Salem (Salem)

Member Name: baileybird

Product:	Salem
Date:	23/08/09 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Historic town with plenty to do. Good transport links.

Disadvantages: Some tacky overpriced shops.

I have visited Salem on 3 occasions now and still find it a very interesting place. The town is situated north of Boston on the coast of Massachusetts. It's a very easy place to find by car and there is plenty of parking. Alternatively the commuter rail will take you there from the North Station in Boston (at TD Banknorth Gardens) or a ferry operates from the Boston Waterfront from late Spring to early Fall.

There are plenty of attractions to choose from, offering a full day of activities. I would definitely recommend taking the Trolley Tour of the town, which has various stops all over town, allowing you to get on and off all day. Tickets are $13 per adult, but worth it as a tour guide tells you about the town and its history.

There are plenty of places to eat, but head down to the waterfront for a good meal with a good view.

There is plenty of shopping, with some good quirky shops, however as with any town with a high tourism industry there are some shops selling tacky overpriced items too.

If you get the chance Salem is a great place to visit on Halloween. The town becomes awash with people dressed as their favourite halloween related characters. The amount of effort that some people put into their costumes is amazing; people queue up for photos and autographs similar to the characters in Disney!

On Halloween there is plenty to keep you entertained, with street theatre or ghost tours, along with the usual attractions. Although the town is busy from mid afternoon to late into the evening, events are well organised and the town feels safe.

There are plenty of places to stay around the area, I have only ever visited for the day so cannot comment on any specific accommodation. Be aware that at Halloween prices significantly increase and book up early.

We drove to the town and arrived mid-afternoon on Halloween. Parking was ample and we found it easy to get a table at a restaurant in the evening.

If you are going to New England, Salem is a great place to visit, on Halloween or not. The town is beautiful, with a great history and plenty of quirky shops.

Summary: Fun day out if in the area.