Planning your visit to Salem, MA + My experiences just going on a whim

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I know I have talked about all of the ways you can plan your Salem, MA trip about a million times here on my website. Planning information, tips, tricks, travel info and more is what I do. However, I also recognize that sometimes going into a new adventure by the seat of your pants can bring unexpected experiences and fun memories you may have missed. Not everyone is a planner or interested in logistics. There truly is no right or wrong way to experience Salem.

The first time I visited Salem

I have written about the first time I came into Salem here on my website before but I want to chat about it from a different angle for a second. My first visit to the witch city happened because my then boyfriend convinced me to come into Salem, in October, last minute, with no plans. We had not purchased tickets to anything, did not have a hotel room booked, had no clue. Ya know what? It was fine.

My then boyfriend somehow managed to land us a room at The Tuck Inn in Rockport which is super close to the train. We used that to get back and forth between Rockport and Salem. As a result of this, we got to explore a little bit and I quickly learned how much I absolutely adore Rockport. It is super cute and full of the most charming shops, inns, side streets and more. Rockport is also home to Bearskin Neck which is one of my favorite places to wander (after Salem, of course). I still pop into the area often just to wander around and it is a great place to spend an afternoon. I have also worked with a few businesses in Rockport, including the Emerson Inn. You can read about my stay there in the links below.

Sometimes winding up in unexpected places can lead to tons of new discoveries.

Related:

While wandering with no plan and accidentally looping the same side roads of Salem we got to chatting with some of the locals who were absolutely the kindest people. We were given recommendations from shop owners as well as regulars. One of these regulars was Denis Castleton who I have written about here on my blog before as well. He pointed us at Cry Innocent: The People vs. Bridget Bishop and we were lucky enough to score tickets an hour or so later. We caught a show and thoroughly enjoyed it – I still continue to recommend it to this day!

Related: Salem’s helpful Phantom

Later that day we saw a group of people lining up as if to begin a parade or walk – it turns out this was Nu Aeon and White Light Pentacles doing their annual march to Gallows Hill. I jumped in on drumming and dancing with a few belly dancers and we joined in with several hundred people to make the walk. We participated in a ritual and dumb supper honoring those in our lives who have passed away. If we had been on a time schedule with everything planned out, we may not have bumped into this group or joined in on the ceremony which was very moving and appropriate for Samhain.

The most beneficial part of coming to Salem with wiggle room in your schedule is the wandering around. If you are experiencing Salem in October, just walking around and taking it all in is an activity of its own. One of my favorite things to do in the world is walk Salem’s streets with my camera in hand, capturing the city and its energy. Enjoy the vibe, take in the scenery, people watch, take pictures with buskers and just let the day take you where it goes.

If you still want to have some plans in place…

I don’t blame you. If you’re visiting in the fall you should still minimally book your hotel (very) early. Flying 100% by the seat of your pants will likely land you without a place to sleep that night. If you need some more resources to work out the details of your trip, the following links will help you.

Things to do in Salem – The Guide

The Fall 2020 guide will become available in August so keep an eye for that.

Countdown to Salem – The Workbook

This workbook will walk you through the logistics of planning your trip. It is broken into 10 sections which are as follows:

One: Where are you staying?
Two: If you’re bringing the car
Three: If you’re NOT bringing the car
Four: Attractions
Five: Time frames for tickets
Six: What should you bring?
Seven: Salem with the kids
Eight: What if it rains?
Nine: Just a bunch of Hocus Pocus
Ten: Five things you should know about Salem

(Psst – Sign up for my newsletter for a discount on my workbook…)

30 Minute phone consultation with me

Need some questions answered directly? I’d be happy to hop onto the phone or Skype with you to help you plan it out personally.

For my fellow creatives

I know in my audience I have fellow creatives, content creators, writers and more. The witch city is a fantastic spot to explore this and has a huge creative community. The following links are for you.

AlyseNicole.com

For those who need help getting started or growing an audience.

How to start a blog

If you are interested in beginning your own blogging journey, I have created a resource page for you. Kicking off your new project writing about your trip to Salem is a great place to start.

The most Instagrammable places in Salem, MA — Part III (2020)

If you are looking for some Instagrammable spots in Salem to spice up your feed, this is a good starting place for you! It also contains some gear suggestions for you so you can be sure to capture the best possible images.

I hope this helps!! Enjoy your visit to the witch city. <3