South Salem - Salem, MA Area Guide

Located north of Boston, the first settlers arrived in Salem in 1626. The Puritans called Salem home, and during the 17th century, Salem gained the notoriety, which still continues today, with the witchcraft trials. The Puritans believed witchcraft to be real, and Judge John Hathorne sentenced many unfortunate, innocent women to death during these trials.

Considered the birthplace of the Army National Guard, Salem’s first regiment met in 1637. The militia of Salem required that all men between the ages of 16 and 60 own a firearm and be capable of using it to defend the community if needed. In January 2013, President Obama declared Salem the official birthplace of the National Guard.

The tourism industry supports Salem today, and visitors can find many witch-related events, especially in October. For a good scare, take the Bewitched After Dark tour, which showcases supposedly haunted locations in Salem and explains Salem’s dark history during the witchcraft trials and also the town’s maritime history.

Visit the House of Seven Gables, built by John Turner in 1668, which was the inspiration for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel “The House of Seven Gables.” This museum preserves what life was like in early Salem and the multitude of history that has occurred in this city for over 350 years.

Transport yourself back in time with a visit to the New England Pirate Museum in Salem, where the lives of Blackbeard and Captain Kidd come to life. Board an actual pirate ship, and view the battle staged for visitors of the museum. Explore below deck, and then wind your way through the 80-foot cave to search for hidden treasures.

The Peabody Essex Museum contains some of the country’s most beautiful and extensive display of Chinese porcelain and other Asian art and cultural pieces. Established in 1799, the PEM is the oldest museum in the United States. The museum owns many of the historical buildings in the Salem area and continues to be on the forefront of historical preservation in the area.

Visit the first living history museum at Salem Pioneer Village, 10 minutes from downtown Salem. Here you can see colonial buildings such as thatched houses and wigwams, colonial gardens grown for food and medicine, and learn how the colonists interacted with the Native Americans.

Residents and visitors can find budget-friendly diners and upscale dining establishments in South Salem. Thanks to more than 60 restaurants, coffee shops and cafes, whatever you’re hungry for can be found in Salem.

Locals know when the wind turns cold to head to New England Soup Factory on Washington Street. Super affordable, the friendly wait staff bring piping hot, freshly made soups that make you think you’re dining in an upscale restaurant. The pumpkin lobster bisque features tender chunks of lobster, and the clam and corn chowder has visitors stating it’s the best chowder around. If you can’t choose between the soup choices, the staff lets you sample different ones to help you decide.

Eleven different kinds of crepes star on Red Line Cafe’s menu, and the coffee drinks can’t be beat. Try the smoked salmon crepe with goat cheese, capers, sun-dried tomatoes and basil-lemon vinaigrette, or satisfy your sweet tooth with the bella Nutella crepe, filled with bananas, Nutella, whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Specialty sandwiches, wraps and salads can be found on the menu as well, something for everyone grabbing a quick bite for lunch.

For a low-key dive bar that has awesome burgers and drinks for a reasonable price, the locals head over to Major Magleashes. Voted by the locals as having the best charbroiled burgers in town, the kitchen serves food until 11 p.m. Pair up your burger with some homemade chili or jalapeno poppers, and enjoy an ice-cold beer while you wait for your food.

With over 15 kinds of craft beer on tap, Beer Works on Derby Street has the right brew for any beer connoisseur. Two local favorites, Bunker Hill Bluebeery and Pumpkin Works Ale, can be found on tap, and you can find seasonal cocktails as well as uniquely flavored martinis and margaritas. This brewery also features and large and varied food menu, from tasso-seared scallops or blueberry shark appetizers to barbecue baby back ribs and mushroom ravioli entrées.

Most residents choose to walk to their destinations within town, as shops and restaurants can be found close to home, but other options available include biking within town and public transportation to locations outside Salem.

Residents can get around Salem easily thanks to the bike sharing program. Started by the city in 2011, residents can grab a bike for free through the Salem Spins program and ride anywhere in town for the day. If the bike comes back late or damaged, fees will be administered, and bikes can be found at both Salem State University and near the Hawthorne Hotel.

Another unique program in Salem that encourages green living, residents can charge their electric cars for up to six hours at eight locations throughout Salem. Stations can be found near the Peabody Essex Museum and across the street from the Salem Waterfront Hotel.

When residents want to slip into Boston to shop, they can take the Salem Ferry for a scenic 50-minute trip. This service is available from mid-June through the end of October. Public transit with bus and rail service also transports residents and visitors back and forth between Salem and Boston.

While cab service is available you may want to call ahead as it can be difficult at times to hail a cab from the street; however, Uber is easily accessible with the simple touch of the button.

The cost of parking garages for long-term parking varies significantly per hour depending on which garage you use, and metered street parking downtown ranges is typically higher.

A true historic park, Salem Willows houses an amusement park surrounded by breathtaking 200-year-old willow trees. Children and adults alike will enjoy the 1866 carousel, midway rides and the modern arcade that features vintage games such as Pac-Man and Galaga, as well as old-fashioned pinball machines. Visitors can fish from the pier and enjoy a walk along the beach, and the park also has concerts during the summer months. Dogs can also enjoy the park and water areas as long as they are leashed, but buildings in the park don’t allow them inside.

Salem Woods Highland Park features a great trail for both biking and hiking. Located behind Old Salem Greens Municipal Golf Course, this approximately 11-mile trail crosses small streams and bridges, making for a beautiful scenic day in the outdoors.

A one-bedroom apartment in Salem averages just over $1000 per month, lower than other neighborhoods in the Boston area. Groceries cost slightly more in Salem than the rest of Massachusetts with the exception of pizza, which averages 5.8 percent less in Salem. With groceries, housing costs, health care, transportation and utilities combined, the cost of living in Salem averages 34.5 percent higher than the rest of the United States but only 2.1 percent higher than the rest of Massachusetts.

Lots of independent shops cater to both visitors and residents in Salem, and many of them have a connection to the maritime and witchcraft histories of the town.

The Salem Wax Museum gift shop, the largest museum gift shop in town, features both maritime and witch-themed gifts and souvenirs, including T-shirts, hats and glassware. Step into Acquisitions Exchange, a popular consignment shop, for interesting finds ranging from clothing to furniture.

Find yourself in a European gourmet shop when you enter Pamplemousse. Shop for that perfect kitchen gadget to complete your housewares, and pair imported cheeses with a bottle of wine from the extensive selection. The shop features weekly wine tasting sessions on Saturday afternoons, giving you the perfect opportunity to find some new favorites.

Located in the Hawthorne Hotel, the Kensington-Stobart Gallery features limited-edition prints from famed maritime artist John Stobart, as well as beautiful oil paintings. Other American, British and Danish artists have maritime art work for sale here, making this a treasure trove for maritime enthusiasts.

Enjoy a sweet sample and watch as confections are created before your eyes at Harbor Sweets on Leavitt Street. Open for over four decades, this sweet shop uses the same techniques as on opening day, making chocolate candies in large copper kettles using local honey, fresh butter and cream for a perfect, creamy texture.

Options nearby for groceries include regional chains such as Shaw's Supermarket and Market Basket and local stores such as Milk & Honey Green Grocer.