Salem in October: What to do in the East Coast's Witchy City
This year for my birthday, I went to Salem, Massachusetts. Seth and I have birthdays that are two weeks apart and we weren’t particularly interested in getting each other gifts that we may or may not use. We’re both trying to declutter and we love traveling, and thus the trip to Salem was born. We arrived in Salem on October 7th (my birthday) and left on October 10th. October happens to be Salem’s busiest month for tourism considering the history of the witch trials and the Hocus Pocus filming locations. There are a lot of different museums and historic sites to see as well as various tours that people on Essex Street will try to sell to you. It may be a lot to take in if you’re a beginner to Salem or a beginner to traveling in general.
Luckily for you, I have compiled a guide of what I (and Seth) believe to be the best things to do in Salem. It includes our favorite tourist activities, shops, places to eat, and tips to make the most of your stay.
So, without further ado…
1. THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES
The House of the Seven Gables was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 2007, but it’s history dates back to almost 400 years before that. All the way back in 1668, a merchant and ship-owner known as John Turner built the house on the Salem Harbor which later became the home of world-renowned American author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Many people recognize the name of the house from Hawthorne’s novel of the same name, but surprisingly, the house did not look the same way as it was described in the book when Hawthorne lived there. It wasn’t until 1910 when philanthropist Caroline Emmerton restored the house to replicate the description Nathaniel Hawthorne listed in the novel that it came to look the way it does today. Part of her mission was to use the ticket proceeds to fund settlement work that benefited immigrant families, which is a mission that The House of the Seven Gables still fulfills today. How cool!
Seth and I were lucky enough to be guests at The House of the Seven Gables on our third day of our stay. However, this does not mean that what I have to say is not true. Even though our admission into the site was compensated, I was by no means paid to say nice things about it. All of my compliments of the site come straight from my heart.
The House of the Seven Gables is number one on this guide for a reason: it was the single best tourist location that Seth and I visited our entire trip. The minute we walked through the doors to the ticket counter, we were greeted by friendly and accommodating staff. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and super accommodating to my needs as a media contact. Also, the house was just really freaking cool. The detail in this house is impeccable. My favorite room had to be the last one we looked in, where there was a piano, green trim, and the most beautiful hand painted wallpaper. I would show you what it looked like, but I think that would take away from the wonder when you see it yourself in person! AKA, don’t take my word for how great this place is: go experience it for yourself!
For more information, click HERE
2. BIT BAR
Image from Google
Bit Bar, located on St. Peters St. in Salem is an establishment that beautifully blends the old with the new. To put it plainly, the bar has a fresh look on a retro atmosphere. Upon walking in, Seth and I noticed arcade games lining the entire back wall and wrapping around to other parts of the front room. That’s right, the front room. We later were told there’s a back room, and when we checked it out, we discovered pinball machines! So. Freaking. Cool. We went there every night of our stay, and every single night, the food was delicious and the staff was polite and attentive. Tuesday was Bingo Night and Wednesday was Karaoke Night, both of which we enjoyed so much! We even made a new friend, Nick, who was the host for both nights. If you ever go here, tell him I said “hi!”.
For more information, click HERE
3. YE OLDE PEPPER COMPANIE
Image from Google
Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie is America’s very first and oldest standing candy shop in America. It all began with Mary Spencer, a woman who came over to Massachusetts from England with nothing to her name due to the shipwreck she experienced on the way over. What she did have, though, was a skill for making candy, a luxury that the people of Massachusetts were greatly in need of. The citizens of Salem all pitched in to give her a huge barrel of sugar, and the rest is history! She peddled her candies from the steps of the First Church in Salem, MA, and once she had enough success, she sold her company to a father and son. John Pepper, the successor, is responsible of the creation of Black Jacks, a molasses stick candy, whereas Mary Spencer was the creator of the Gibraltor, a light, sweet, and somewhat flaky candy. At the turn of the 20th century, George Burkinshaw bought the store and the recipes to the two aforementioned candies, keeping the name Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie as homage to its predecessor. To this day, it still produces Gibraltors and Black Jacks, using the same recipe and the same equipment. The only equipment that is not still in use are the original chocolate molds, and that’s because they were made with lead. You know, they don’t want to poison people. The staff was so helpful and knowledgeable. we really felt taken care of there. This sweet place is certainly not to be skipped on your visit to Salem!
For more information, click HERE
4. THE WITCH DUNGEON MUSEUM
The Witch Dungeon Museum was our second favorite historic site that we saw (the first being The Gables, obviously). The exhibit included a performance of what a witch trial would look like as well as a walk through of a recreation of the dungeon. It’s so insane what horrible conditions these accused witches lived in once they were imprisoned, having been guilty of nothing. Each witch was responsible for paying for their own cell, food, and bathroom needs, and if they died while in jail, the debt went to the next of kin. They were treated like animals and then forced to pay for that treatment. What insanity! Just like everything else I’ve listed so far, the staff was friendly and informative. My only complaint is it was a little unclear to Seth and I how often the performances ran, and you need to wait for the performance to run before you can see the rest of the exhibit. Still, it’s worth the visit!
For more information, click HERE
5. THE UGLY MUG DINER
Image from TripAdvisor
The Ugly Mug Diner is where Seth and I went for our first breakfast in Salem. We could immediately feel the warmth and love when we walked in. It had the vibe of a small town favorite diner: lots of character, cute decorations, and some wild combinations of food that work really well together. For how busy the place was, we were seated fairly quickly.
What I think is super cute about this place is that all of their “ugly mugs” were donated to them from various sources! Seth got the tequila mug and I was a little jealous… I got an egg and cheese sandwich on a homemade croissant, which I’m fairly certain was the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had in my life. Just saying. If you want to feel at home in this new environment (Salem), you’ll definitely want to stop here for breakfast.
For more information, click HERE
6. THE PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM
Image from Wikipedia
The Peabody Essex Museum, located on Essex St., is one of America’s oldest standing museums (it has obviously had some upgrades). “It’s roots date back to the 1799 founding of the East India Marine Society, an organization of Salem Captains and Supercargoes who had sailed beyond either the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn. The society’s charter included a provision for the establishment of a ‘cabinet of natural and artificial curiosities,’ which is what we today would call a museum.”
Seth and I went in the afternoon, but we wish we had gone in the morning because of the awesome deal that the museum offers. When you pay admission, you can come and go as much as you please for the whole time the museum is open that day. It’s quite vast, so you’ll probably want to take advantage of this deal and maybe even give yourself a whole business day if you’re a museum enthusiast. In our limited time, we looked around the Korean Art, Japanese Art, the Fashion Exhibit, and American Art & Furniture, all of which were beautiful exhibits. There were even some interactive exhibits that Seth and I could partake in, which we loved because we’re both artsy people. We really wish we could have stayed longer, but are happy we were able to spend any time at the Peabody Essex at all.
For more information, click HERE.
7. MERCY TAVERN
Seth and I enjoyed lunch at Mercy Tavern after our visit at The House of the Seven Gables. It was the perfect time to go due to its proximity to The Gables. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and we had the nicest server. I got the nachos and one of their specialty mules. Side note, I ate a lot of nachos while we were in Salem. Everywhere we went had them and every single place made them so well! Anyways, Seth had the mac and cheese, which he highly recommends because the topping was made of ritz crackers! We were so hungry after our tour, and Mercy Tavern definitely delivered! We felt so content after we finished our meal, we went back to our Airbnb to relax, feeling happy that we had just ate so well and that we had nothing else we had to rush to that day.
For more information, click HERE.
8. THE DERBY WHARF LIGHTHOUSE
The Derby Wharf Lighthouse is a cute little landmark that is great if you need some fresh air. It’s right on Derby Street (walking distance from The Gables, Ye Olde Pepper, Mercy), but it’s away from the hustle and bustle of the village. In my opinion, many people who come to Salem in October are mainly there for the witch trials, so it was really nice coming here and feeling like we were experiencing something that no one else was. It was my impression that locals are the ones to typically come here, which is pretty cool. The area is so tranquil, it was definitely a much needed break from everything else. It was also nice being two of a few people there because we were able to get some really cool pictures. On that note, I’d like to thank Seth for being my personal photographer this whole trip. You’re the best!
Moving on, Seth and I went into the gift store right next to the Lighthouse and we found brick tea (like they had during the Boston Tea Party)! Seth bought some, which I was really happy about because I wanted to try it, but knew that I would never have a need for that much tea. Now I can just bum off him when I feel like it. We’ve since drank it and it’s delicious! It’s a light flavor, easy to drink. It’s also great for the arm muscles seeing you basically have to take a pick axe to the brick anytime you want tea. Okay, so I might be exaggerating, but barely.
For more information, click HERE.
9. WYNOTT WANDS
Image from Google
Wynott Wands on Essex St. is every Harry Potter fan’s dream come true (especially if you’ve never been able to see Harry Potter World at Universal). When you walk through the door, you are instantly transported into an Ollivander’s inspired shop with varying crafts of wands for every kind of fan. Heck, even if you aren’t a Harry Potter fan (which, if you aren’t, I don’t understand, but to each his own) you’ll enjoy this shop because it’s so fun. The lady working the counter was able to help me narrow down which type of wand I wanted. I ended up getting Rosewood with a unicorn twist shape. I’m in love with it and display it with pride in my bedroom. The shop is small, so unless you’re going to examine each and every wand, you probably won’t need to spend a lot of time there. However, the nice lady who helped me told me that the weekends are packed during October and that during those hours, pictures are not allowed inside the shop.
For more information, click HERE.
10. BOSTON BURGER COMPANY
Boston Burger Company was our first official meal in Salem and it was amazing! I’m not a burger person, but we went because it was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and we heard great things, so we went. I had the chicken and Seth had the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot burger. He gives it all the thumbs up. I also had to get the churro frappe, which was to die for. The churros are probably the best I’ve ever had, and mind you, I’ve been to Spain. Looking at the place on its website, I expected it to be huge. However, it’s not. It’s actually a pretty small establishment. Don’t let that deter you: we always felt like we had plenty of space, and the big flavor of the food makes up for the small size of the restaurant. I also need to reiterate: that churro frappe was probably the best frappe/milkshake/ice cream style dessert I’ve ever had. If you go, you have to get it!
For more information, click HERE.
11. THE SALEM WITCH HOUSE
The Salem Witch House is a great attraction for those who want to see what people lived like back in that time period. Upon walking in, you are transported through history, so much so that you can feel the difference in atmosphere compared to the rest of the village outside. You can certainly tell that these people lived hard lives. In the house you will find bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, just like you would in today’s homes, but obviously, the people of the 1700/1800s did not have the luxuries that we do today. This attraction was a humbling experience that is much calmer and more off the beaten path than other attractions in the area. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for a change of pace.
For more information, click HERE.
12. GULU GULU CAFE
Gulu Gulu Cafe is a little hipster-esque cafe with delicious food, a friendly atmosphere, and a nice view of Washington St. The walls are covered in some really cool art, and in one corner of the restaurant, there’s a stack of games that you can play if you want. I got the mac and cheese and Seth got the Ticino, which has pesto in it. I make a point of this because sometimes pesto is made with walnuts. Seth is allergic to walnuts. So yeah, he had a minor reaction, nothing life threatening. I’m not trying to embarrass him or anything, I’m just writing about this so that if anyone reading this has a walnut allergy and enjoys pesto, you know that this pesto is not for you! Seth was really sad though because he said the sandwich was absolutely delicious. My food was delicious too! Heck, everything we had in Salem was delicious. We were so well fed here!
For more information, click HERE.
13. HAUSWITCH HOME & HEALING
Images from Google
Hauswitch Home & Healing, located on Washington St. across from Boston Burger Company, is, in my opinion, the best witch shop you’ll go into in Salem. It’s not a witch shop like the others because it’s centered around providing home and healing products (hence its name). Walking in and feeling the inviting and fragrant atmosphere makes you want to buy everything the shop sells. I ended up getting some droplets that you can put under your tongue or in a cup of tea to help you get clear on your intentions. I also got “abundance spray” which you spray around you and good things come your way. I love it! The workers there were so kind and I really wish I could’ve just sat in there all day and got a bunch of work done.
For more information, click HERE.
14. DERBY JOE
Image from Google
Derby Joe was a short but memorable stop during our trip. Seth and I originally walked into the Witches Brew Cafe looking to get a cup of tea to go, but then we realized that it was not that kind of cafe. The nice woman working directed us to Derby Joe, which was right down the street. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the woman working at the counter was super nice. Her friends came in and put something funny on the tv, then we left shortly after. Seth and I just loved how chill it was there. Those people definitely feel like they would be our friends if we lived in Salem (or them near us!). Also, our tea was good. It was a little windy and chilly our entire time in Salem, so we definitely took advantage of hot drinks and cozy establishments, this being one of them!
For more information, click HERE.
15. SALEM COMMON PARK
Looking for a Hocus Pocus filming location? Look no further! Salem Common is right across the street from the Salem Witch Museum and it is open to the public! This was actually the first place Seth and I visited when we arrived in Salem. We took some pictures here and then checked into our Airbnb. I loved recreating the scene where Max gets his phone number returned to him. Remember? Ah, what a good movie. The park is not huge, you could walk its entirety easily in probably 20 minutes or less, so don’t go here expecting to find a hiking trail or anything like that.
For more information, click HERE.
16. FRONT STREET COFFEEHOUSE
Image from Google
Front Street Coffeehouse is a great place for breakfast if you’re in a hurry. Seth and I got bagels with cream cheese and smoothies, we ate, then we were out the door. This was great because we happened to oversleep a bit the day we went, so we were back on track in no time. The food was good, the atmosphere was warm, and the service was very efficient. Also, I added spirulina to my smoothie, which I was thrilled about because not enough places offer spirulina! The minute I saw it on the menu, I knew I was going to like this place.
For more information, click HERE.
17. BEWITCHED STATUE
There isn’t too much to say about the Bewitched Statue. It’s a cool photo op and it’s right in front of Gulu Gulu Cafe. If you look in the background of this photo, you can see it!
For more information, click HERE.
18. BREW BOX
Last but certainly not least is Brew Box. Right before Seth and I went to Wynott Wands, we stopped at Brew Box so I could get a cappuccino. It was pretty slow at the time we went, but it was a nice atmosphere and you can tell that they’re usually busy. My capp was delicious and this wall paper was to die for, so of course I had to get a picture!
For more information, click HERE.
So those were our favorite places. Now that you know where to go, I have one final tip for you:
DESTINATION ORGANIZATION!
One of my favorite things to do when I’m traveling is physically write out each place I want to go into a category of where it’s located. Getting clear on location categories before your trip saves you time during your trip so that you’re not draining your phone battery by navigating everywhere and so you’re not wasting your time traveling back and forth too much. Sometimes there will be a few places that don’t fit into the larger categories, which is okay, but there were definitely three defining categories in Salem: Essex St., Derby St., and Washington St. All the places that don’t fit into these three categories, don’t fret! Everything is walking distance; Salem is not a very large village. And on that note, before I dive into the categories, my suggestion to you is to park in one of the many parking garages and then walk everywhere. Trust me, this will save you much frustration as traffic and parking in Salem kind of sucks. Seth and I parked in the parking garage above the Witch City Mall every day. Anywho, back on topic. What was nice about having these categories was that Seth and I were able to explore other establishments on these streets and know that we were never getting too far off schedule. Man, if I had listed every single place we visited, this list would go on forever! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: planning and scheduling actually gives you MORE freedom than when you don’t plan and schedule! Destination Organization is where it’s at my friends! Here ya go!
ESSEX ST.
127: Wynott Wands
131: Brew Box
161: Peabody Essex Museum
247: Gulu Gulu Cafe (corner of Essex & Washington)
Outside Gulu Gulu: Bewtiched Statue
WASHINGTON ST.
122: Ugly Mug Diner
133: Boston Burger Company
144: HausWitch Home & Healing
N. Washington Sq: Salem Common Park
DERBY ST.
115: The House of the Seven Gables
122: Ye Olde Pepper Companie
142: Derby Joe
148: Mercy Tavern
Derby Wharf Light Station
OTHER
50 St. Peter St. : Bit Bar
16 Lynde St. : Witch Dungeon Museum
20 Front St. : Front Street Coffeehouse
And that’s everything, folks!
The above list consisted of all our favorite things that we did in Salem. There are a few things that I left off the list, not because we hated them, but because they just weren’t our favorite, and the places above covered the same material. Furthermore, we went into so many shops that we loved, but the list would be too long if I listed every stop, so I listed the best ones.
As always, you can reach out to me if you have any questions at chelseabolles@gmail.com or through Instagram @shadesofchels . I hope this little guide was helpful to you, and if you find yourself in Salem, post to Instagram, tag me, and use the hashtag #shadesofchels . Finally, if you liked this blog post, be sure to share it with your friends and family by highlighting the URL or by clicking the share button below. Thanks!
So much love,
Chels <3