While Salem, Massachusetts may be best known for the witch trial hysteria of 1692, this seaside town makes an interesting honeymoon destination, too.
Nicknamed “the bewitching seaport,” Salem was a major shipping center for 150 years and is rich with history.
Its narrow streets are lined with preserved buildings, and a charming red trolley provides easy access to the village’s museums, attractions, and restaurants.A Salem honeymoon offers a chance to go back to another era. But it also includes first-rate restaurants, unusual shops, and scenic waterfront areas where a couple can stroll and watch the sunset.
The Salem Ferry provides roundtrip service to Boston eight times a day, a scenic 50-minute ride that makes it easy to visit the vibrant city during your Salem trip.
Sightseeing in Salem
A Salem honeymoon provides the chance to linger in the 1800’s. Simply strolling through Salem’s picturesque streets takes visitors on a trip through time, admiring the charming Victorian homes and the village’s scenic harbor.
Every Salem honeymoon should include a stop at the House of the Seven Gables, the 1668 wooden house that inspired author Nathaniel Hawthorne to pen his novel of the same name. The site also includes gardens, a spectacular waterfront view, and the author’s birthplace.
Across the street is Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie, founded in 1806. The nation’s oldest candy company, it still sells its original hard, sweet Gibralters in lemon or mint and its blackstrap molasses Black Jack sticks.
A Salem honeymoon can continue with a stroll along Pickering Wharf, with views of the harbor, interesting shops, and all types of restaurants. Docked in the harbor is the Friendship, a reconstructed 171-foot three-masted Salem East Indiaman that was built in 1797 and is open for tours.
A highlight of an adult trip to Salem is the Peabody Essex Museum, with its extensive collection of Asian, African, New England, and Native American art. But the jewel is the Yin Yu Tang House, a 200-year-old residence brought over from China that provides a first-hand peek at day-to-day life.
Salem’s History of Witchcraft and Piracy
Because of its history of witch trials, a Salem visit should include exploration of the village’s dark past.
The Salem Witch Museum uses dioramas with life-size figures to tell the horrific tale of the Salem witchhunt of 1692. The Salem Witch House was the home of witch trial judge Jonathan Corwin. Its tragic past aside, the old house demonstrates what life was like in an earlier era.
You may want to stop at some of the more kitschy attractions that have grown out of the village’s history, too. The Witch Dungeon Museum re-enacts the trial of an accused woman and demonstrates the prison’s horrific conditions. The Witch History Museum explores the witch hysteria that broke out throughout the county. And Legends of Salem is a live multi-media presentation that highlights Salem’s history.
Dining in Salem
Salem has many fine restaurants that are perfect for romantic dinners on a Salem honeymoon. But it also has its share of casual, fun eateries that serve burgers or seafood.
Finz, overlooking the harbor, specializes in local seafood and uses local produce and even locally produced goat cheese to bring a different twist to New England seafood. The menu has New England classics like Island Creek oysters from the South Shore plus Hawaiian specialties like mahi mahi flown in fresh from Honolulu, coconut rice, and mango jicama slaw.
Located on the scenic waterfront, Victoria Station is a fine spot for a leisurely meal, especially at sunset. Seafood specialties includes baked crab puffs with artichoke hearts and lemon pepper scallops.
Salem Beer Works is a fun, casual eatery with red brick walls and multiple TV’s. The extensive menu includes burgers, dinner salads, pizzas, and creative entrees. But the highlight is the dozen beers on tap. With names like Pumpkinhead Ale and Seven Gables Golden, who can resist?
For casual dining, Witch’s Brew serves soups, burgers, salads, and reasonably priced seafood entrees in a dignified room with dark wood paneling and a shiny copper ceiling.
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