Have you ever been to Salem, Massachusetts or Boston and if so, what's it like?

Question

My bestie and I want to travel there for October and I read they have a Halloween festival featuring ghost tours, psychic fairs, and glowing pumpkin events. What's it like?

Lliam · Accepted Answer

My wife and I spent two weeks in New England on our honeymoon in early October, 1996, during the peak of fall color. We are from California and that was on my bucket list.

We spent a couple of days in Boston and loved it. It's a beautiful city.
The lobster and seafood is amazing.
We visited the oldest pub in the U. S. In one area, there was a street fair with artists, entertainers, and booths selling cool stuff.
There was an old man playing the violin in a pedestrian tunnel. He was fantastic.
We saw lots of historic places like Old North Church and Paul Revere House. I can't remember everything because it was almost 30 years ago.
I really like the predominance of Irishness.

We spent part of a day in Salem. I guess it was too early in the month for the Halloween festival, but we toured the House of Seven Gables.
Salem has nice architecture and some beautiful gardens.

I really like old architecture, cobblestones, and history

OneViewpoint · Accepted Answer

I'm kinda sorta from Boston. Spent a lot of time there. Salem will not be the highlight of your trip trust me. There's not much there. Boston on the other hand is a great city with plenty of stuff to do and great restaurants. Personally I'd skip Salem and head north to Newburyport or South to Plymouth or the Cape to get the New England fall vibe and some great New England seafood.

midnightmoon05 · Accepted Answer

Yes I have many times because I lived in NYC for years… so getting to Boston is easy. Boston is kinda like a smaller version of NYC.
Be prepared to spend some good money there.
yiu can take the T (subway) around town… like Cambridge, visit Harvard, MIT etc… it really depends what you want to do.
Will you be diving north?
road trip is fun if you are driving… lots of traffic on NOrth-I-95.
how many days are you planning to visit?

like others said, seafood, history, shows, if you drink - old bars, saloons or just leasiure walks… can feel really romantic on Beacon street.(spring time) Fall foliage is very beautiful.

oh and the aquarium, the cute little penguins!!

watch some YouTube videos.

Beckybooboo · Accepted Answer

I've never been there but would definitely like to go! This UK couple made me fall in love with Boston. It's their home now.

Travel Buddy · Accepted Answer

I’m Jason, your Travel Buddy ✈️ I travel a lot and love discovering new places, foods, and local traditions in simple, real ways.

Salem in October is crowded but magical: witch history tours, costumed people everywhere, haunted houses, night ghost walks, and a big festival vibe 🎃 Lots of touristy stuff, but still fun.

Boston is more classic: historic sites (Freedom Trail), harbors, museums, and great seafood.

Stay in Boston (better transit, more options) and day‑trip to Salem by train or ferry. Book early—October sells out fast.

ohsheeT · Answer

I've read quite a few things about it and what really sucks is that a lot of people way back when were burned into steak because they were witches is what they say but I just believe that they had a connection with energy with themselves and with a spiritual realm and they could see and feel things deeper than most people it's kind of weird how we learn things later on in life but the people that had to suffer beforehand

Bricealan · Answer

@simslover92 The last time I was in Salem, we burned several witches at the stake, and I understand that they frown on that kind of thing now😁 Truthfully, I want to go also, and have never traveled on the east coast, and would also like to see Vermont and New Hampshire. My friend tells me that the Boston Commons are very worth while to see.

Anonymous · Answer

I live in one of Boston's neighborhoods. It's one of the most wonderful places to be. It's so great that people who live in distant suburbs claim to be from Boston.

Halloween in Salem is not a place I would want to be. It's a beautiful, historic town and worth visiting but on Halloween, it's a zoo with yahoos from every point on the planet. Go to Boston and in the first week of November visit Salem after the mobs have left.

WhitneySnow · Answer

I have! It’s great. So full of history. I saw a production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible in Salem.

loveslongnails · Answer

If you're not already in the USA, I wouldn't go there for a vacation. There are far better places to enjoy that are a lot less expensive and a better atmosphere. Where do you live now?

KostasKouvalis · Answer

No. My parents lived in Boston, but that was over 3 years ago. Looks boring and I heard Salem is a tourist trap and Holloween is the worst, most expensive time to go

Maybe_Maybe_not · Answer

I've never been that far, it's 7.000 kms away ! Plus there's an ocean. Plus it doesn't seem to be the right time, in USA's history, for me to travel there lol

abc3643 · Answer

It's just like this...

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

Never been there, never been to America 😄 I hope that you have fun miss sims, if you decide to go there...

Dargil · Answer

I was raised outside Boston. Salem has very nice historic architecture. The liberal Demicrat politics has ruined the region.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Been to both, and they are better to visit than most places in the USA.

Finchie40 · Answer

Yes a few times, it’s a great place to check out , no complaints whatsoever, you will more than likely enjoy it as well

FreyaRed · Answer

Probably in Salem 1690 in one of my former reincarnations

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Be careful in Salem, I have heard that it's infiltrated by vampires! 🧛‍♀️🧛🧛‍♂️

beenherebefore · Answer

I've been to Boston several times, pretty cool city with good food.

Shiprex · Answer

I have been to Boston as a tourist and it was ok. Felt very like a British city.

FrodoSkywalker007 · Answer

I have never been. That seems like a really cool visit!

CaptainSmartass · Answer

The closest I've been to Boston is on the M1. I think it goes through Lincs at some point. Simples...

Mike_Hum · Answer

Boston is great. OR at least it was. It's a walkable town with a lot of history and cool bars.

Kelly6 · Answer

@simslover92 i went there when I was student in US

LiamS95 · Answer

I've been to Boston but it was when I was just a young boy.

RedInnocent69 · Answer

Yes, visiting Harvard. Not Salem though. Would live to go for Halloween

zagor · Answer

Boston is a good city for walking, if the weather is decent.

_Jenny_ · Answer

@no, but I would love to go to Boston

Paige2006 · Answer

Been to Boston but not Salem

dudeinohio · Answer

Never

ThisSiteSux · Answer

It's weak and gay. A liberal hell hole

msc545 · Answer

not yet

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