Family Travel Guide: Salem, MA Day Trip Ideas from Boston
When planning a week-long vacation to Boston, MA, for myself, my wife, and my then 7-year-old son, I realized that we not only could check Boston off our travel list but also another top spot as well in Salem, MA. Being only a 45-minute drive from our hotel in Boston, we decided to spend a day in Salem, MA, and I’m so glad we did. Being fans of the Hocus Pocus movie and the historical aspect of Salem, I made sure to plan our day to be jam-packed with all things Salem had to offer. While you may think there isn’t much for the younger crowd to do here, it was completely the opposite. My son had a blast in Salem exploring other aspects of the historical town. Use this guide to help plan your day or weekend trip to Salem, MA, and find that there is more history to this town than just some hocus pocus.
TIPSTER TIP: The itinerary below was completed during a June (summer) trip to Salem. If visiting in the busier fall season, you may experience larger crowds, so plan accordingly.
WHERE TO STAY
While we did not stay overnight in Salem, I wanted to offer some suggestions for those of you who may wish to break up this guide into a weekend trip or possibly a few days.
Salem Accommodations
Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites (225 Derby St, Salem) is located near the Pickering Wharf section of Salem and offers an indoor pool with ample space rooms with river views.
The Salem Inn (locations on Summer Street & Essex Street, Salem) is a unique offering as it combines many historic homes into one combined inn. Many of the rooms offer fireplaces and unique touches, along with complimentary breakfast and on-site parking.
The Hawthorne Hotel (18 Washington Square West, Salem) is a grand historic hotel in the heart of downtown Salem. We ate here during our stay (see below) and really enjoyed the historic New England look of the building and its location being central to all things to do in Salem. Rooms and suites are available with accommodations up to 5 people.
Nearby Accommodations
The Royal Sonesta Boston (40 Edwin H. Land Boulevard, Cambridge) is located along the Charles River and offers a more modern stay with great views. It offers an indoor pool and an on-site cafe and bakery. Located approx. 45 minutes from Salem, this location provides easy access to Cambridge and Boston attractions.
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Boston – Cambridge (400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston) offers all-suite accommodations that provide much-needed extra space for a trip to the city with family. Located approx. 45 minutes from Salem, this hotel offers three on-site restaurants as well as a grab-and-go area for quick meals. There is also a heated pool, fitness center, and jacuzzi, making this a well-rounded stay.
ITINERARY
Getting to Salem
South Harbor Garage (245 Derby St.) in Salem made it extremely easy to park in central Salem. The parking garage is right in town and allowed us to be within a 5-minute walking distance to all the attractions we had planned to see.
Newburyport/Rockport Line Train also offers services direct from Boston to Salem via the North Station in Boston, traveling about 30 minutes to Salem.
The Salem Visitor Information Center (245 Derby St.) is located adjacent to the South Harbor Garage and provides a great way to start our day in town. They offered a free map and suggested different routes to walk to all of the attractions we were interested in. The center features a souvenir store with different items to remember your stay in Salem.
Salem Witch Museum (19 1/2 N Washington Square) was our first stop and provides two different experiences to learn about the history of the Salem Witch trials. The first portion includes a narration, animatronics, and life-size stage sets of the witch trials that took place in the city. Note that they do not show anything gruesome during the show, but the narration does go into detail about what took place, so plan accordingly based on the age range of your family. The second portion is a walk-through museum that includes additional exhibits of the history of witches in Salem and around the world, showing how the events in Salem have inspired how we view the image of a “witch” today. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance to reserve your spot during busy seasons.
Lunch: The Tavern at Hawthorne Hotel (18 Washington Square West), also mentioned above as an option if you plan to stay overnight - the Hawthorne Hotel transports you back in time almost 100 years to the restored dining room at the hotel. They offer a robust children’s menu and ample options for adults as well. The setting is perfect to relax after your museum tour, and we enjoyed both the food and ambience of this historic tavern.
Shopping along Essex Street - after a relaxing lunch, we ventured across the street along Essex Street to explore the unique shops and cafes along the primary shopping center of Salem. Stores included unique Salem souvenirs, several cafes, and the Witch City Mall - where my son enjoyed browsing the Comic Book store.
The Peabody Essex Museum (161 Essex Street) is one of the oldest continuously operating museums in the country and offers a mix of art, history, and culture that the whole family can enjoy. Inside, you’ll find everything from maritime artifacts and Asian art to rotating exhibitions that often include interactive elements perfect for kids. While it was closed during my family’s visit, others say to plan to spend at least a couple of hours here, so plan accordingly if you’re looking to add this to a one-day plan.
Professor Spindlewink's World of Wizardry (194 3/4 Essex St) is across the way from the museum and offers a unique blend of magical items as well as experiences. Within the store, you can enter the Professor’s magical world and explore many interactive rooms themed to fantasy and magical realms. Think of this as an escape room for kids - minus the escape. There are interactive elements in each room to keep the whole family busy, and it was a fun, Harry Potter-style themed experience in Salem.
Snack and Coffee Break - following our wizardly experience, we ventured down the cross street of Derby Square and grabbed some coffee and ice cream along Front Street. I highly recommend stopping at Front Street Coffeehouse (20 Front Street) to grab an afternoon pick-me-up coffee and then Whimsy’s Sweet Life (26 Front Street) for ice cream and other sweet treats.
Real Pirates of Salem (Charlotte Forten Park, 285 Derby St #5) is a unique attraction available in Salem that provides a glimpse into the nautical history of Salem. The attraction offers a large number of real artifacts salvaged from the shipwreck of the Wydah, a pirate ship captured by Sam Bellamy that sank along Cape Cod. One of the most interesting exhibits is a chest filled with real pirate treasure, along with interactive areas, a short documentary, and many other items recovered from ships that had sunk close to the Salem shores.
Dinner: Bit Bar (278 Derby St) for dinner was a spur-of-the-moment decision for us, as it was right across the street from Real Pirates of Salem. This restaurant/old school arcade combo was a nice way to end our day in Salem. They had some great food options, and their ample collection of vintage arcade games was a fun way to end our day. My son enjoyed playing “old school Mario” while my wife enjoyed Skee-Ball. Think of this as an old-school arcade-style Dave and Busters right in the heart of Salem.
As you can see, there is a lot more to Salem than just magic and witches. Salem offers a rich history with vibrant shopping and cultural activities the whole family can enjoy.