Salem, Massachusetts lies about 15 minutes northeast of Boston. The seaport city was notable in Colonial days for its overseas trading in luxury goods. Nathaniel Hawthorne, the acclaimed writer, was born here, and the inspiration for his "The House of the Seven Gables" still stands in Salem. But the phenomena most tied to the city's history are the infamous witch trials and executions in 1692. Known as Witch City, Salem is associated with the supernatural, and the period leading up to Halloween features many special events here.
Acorn Tours of Boston conducts this private tour of Salem and its close neighbor, Marblehead, for parties of one to six. Highlights of the Salem tour include the Peabody Essex Museum with its collection of art, architecture and cultural items; the birthplace of Hawthorne and the seven-gabled house; and the Salem Witch Museum, where tourists can view a re-enactment of the events of 1692.
The tour lasts four to six hours, depending on the options chosen. Tourists are picked up at and delivered to their accommodations in Boston. Although Una McMahon, tour director, is a native of Northern Ireland, she graduated from Boston College and has widely studied the history of the United States and of New England.
An hourly catamaran ride connects Boston and Salem. During the 55-minute trip, narrators point out sights along the New England coastline between Boston and Salem harbors. Travelers from Boston can disembark in downtown Salem, within walking distance of the city's cultural and historic attractions. A concierge on board can assist in planning and arranging for your day's activities. Boston's Best Cruises operates the Salem Ferry.
This 5.5-hour bus tour from Boston leaves on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from June to October, as of January 2011. After a stop in Marblehead, passengers view the Custom House where Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked and the house with seven gables. The high point of the trip is a visit to the Salem Witch Museum, devoted to the events of 1692.
Free time is allowed for lunching at Pickering Wharf, shopping or further exploring Salem. Boston Tours offers a number of pick-up locations. Children under the age of three are free when riding in an adult's lap.
This Salem-based company runs three daily tours: Cemetery 101/Grave Matters at 1 p.m., Salem Witchcraft Walk at 3 p.m., and Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour at 8 p.m. Participants learn about Colonial-era burial practices, early Salem's 17-month reign of terror and the city's documented history of hauntings.
Several other tours are added during October. The tours do not provide transportation from Boston, but the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) offers a 30-minute ride to Salem on commuter trains or buses. The trip can also be made quickly by car or ferry.
