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Salem, Mass.—Stop by for a Spell

© Lain Ehmann

Though it's known as "the witch town," Salem, Mass. has more to offer than just spooky delights, and it's just as fun in the summer as it is when the leaves begin to turn and haunting's in the air.

Located less than 20 miles north of Boston, Salem was one of the first Puritan settlements and the sixth city in the United States, founded in 1626. Located right on the Atlantic Ocean, Salem Harbor became a thriving maritime community long before the witch hysteria rocked the community to its very foundations. Wealthy sea captains built lavish homes along its streets, and the town flourished with the influx of goods and visitors from around the world.

But at heart, it was still a Puritan settlement. Strict religious rules and fear of the devil made it possible for a handful of bored girls to give rise to the false accusations which swept New England and resulted in the deaths of 19 innocent people in the late 1600s.

Much of the town's tourist trade now focuses the Salem Witch Trials-the Salem Wax Museum (www.salemwaxmuseum.com), Dracula's Castle (Dracula@afairbrother.com), ghost tours, the Salem Witch Museum (www.salemwitchmuseum.com) and the Salem Witch Village (www.salemwitchvillage.com) are just a few of the current attractions taking advantage of Salem's colorful history. And while visitors shouldn't overlook some of these unearthly attractions, there's plenty more to Salem than ghosts and goblins.

Families with kids of all ages will enjoy the hour-long trolley tour operated by the Trolley Depot (www.trolleydepot.com) leaving from the Visitor's Center on New Liberty Street (follow the signs from anywhere downtown). Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for children 5-12, $9 for seniors, and free for kids under 5. The tour gives an amusing and comprehensive view of Salem, and on-and-off privileges are good all day.

After you get an overview of the town, spend some time at the Pickering Wharf (www.pickeringwharf.com), a waterfront dining and shopping area with plenty of free parking. You can see the ships and schooners, leave for a whale watch, have an ice cream cone, or get your fortune told by one of the plentiful psychics in the area.

If you're a literary hound, you won't want to miss the House of Seven Gables (www.7gables.org), made famous by Salem resident and author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Located at 54 Turner Street, the house and grounds are the centerpiece of Salem's historic district. There are gardens to wander through, a café, and museum with rotating exhibits, and, of course, a gift shop. Probably best for kids over 10, costs are: Adults, $8; children 6-17, $5, and under 6, free.

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