Five things to do with kids in Salem, MA during the fall

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If you’re planning a fall visit to Salem with the kiddos, you might be looking for some family friendly options. Today on the blog I wanted to outline a few suggestions for you and point you at some resources! Salem can definitely be fun for the family if you do a little planning ahead of time and the following will help you out with that.

Please note this is not an all inclusive list of everything – there are tons of kid friendly options in Salem. This is just meant to be a starting place to get you headed in the right direction.

Before we begin…

First, I would begin with age. How old are your kids? Are they easily spooked by people in costume or with masks? Are they intimidated by crowds? Salem is a lot of fun but it can also be overwhelming. No one knows your kids like you do. You are the best party to make these decisions about what is age and personality appropriate for them or not.

Seek out Salem’s buskers

The first fun thing to do with the family that came to mind for me was finding Salem’s buskers. Salem is home to many buskers or street performers and they can often be seen on Salem’s streets, especially during the fall. Make a list of your favorites and take pictures with each of them!

A family photo shoot

If you want to continue the picture taking adventures, I’d suggest a visit to Witch Pix. Witch Pix is a photo studio complete with costumes and sets. You can dress up as a witch or wizard and have your pictures taken on a variety of sets or backgrounds. If you’re planning a fall visit I would make an appointment with Witch Pix ahead of time so you know your date and time is reserved.

End the day with cookies

Who doesn’t love cookies? Goodnight Fatty slings some of Salem’s most loved treats so be sure to swing by and get your hands on some. Keep an eye on Goodnight Fatty’s social media to see what the current flavors are.

Harry Potter, anyone?

If you’re a Harry Potter fan be sure to swing by Wynott’s Wands. It is a wand shop designed to look like Ollivanders from Harry Potter. It is spot on and always makes me smile when I poke my head in there.

Do a little wandering

Salem is home to many wonderful shops and businesses. Walking the witch city and doing some browsing could be a good way to let the kids burn off some energy. A few shops and attractions you might consider checking out are as follows:

Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery
The Magic Parlor (seasonally they also do face painting outside of this shop!)
New England Pirate Museum
The Friendship of Salem
Seasonal street fairs
The Boston/Salem ferry (operates seasonally, fun to take into Salem if you’re staying in Boston)
The Schooner Fame
Salem Kids Tour

Tip: If you’re tired of walking

If you need to rest your feet and let the kids simmer down for a few, check out the Salem Trolley. It’s an awesome way to streamline some sight seeing and sit down for a little bit. It operates seasonally from the spring through the fall. If you’re visiting during the fall, be sure to grab tickets ahead of time because the Trolley fills up quickly.

Tip: Need some help with planning?

If you need a place to organize all of the details of your trip, check out my workbook! It’s geared towards helping you sort out the details and is broken down into sections, including one on visiting Salem with the kids!

Enjoy seasonal programming

Each fall seasonal events hit the calendar. Stay tuned as that information rolls out for this year! Some suggestions might include:

The Great Pumpkin Walk
The Howl-o-Ween Pet Parade
Haunted Harmonies
Lanterns in the Village
Also be sure to stay tuned to my website because at the beginning of each fall I make a list of 10 suggestions, all family friendly, all specific to that year with dates and information.

I hope this information helped!! Feel free to comment below with your own kid friendly favorites. Enjoy!! <3