Woman standing in front of a statue of a witch. Behind her is a sign that reads “Salem Witch Village”
Haunted Travels,  The Archives

Witch Way to the Brewery?

October 10, 2024 /

I love the brightly painted wooden homes and bays filled with sailboats in New England. And if you know me, you know I ADORE October – with the leaves changing colors and the fresh cool air in the mornings. I must say, there is nothing like Salem in October – and it may not be for the reasons you think! While my friends and I were determined to find our way to the museums, Stephen asked an even more important question…”Witch Way to the Brewery?” Join us this week for a spooky tour of Salem, Massachusetts.

So What’s to See in Salem?

Most people only know Salem for it’s ties to the dark times of the witch trials back in the late 1600’s. But if you’ve never been, let me say, it’s a beautiful New England town with walkable streets, lots of shops and some great places to eat and drink.

Front page of the paper menu at the Witches Brew Cafe. I has a picture of a witch seated in front of a cauldron, that she is stirring with a stick. Behind her, is seated a cat.
Lunch at the Witch’s Brew Cafe
A metal picture on the wall of a seated witch, stirring a hot cauldron, with a cat sitting behind her.
On the wall of the Cafe
Wall with multiple signs about witches
The Witchy Wall
Exterior of the Salem Beer Works. It is red brick building, with large glass rolling doors
Salem Beer Works
Board listing all of the beer on tap at the Salem Beer Works
What’s on tap

The House of Seven Gables

Besides the “on-brand” places to see, Salem is also the birthplace of author Nathaniel Hawthorne. And if you know me, you know that I love to visit locals associated with literature.

Sign with an arrow that reads “Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Birth Place”, before an old, brown, wood building
This way to the birth place!
Large brown wooden home that is the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthore
Nathaniel Hawthorne House
Woman ducking in through a small door way at the Nathaniel Hawthorne house
That’s a LOW ceiling
Quote painted on the wall above a wooden secretarial desk that reads “Death should take me a while. I am in the mood.” Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Blithedale Romance
Death should take me a while. I am in the mood!

The Witch Museum

I first visited the witch museum when I was only 7. And you should know, decades later, nothing has changed. (You can infer whatever you’d like from that information.) I would say, though it does feel like a trip through a 1970’s wax museum, it is a good way to refresh yourself on the events surrounding the trials.

List mounted on the wall that lists all of the people accused in the Salem Witch Trials and all those executed as a result
The accused
Red, glowing, disk listing all the victims of the witch trials and the year 1692
The ring of victims
Wax figure of a witch flying on a broom
Witch on a broom

Witch Trials Memorial

I heard about the Witch Trials Memorial in the 2018 podcast, “Unobscured” by Aaron Mahnke. Four foot high stone walls create an enclosure, where 20 benches sit. On each bench is the name of a victim, the date of their execution, and their method of death. On the threshold, you can read part of a phrase taken directly from one of the trials. “Oh Lord, help me. I am wholly innocent.” It is cut off mid-sentence, representing the lives that were cut short by this miscarriage of justice.

Stone wall enclosing the Salem Witch Trial Memorial. In the distance is the cemetery.
Memorial and Cemetery
Sign explaining the details of the Salem Witch Trial Memorial.
About the Memorial
Stone bench built in to the wall of the Salem Witch Memorial. There is an orange flower laying on it and carved into the seat is “Mary Parker Hanged Sept. 22 1692”
Mary Parker’s bench
Stone bench in the Salem Witch Memoral. There is a pink flower laying on it and inscribed on it is “Samuel Wardwell Hanged Sept 22 1692”
Samuel Wardwell’s bench
Stone block enscribed at the entrance to the Salem Witch Trial Memorial that reads “Oh Lord help me. I am wholly in”
I am wholly in…

Things Witchy and Witch Adjacent

Though it’s not possible to completely disconnect from the dark things that happened here, here are other things to see, in the full light of day, that you might enjoy.

Bronze statue of a man in robes and a floppy hat on top of a large granite stone. The placquard reads “Roger Conant”
The slightly scary founding father, Roger Conant
Three gabled, brown home, with lead pane windows.
Judge Corwin’s House – aka the Witch House
Four large stick structures with round hole entrances - entitled “What Birds Know”
Giant bird houses
Bronze statue of Samatha from Be-Witched, sitting on a crescent moon
Statue of Samatha from the show “Be-Witched”
Long spillway leading to a three masted ship, next to a large wooden building
The Ship, The Friendship

Salem in October…what you should know

So I’d been to Salem twice before – once in July and again in April. As much as I love October and New England, stopping in Salem on our way back down to Boston from Maine seemed like a “no-brainer”. However, we didn’t know what happens in Salem the closer you get to Halloween. Our first clue was that it took over an hour to get to the city center. The second clue, was that we had to park on some obscure side street near a grocery store. The third…droves of people in costumes, walking toward the middle of town to experience the “Witch Village”.

Red brick building with a large sign over the awning that reads “Steve’s Quality Market”
At least we will be able to remember the name…
Woman standing in front of a statue of a witch. Behind her is a sign that reads “Salem Witch Village”
The witch is in!

So…witch way to the Brewery?

As much as I love a good time, I’m not keen on huge crowds of humans. It sort of gives me the “oogies”. Do you feel me on this? I also felt it cheapened the experience of those who lost their lives as a result of hysteria and fear. Wanting to be even more adjacent, I asked this important question to Stephen and we ended up at Finz for some craft beer and fresh from the ocean, seafood.

Man and woman, holding a pint of beer each
Ah…Salem beer!
Three shrimp tacos on a platter
Shrimp Tacos?? Yes, please!

The Recommendation

So you should really go to Salem. It’s absolutely beautiful and it teaches a poignant lesson about judging others on feelings and not facts. I would just say…avoid October if you really want to experience the town.

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