I have given the following tips and tricks in many forms around my website, but I figured compiling a few here into this blog post for easy access would be a good idea, especially given that it\u2019s currently October! The following are based off my personal experiences and thoughts, feel free to comment below with your own!<\/p>\n
Salem is busy during October, especially on the weekends. You can expect lines at restaurants and attractions, so be prepared for this. There are going to be large crowds of people and busy streets as well. Plan ahead as much as you can, have a map on your phone or in your bag, book anything you can early and bring your patience. Many shops will have limits on the number of people allowed in at one time, forming a queue outside so be aware of this too.<\/p>\n
Additional reading:<\/p>\n
I\u2019d strongly suggest dressing in or bringing layers. New England weather does pretty much whatever it feels like, so be prepared. There have been Halloween seasons where I didn\u2019t even need a coat and others where I was literally googling \u201csymptoms of hypothermia\u201d. Plan ahead.<\/p>\n
Parking in Salem can be hard in October, so plan ahead. If you aren\u2019t able to land a spot in the lot or garage you wanted originally, have a back up or two in mind. Pay attention to posted signs, keep up with meters and don\u2019t park on side streets where you aren\u2019t supposed to.<\/p>\n
Additional reading:<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re debating bringing your costume for Halloween or not, don\u2019t worry. You won\u2019t be the only one dressed up. Bring it and get into the season! I see this question asked a lot in my Facebook group<\/a>, so I figured I\u2019d address it here too. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n Additional reading:<\/p>\n There is always something going on in Salem, however in October the calendars are packed. I\u2019d suggest buying tickets ahead to anything you can and making sure you give yourself time to enjoy the city. If it\u2019s in the budget, stay for a weekend as opposed to doing a day trip. There is so much happening, it\u2019s nice to have some wiggle room.<\/p>\n Additional reading:<\/p>\n In the fall, there are tons of street fairs on the schedule. Get some early holiday shopping in or just treat yo self! Make sure you have cash on hand in case you can\u2019t use a card. If you find something special that grabs your eye, I\u2019d snag it while you can! If it\u2019s in the budget, just go for it because you might not find it again. Many of the handmade and local vendors that you\u2019ll see in the streets carry unique finds that won\u2019t surface again anywhere else.<\/p>\n Additional reading:<\/p>\n Many people are surprised to find there is so much more to the witch city than just witches. Sure, Salem is basically Halloweentown, however it was also a major player in early New England history. It offers a ton of attractions along those lines as well as ones that cover the nautical aspect of the city.<\/p>\n Additional reading:<\/p>\n Salem\u2019s streets are busy in October and one of the most fun parts of that is the buskers. You\u2019ll likely run into Salem\u2019s Black Hat Society, MrBones of Salem, The Salem Satan, Joe\u2019s Sax Appeal and more. Be sure to grab some pictures with Salem\u2019s most known and tag me! I\u2019d love to see.<\/p>\n Additional reading:<\/p>\n I have heard and seen comments along the line of \u201ceveryone was so helpful\u201d and \u201cso many people were willing to help me!\u201d online and on social media. Ya know what? It\u2019s true. Many people in the area will generally help you out if you ask nicely for directions or help with something. You can stop by the booth at the top of Essex street if you have questions, ask in my Facebook group<\/a> or DM me<\/a> if you can\u2019t figure something out.<\/p>\n Sure, there will be lines, but Salem is loaded with delicious food. You can find cuisine from so many cultures and it\u2019s honestly hard to go wrong. I\u2019d suggest picking a few that you really want to try and then having a few back ups in mind in case the wait is insane.<\/p>\n I hope this was helpful! Good luck with your visit and enjoy!! <3<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have given the following tips and tricks in many forms around my website, but I figured compiling a few here into this blog post for easy access would be a good idea, especially given that it\u2019s currently October! 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The calendars will be loaded with events<\/h2>\n
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The city opens up to tons of street vendors<\/h2>\n
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More than just witches and Halloween<\/h2>\n
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You\u2019ll be sure to run into buskers and street performers<\/h2>\n
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People are generally helpful<\/h2>\n
You might be overwhelmed with food choices<\/h2>\n