2008 Woodie Awards
Weekend Getaway: Salem, Massachusetts
Caryn Connolly
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Opinion
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Looking for a place to go for the long weekend ahead? A fun place to visit is Salem, Massachusetts. This small town about 10 miles north of Boston has made its mark on American history due to the infamous witch trials of the late 1600s. For many years the people of Salem tried to forget the horror, but tourism, encouraged by the old television series, Bewitched, put Salem on the map.
Everywhere you go you see witch museums, most notably is the Witch Dungeon, which features a wooden beam from the original dungeon where the unjustly accused were held and tortured. It is said that touching the beam brings luck to women. No one could quite explain why that would be the case, but not one female passed through the museum without at least some cursory contact.
The House of the Seven Gables, which inspired the book of the same name by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is situated on the harbor. This house is an interesting piece of history, even for those who do not have an interest in historic houses. The house was changed several times by its many owners but was eventually restored to its seven-gable status. The home where Nathaniel Hawthorne grew up has also been moved to the site and is available for self-guided tours.
A stroll through the center of town yields many intriguing shops, including a yarn shop, a candy store, the ubiquitous "souvenir" shop and several restaurants. Stores displaying paranormal wares and selling spells created by "hereditary" witches can be found on nearly every corner. A pirate museum made for a nice change from all the witch-themed attractions. Of course, a walk by Salem harbor to view the boats or take a ferry into Boston is an option for those less inclined to buying into the witch hysteria.
An amazing teashop called New Civilitea lies on the main drag on the outskirts of town. They have a loose-leaf tea menu that includes over 80 varieties of tea, including many decaffeinated and herbal selections. This is the type of place where people go to sit with friends and try something new. The owner individually brews each cup and even sells two-ounce bags or tins for reasonable prices. New Civilitea is a must-visit café for the tea connoisseur.
Everywhere you go you see witch museums, most notably is the Witch Dungeon, which features a wooden beam from the original dungeon where the unjustly accused were held and tortured. It is said that touching the beam brings luck to women. No one could quite explain why that would be the case, but not one female passed through the museum without at least some cursory contact.
The House of the Seven Gables, which inspired the book of the same name by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is situated on the harbor. This house is an interesting piece of history, even for those who do not have an interest in historic houses. The house was changed several times by its many owners but was eventually restored to its seven-gable status. The home where Nathaniel Hawthorne grew up has also been moved to the site and is available for self-guided tours.
A stroll through the center of town yields many intriguing shops, including a yarn shop, a candy store, the ubiquitous "souvenir" shop and several restaurants. Stores displaying paranormal wares and selling spells created by "hereditary" witches can be found on nearly every corner. A pirate museum made for a nice change from all the witch-themed attractions. Of course, a walk by Salem harbor to view the boats or take a ferry into Boston is an option for those less inclined to buying into the witch hysteria.
An amazing teashop called New Civilitea lies on the main drag on the outskirts of town. They have a loose-leaf tea menu that includes over 80 varieties of tea, including many decaffeinated and herbal selections. This is the type of place where people go to sit with friends and try something new. The owner individually brews each cup and even sells two-ounce bags or tins for reasonable prices. New Civilitea is a must-visit café for the tea connoisseur.