’s spooky vibe. In October, theatrical performances add to this sinister surrounding.
Are you brave enough to explore inside?
Salem Ghost Tours
With Salem’s dark history, it is no surprise that ghost tours are offered in surplus.
The Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour is Salem’s longest-running ghostly tour where visitors can delve into the Witch City’s past for ninety minutes at a time. Narrated by a costumed colonial, the knowledgeable ghostly guides combine storytelling and humour to convey Salem’s authentically dark, haunted history.
This leisurely tour explores tales of paranormal activity, spooky cemeteries and Colonial witchcraft all under the moonlight of this sinister city. Not one to miss! To book, click here.
For those history buffs, ‘Bewitched After Dark Salem Walking Tours’ is a must-do Salem attraction. Led by local historians, visitors will discover the reality of Salem’s sinister past, demonstrating that ‘history is more frightening than fiction’.
Gallows Hill
Gallows Hill is Salem’s top-rated attraction. Using holograms, ghostly projections and 4D effects, Gallow’s Hill bring to life the Puritan’s worst nightmare: witches and ghosts!
The main show uses fact-based history, legend and myth to teach the audience all about the terror and history of the 1692 Salem Witch trials in an immersive way.
As a staple on Salem’s Haunted Happenings calendar, this multi-faceted attraction is not one to be missed. To book tickets, click here.
Cry Innocent
In this theatrical performance, you travel back in time to 1692 to serve on a Puritan jury. Cry Innocent recreates the historical trial of Bridget Bishop, a Salem local accused of witchcraft.
Line up outside the town hall (yes, the one from Hocus Pocus!) and get involved in this critically-acclaimed, interactive theatrical performance; you won’t ever think of the infamous Salem witch trials in the same way!
Halloween Cruises
A cruise around the waters of Salem is a different way to take in the history of the city and a great way to fit in some prime leaf-peeping!
The Haunted Happenings Harbour Cruise features a 90-minute entertainment cruise, allowing you to celebrate the upcoming spooky season in style! These Halloween themed excursions offered by Mahi Cruises are ideal for those who want to explore Salem’s sinister past without getting caught up in throngs of tourists.
Which attractions would you check out? Would you travel to Salem for Halloween?