Things to do in Salem and the North Shore

Salem sits on the Massachusetts coast north of Boston, built on a working port and forever tied to the 1692 witch trials, with several museums and historic sites covering that history alongside the city's merchant past at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site and the Peabody Essex Museum.

The Commuter Rail's Newburyport/Rockport line runs direct from North Station in about 30 to 35 minutes, so a car is not needed; a seasonal summer ferry from Boston is another option. October brings heavy crowds and very difficult parking for Haunted Happenings, so take the train rather than drive that month.

The rest of the year Salem is considerably quieter.