Shopping local is more important now than ever and Salem’s small businesses are excited to welcome residents back downtown. Join the businesses in taking the Salem Together pledge, grab your mask, and head out to explore: Food/Groceries Sweets & Treats Home/Décor Clothing & Accessories For Pets Witch & Occult Salem Souvenirs Salem Resident Discounts

Stay local and shop and dine in Salem this holiday season Downtown Salem is home to scores of small, locally-owned businesses that need our support! Destination Salem is collaborating with Salem Main Streets, the Creative Collective, and Salem Chamber of Commerce to encourage you to #StayLocalSalem in 2020.  A postcard has been mailed to 19,000 Salem resident households

by Anne Sterling When Destination Salem asked me to write about a favorite Salem event, the annual Christmas in Salem House Tour immediately sprang to mind. My memory draws me back to my first tour in December of 2003, when Salem was pummeled by a powerful snowstorm that lasted three days and postponed the second day of the tour. Being a December baby, I was delighted th

Giving Tuesday is here and we’re sharing ways you can give back to local nonprofits in Salem, Massachusetts! Salem is home to numerous museums and historic sites, along with nonprofits in education, social justice, and more that rely on visitor contributions and purchases to support their missions. Here are a few ways you can participate in #GivingTuesday in Salem:

The City of Salem recently announced the upcoming installation of seven sculptures along the Salem Harbor Connector Path. The sculptures will be on display December 1, 2020 to November 30, 2021 in celebration of the path’s completion over the summer. The sculpture project was led by Julie Barry, the City’s Senior Planner for Arts & Culture in the Departme

Stay local and order takeout and delivery from your favorite Salem restaurants, or discover something new to try downtown with this list (or click here for a printable version!) – Restaurants Adriatic Restaurant & Bar: (155 Washington Street, 978-594-1832), takeout and delivery, see Facebook page for specials. Bambolina: (288 Derby Street, 978-594-8709), curb

Salem’s small businesses typically rely on spring and summer business to get through the quieter winter months, and this year our support is more important than ever. Shop small this holiday season and purchase gifts from local retailers, or consider giving restaurant gift cards to family and friends. Giving financial support or time to local nonprofits, leaving po

Stay local and explore our historic seaport with a Salem staycation! Relax with an overnight stay within walking distance to shops and restaurants, and visit favorite museums and attractions, take in outdoor public art around town, and more. Find ideas to plan your stay below, and read to the end of this post to learn how you could win a Salem staycation featuring many

We extend our gratitude to the people, places, and events that make Salem a unique and wonderful place to visit  throughout the year, to everyone who chose Salem as their destination in 2020, and to everyone who supported Salem’s downtown business community from afar this year.  We hope you have a magical holiday season and safe and healthy 2021, wherever your adv

2021 is bringing lots of new events, shops, and more to Salem, Massachusetts! With even more ways to explore our city while wandering through downtown historic districts or from home with virtual events, you are sure to discover something new or re-discover an old favorite this year in Salem. Special Events Salem Winterlude started during the holidays and will continue t

This Valentine’s Day, were shopping local and picking up chocolates, jewelry, cards, and more from retailers throughout Salem, MA! Use the guide below to find where to shop downtown this month and share your favorite finds by tagging us and #StayLocalSalem on social. ❤️ Chocolates & Sweets Harbor Sweets has been home to some of Salem’s finest homemade ch

Travel may look different right now, but Salem, Massachusetts is open for business with everyone’s health and safety in mind. Museums and attractions, walking, harbor and trolley tours, shops, and restaurants are open and waiting to see you when you’re ready to travel. Grab your mask (or find a locally made mask while you’re here) and use the tips below to help plan your

This winter, local restaurants are stepping up their menus with a variety of comfort food perfect to warm up downtown between shops or bring home for a cozy dinner inside. Find a full list of restaurants offering takeout and delivery here, locals’ picks for favorite takeout restaurants here, and keep reading to check out some favorite winter dishes to try in Salem.

Salem’s connection to the Witch begins with the tragic events that unfolded during the Witch Trials of 1692 when 20 innocent men and women were accused of practicing witchcraft and executed. In the 1950s, Arthur Miller used this event in the Crucible, which served as an allegory for social “witch hunts.”  Episodes of Bewitched were filmed in Salem following a studio fir

Did you know you can get a little bit of Salem mailed directly to your home each month? Some of Salem’s small businesses now offer subscription boxes, so you can try new things all while supporting our local businesses and getting a taste of Salem at home each month. Here are some Salem subscription services we recommend: Notch Beer Subscriptions Notch sends out f

This year’s Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival takes place February 1-14, 2021 all around downtown Salem, Massachusetts! This annual event has been modified to reflect current public health guidelines, and organizers and participating businesses are excited to offer a safe opportunity to get outside and explore Salem. The expanded festiv

Whether you’re shopping local for a new mug, or sampling new loose leaf teas to try at home, Salem, Massachusetts has plenty of ways to warm up with a cup. Use the guide below and discover where to shop for teas to brew wherever you may be, tea-inspired treats to try at our restaurants, where to find accessories and more: Shopping for Tea in Salem Whether you’

February is Black History Month, and we’re sharing a walking tour that focuses exclusively on Salem’s black heritage. Voices Against Injustice sponsors an audio tour that you can download (for free) on your smartphone. Download the UniGuide mobile app and select “Salem’s Black Heritage” to visit 24 stops around town associated with Salem’s black history. This tour covers

Before Roger Conant and his group of Europeans arrived on the land that is now Salem, the area was home to the Naumkeag band of the Massachusett tribe, a nomadic indigenous population. Since members of the tribe moved throughout the region depending on the season, their villages sometimes looked abandoned with empty structures along the Massachusetts coast. The Naumkeag

2020 was a tumultuous year for destinations around the world. As business slowed to stop the spread of the coronavirus, we had the opportunity to appreciate how much we have in Salem. In 2021, we will take time to show our gratitude and give thanks for the people and places who power the engine that runs Salem’s tourism and hospitality industry. Tour guides, front