OT-Salem, MA

[ChristyJ]

We "won" tickets to the Salem Witch Museum through a local charity auction, so I'm thinking about 1-2 nights there on our way up to Southern Maine (we'll be coming from the Saratoga, NY area). We've never been before. It will be me, DH, DD 9, & DD12. Any recommendations for where to stay and what else to do/see would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[kat3668]

Hello....
Well the Hawthorne hotel is a really nice hotel to stay in Salem. A little on the ritzy side but it is right accross the street from the witch museum. Some other things to check out is the pirate museum... really fun but a little scary for kids under 5. You can head on down to the Salem Willows and have lunch, explore the beach, take a cruise and play games. The train in right there in Salem so you can hop on and head to Boston for the Childrens Museum, aquarium or museum of Science. If you are looking for a lower priced hotel I'd check out The Sheraton in Danvers... just a 15/20 minute ride to Salem.... They have an awesome indooor water park for the kids!
They always have ghost tours in Salem too... a lot of fun especially after dark!!! I always take one day during the summer and play tourist in Salem and have such a blast! Even though I live here!!!
Good Luck!

 

[donald...really]

The House of Seven Gables is great fun (with the secret stairway that you get to climb... kids love it):

http://www.7gables.org/


The Peabody Essex Museum is also great:

http://pem.org/homepage/index.php


If you stay at the Hawthorne Hotel http://www.hawthornehotel.com/, or somewhere else in downtown Salem, everything will be a short walk.

There are also a number of nice bed and breakfasts in the downtown area:

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=...&oi=local_group&resnum=1&ct=more-results&cd=1

 

[SamandJakes Mom]

There is also a Marriott in Peabody which is the next town over.

 

[Disneyaunt4]

The Salem Waterfront Hotel is very close to everything. It is in the Pickering Wharf area,there are some really nice shops. Also a fan of the Salem Willows,good food and arcades that kids love. If you go make sure you get some of their popcorn, best popcorn around.

 

[C.Ann]

Make sure you take the Trolley Ride!! It's a great town - tons to see and do - and you'll have a great time!!

 

[disbridemimi]

You will LOVE Salem! Just be forewarned it gets a little crazy near Halloween, and when I say crazy I mean CRZY FUN! but its hard to get a hotel and it gets filled with people. Enf of Sept beginning of Oct is a great time to go.

Actually anytime is a good time to go EXCEPT mid to end of October. But early October they have lots of haunted houses and "Haunted Happenings" they have a city website you should check it out.

 

[The Mayor]

I would stay at the Salem Waterfront Hotel over the Hawthorne...the Hawthorne is far from ritzy and has slipped considerably over the past few years...my company used to put customers/visitors up there but switched to the Waterfront Hotel.

 

[Boo'sMom]

Total Thread hijacking here....

OP...I'm going to the Saratoga NY area this summer...what is there to do THERE?!?!

 

[ChristyJ]

You all have me very psyched to go to Salem!! I'm thinking that we'll go around 8/30-9/1ish...our kids don't start school until 9/8 this year.

I'm currently leaning toward the Salem Waterfront Hotel, in part because it's the only one with a pool & that's always nice for the girls at the end of the day.


Boo'sMom, Saratoga is beautiful! Are you going during track season (7/29-9/7)? If so, the flat track has races every day except Tuesday. It's worth going, even if it's just to people watch. Saratoga is about 20+ mins. away from Lake George. Great Escape Six Flags is up there. It's certainly no WDW, but the kids enjoy it well enough (esp. the waterpark). Also, if you're in Saratoga, get a massage at the Crystal Spa-heavenly!

 

[mtemm]

the witch dungeon museum is really cool. far better than the salem witch museum, imho. definitely add it to your list!

enjoy salem. its an interesting place for sure.

 

[mtemm]

I also second saratoga. its so much fun! we lived there for a couple of years and still miss it. one of our favorite things to do with the kids was have breakfast at the track. if you go when the track is open, you can go in for free and either bring breakfast or buy it there and watch the horses warming up. you do have to pay to park, but if you leave by a certain time they refund that fee.

congress park is gorgeous. the carousel is really sweet, and its a wonderful place to picnic or just take a stroll around.

 

[ChristyJ]

What's the closest beach by Salem?

 

[pooh17]

What's the closest beach by Salem?

Beverly and Marblehead border Salem and have several nice beaches. Lynch Park is my favorite in Beverly and Devereux Beach is my favorite in Marblehead.

The Salem Willows, which others have mentioned here, has a couple of small beaches. Not as nice as the beaches in the neighboring towns - just my opinion.