Salem, Massachusetts is a great place for family-friendly activities and dining during your holiday vacation! Come for the Witch Trials of 1692 and maritime trade. Stay for the art, restaurants, shopping, and New England experience. Here are a few ideas for how to spend a day or an overnight in Salem this vacation.
Activities
The Salem Wax Museum and Witch Village
Dive headfirst into the history of Salem with The Salem Wax Musuem and The Witch Village. The Salem Wax Museum of Witches and Seafarers is Salem’s original wax museum depicting Salem’s history from the witch trials hysteria and bold seafarers and venture into The Witch Village to discover the myths and the facts surrounding witches and their craft that will create a great framework for the rest of your trip. Consider buying a combination pass to both attractions to save money.
Take A Class with The Good Witch of Salem
The Good Witch of Salem is ready to make every child’s school vacation magical and educational. Take a potions-making class where students will mix, mash, drop and stir their very own potions, or they can take a break and be pampered on a spa day that will include making their own body scrubs and facials and a sparkly manicure. For something involved, try the two-day make your own doll class. They will start with a blank 18-inch doll and then will design, sew, and create everything our doll may need, including the essential accessories! This workshop will end with a Dolly and Me Fashion Show.
Take a Walking Tour
There are so many walking tour companies in Salem that run all year long. A tour exists for every piece of Salem your family is interested in and it is such a great way to see as much of Salem as possible. If you are looking for a more historical perspective check out Salem Historical Tours which explores four centuries of maritime and revolutionary history, inventors, pop culture, and more, or Witch City Walking Tours that take you off-the-beaten-path, into a world full of wonder while you experience the lesser-known spots of Salem. You can also experience Salem from the perspective of a real, practicing witch with Salem Witch Walk or Satanic Walking Tours. If you’re traveling with older kids and want something a bit more spooky take a ghost tour with Salem Night Tour or Haunted Footsteps. Click here to see a full list of tours.
Food
Find kid-friendly dining throughout downtown Salem, with something for every member of the family! Find pizza at Essex’s NY Pizza & Deli, or hearty sandwiches at Red’s. Check the list below for more family-friendly dining ideas, or view a complete list of Salem’s restaurants here.
Stay Overnight
Please note that as of 12/23, masks are required in all indoor locations for all ages 2 and up regardless of vaccination status except for when eating or drinking. Starting 1/15, all individuals ages 12 and over shall be required to present proof of at least one dose of vaccination to enter indoor entertainment venues, food service establishments where food is consumed on-site, and indoor gyms and fitness settings. For more information on Salem’s mask order, see salem.com/masks and click here for more on COVID-19 preparedness in Salem.
Tags: Family, History, Museums, Things To Do, Walking Tours
