Sign in with Facebook"Salem" Salem by Kaspian
Salem Travel Guide: 428 reviews and 1,100 photos
Travel Dates: September 23 2007.
I adored Salem! It was a lot larger than I had pictured it, but the mood was fantastic--powerful, eerie, but comforting at the same time. It was something I really hadn't expected. ...Fall leaves blow softly across cobblestone streets, shop windows display Wiccan charms and potions and pumpkins, statues and monuments to witches are scattered throughout the old town. One gets the feeling it's Halloween 365 days a year here. To my surprise, Salem is a place I felt I could actually live in for a little while.
I had wanted to see Salem for years, so when a VT Meet was organized for Portsmouth, New Hampshire and I learned that Salem was less than an hour away, I had to make the trek. I'm so glad I did! And I'm so glad some of my VT friends came with me to experience it.
Founded in 1626, one can't talk about Salem's history without mentioning the famous "Salem Witch Trials" of 1692 when 29 people were convicted of witchcraft. Of those, 19 were hanged and one man was pressed to death (which involves adding rocks on top of a person's chest until their rib cage breaks and collapses). It was tragic--a type of hysteria gripped the town and led to the deaths of these innocent people. None of whom were actually practicing witches. There are lessons to be learned here--important ones that humanity should promise never to repeat . Salem's story can be seen a microcosm of the world as it is now and in the future. We should recognize incidents arising like this when we see them and as responsible people we should never, ever, ever join a "witch hunt".
"If it was the last moment I was to live, God knows I am innocent..."
- Elizabeth Howe (Hanged for witchcraft.)
- Pros:Quaint, pretty, lots to do and see.
- Cons:It makes a tragic historical event kitchy.
- In a nutshell:How about a little fire, Scarecrow?
Reviews (4)
Real Witches!
Local Customs
(1)
In my opinion, the great irony of Salem is that while zero of the people accused and executed during the Witch Trials of... more travel advice
Elizabeth Montgomery "Bewitched" Statue
Things to Do
(3)
I've walked my friends all over half of Salem looking for this statue and it's starting to get dark. We stop strangers... more travel advice
The Salem Witch Museum
Things to Do
(3)
We're led into a dark room illuminated only by a giant glowing red circle inset into the floor which lists the names of... more travel advice
Salem Witch Trials Tercentenary Memorial
Things to Do
(3)
"I am no witch. I know nothing of it... Oh Lord, help me! It is false... If it was the last moment I was to live, God... more travel advice
Kaspian's Related Pages
Salem Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "RhondaRuth's Salem Page"
- "Salem on Halloween!"
- "Salem Tales"
- "BEWITCHING SALEM"
- "Witch Way do You Go"
- "A FUN DAY IN SALEM"
- "I FOUND MY TRUE WICCAN NATURE ON SALEM'S STREETS"
- See All...
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Comments (5)
Where there buses that went in and out of Salem? I want to go but haven't found any connections from this end to there.? Ideas?
Glad you enjoyed Salem. It has always been a favorite of my family...and I've brought many people to see it. High on my list is the House of the 7 Gables and the Peabody Essex Museum. So many wonderful things to see in addition to the witch theme.
Thanks for stopping by my Salem page Ed. I see you're adding a bit to yours. That sure was a fun day and I'm glad we went.
This must have been a fantastic trip Ed, looking forward to all your tips & pics
what a bunch of cute witches you met up with there in salem :O)