The Salem Witch Museum is an obvious choice for anyone vaguely interested in history, but while it's worth a visit, it might not be what you'd normally expect in a museum. You won't find artifacts from the witch trials of 1692. You will find a large room with life-sized wax figurines and a recording telling the story of the Salem Witch Trials, followed by a guided tour of a room detailing and discussing the evolution of witch hunts. It is an eerie and educational place that will enrich your Salem experience. Also, note that children are welcome but younger kids may be scared by some of the displays.
Best and worst time to go to the Salem Witch Museum
The museum is open year round with only a few closures: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, and weekdays the first two weeks of January. The museum closes early on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Weekdays are your best bet, though with presentations every half hour, if it's crowded due to a tour group, wander the charming town and come back to the museum in a bit. There are extended hours in October, but the later you go in October, the more crowded the entire town will become.
Must see/do at the Salem Witch Museum
Check out the statue out front of Roger Conant. Though most people assume the statue depicts a witch trial participant, it actually commemorates the founder of Salem. Also, look through the museum's gift shop for fun, but be aware that you'll find witchy, varied, and cheaper shopping throughout the rest of Salem.
Admission to the Salem Witch Museum
Admission is about $10 per adult with reduced rates for seniors and children through age 14. Children under 6 are free.
Parking and Public Transportation to the Salem Witch Museum
There are plenty of metered spots on the streets of Salem as well as a quite a few parking lots. The cheapest lot is the South Harbor Garage on the waterfront (cash only). There is also the Church Street Lot with smart meters (that take cash or credit card) and no time restrictions, but you must pay when you park. The slightly pricier Museum Place Garage is also cash only, paid upon exit, but is in a great location for tourists right across the street from the Salem Regional Visitor Center. For public transportation, take the #450 or #455 bus from Haymarket (in Boston) to Salem, or take the Commuter Rail from North Station to the Salem Station. Additionally, there is a ferry from Boston to Salem.
Food at the Salem Witch Museum
The museum itself is small and does not have a restaurant, but Salem has plenty of dining options. Salem Beer Works is a popular microbrewery with generous portions of tasty comfort food.
Insider tip for visitors to the Salem Witch Museum
October in Salem is like the mall on Black Friday: crowded and often overwhelming. If you go to Salem on a weekend in October, plan to spend hours (more as you approach Halloween) in traffic and looking for parking. You will see people dressed in costume all month, which is fun. On Halloween and Halloween weekend, you'll see a huge mass of people in costumes, many of them drunk; you may or may not find this as fun. Parking is certainly not fun, but scary; park at the Beverly T station or further and take the train with all the other costumed commuters.
Author's bio: Deborah Jarvis is a freelance writer who grew up and currently lives in the Greater Boston Area. She never pahks her cah in Hahvahd Yahd and tries not to drive like she's from Boston if she can help it. She has been to Salem on Halloween and lived to tell about it.
The Pilgrim Hall Museum houses treasured possessions of those first courageous settlers. Among those irreplaceable treasures are William Bradford's Bible, Myles Standish's sword, the only portrait of a Pilgrim (Edward Winslow) painted from life, the cradle of New England's first–born, Peregrine White, the great chair of William Brewster and the earliest sampler made in America, embroidered by the teenage daughter of Myles Standish. The Museum is located in the heart of historic Plymouth Center.
The Witch Dungeon Museum has a long history of educating and entertaining tourists. Stop in to view a live reenactment of the 1692 Salem witch trials. The reenactment uses text taken from the original trial transcripts. After the performance, take a guided tour through the witch dungeon and other notable witch trial locations, including Gallows Hill.
The Mary Baker Eddy Library is a public educational museum dedicated to Mary Baker Eddy's life and achievements. It offers such exhibits as The Hall Of Ideas, a Mapparium and the Quest Gallery. It also features Impressions On Paper.
While Salem, Mass., is notorious for the witchcraft hysteria, according to the folks at the New England Pirate Museum, it wasn't the so-called "witches" who were the ones causing the real trouble around these parts. The museum offers visitors the chance to see recovered artifacts, board a full-scale pirate ship, and explore an 80-foot pirate cave. Additionally, tour guides recount stories of Blackbeard, Captain Kidd and others, providing a historical perspective while keeping the overall atmosphere lighthearted and fun.
Located on Washington Park in Newton, the New Art Center is a non-profit community space that opened 33 years ago. The Center offers a range of art education programs, features regularly scheduled exhibits of local artists and student works, hosts art-focused lectures and special events and offers space rentals for private functions. Visit the New Art Center website for program registration, donations and upcoming event information.
Regrettably, Segway Experience at Patriot Place will not be returning for the 2013 season. The staff are thankful to both Patriot Place and the community for their support over the past couple of years.
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Segway Experience at Patriot Place offers transportation and guided Segway tours of Patriot Place. Segway Personal Transporters are available for individuals in search of something interesting to do. Patriot Place features a wide variety of stores, restaurants, entertainment venues and Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution. In addition to sharing local knowledge, guides will instruct tour participants in how to operate the Segway if it happens to be their first time on one. Segway Experience at Patriot Place is closed during the winter months, however gift certificates for tours can be purchased year round.
