Salem, Massachusetts is a city in Essex County. Most famous for the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, the city has embraced this historical event. As featured in Arthur Miller's The Crucible, Salem is still home to New Age and Wiccan boutiques. Local high school teams are known as the Witches, and Gallows Hill is used as a playing field.
Historically, Salem is not only famous for the witch trials. The city achieved victory in King Philip's War, was the home of the first Puritan settlers, including Nathaniel Hawthorne. Today, tourism is a large sector of Salem’s economy. Witch-based tourism is one of the most popular. The month of October and specifically Halloween are the most visited times. Salem experiences record attendance of hundreds of thousands of tourists during this time.
Visitors frequent the Witch Museum and John Corwin's house, the judge in the Salem Trials. Actors dress up in historic attire and put on shows for the public. 3D movies and haunted houses are numerous. Many residents feel the emphasis on witch tourism is unnecessary, and want Salem to be recognized as a cultural center as well. There are various museums in Salem not associated with witchcraft. Visitors can see Nathaniel Hawthorne's house, where he wrote The Scarlet Letter. Many historic buildings have been restored and remain popular destinations for history lovers.
Salem is located on the coast of Massachusetts and is home to several parks. Salem Willows Park is a waterfront park with a small beach, visited in the summer by tourists and Massachusetts locals. Salem Woods is an area known to be first settled by Native American Indians. Pioneer Village is a living-history museum. The area showcases many early dwellings of pioneers and Native Americans.
The entire state of Massachusetts is famous for its seafood and Salem is no exception. Due to its location on the coast, seafood here is fresh and in abundance. Visitors can go on cruises in the harbor, or shop in the harbor side village. Many waterfront restaurants line the wharf.
Nightlife in Salem is centered in downtown. Popular dining venues are situated here. The ever-popular Pub Crawl is locally organized and runs year round. With numerous things to see and do, there’s always something happening in Salem!
Written by Lyndsey Morgan
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