With live music, unique bars and restaurants, and local breweries, Salem has a lot to offer the 21+ crowd all year long. Read on to discover some of our picks for the best ways to experience the 21+ side of Salem (and learn more about planning for October here). Live Music & Trivia Restaurants around Salem host live music events frequently. Koto is a locals’ fa

Carnival The Derby Street Carnival features a variety of midway rides and games, from thrilling attractions to rides the whole family can enjoy together. In addition, the carnival hosts a number of classic snack vendors, and games of chance where guests have the opportunity to win some big prizes! Admission to the carnival is free, but tickets must be purchased for the

Best wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving from Destination Salem to everyone who made Salem a great place to visit this year! We are grateful for our visitors, our businesses, and our partners who love the history, promote stories old and new, and believe in the magic of Salem. Happy Thanksgiving!

Salem Restaurant Week kicks off just one week from today! Organized by the Salem Chamber of Commerce, Restaurant Week allows guests to enjoy specially crafted pre-fixe menus from 17 local favorite restaurants. This year’s event runs from December 3 to 7, and menus and contact information for each are available online. Prices per person are $20 or $30 and do not include

Still shopping for the holidays? Salem’s shops are here to help with gifts for him, her, the kids, and even pets! For Him Clothing & Accessories For high-quality winter weather clothing items like jackets, vests, hats, gloves, and more, visit Avalanche Company Store. Additional men’s clothing options can be found around downtown Salem with Ocean Chic Boutique’s rece

We’re wrapping up our gift guide series with a list of Salem experiences you can give this holiday season. Purchase a gift card for friends and family or plan a day of sightseeing downtown this with the ideas listed below, and share how you’re staying local this holiday season by using #StayLocalSalem and #StayLocal2020. As you explore Salem, remember that ma

The latest exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum, Georgia O’Keeffe: Art, Image, Style delves into the iconic artists’ work in relation to her personal fashion and aesthetic. The exhibition comes to PEM from the Brooklyn Museum where it was organized by guest curator Wanda M. Corn, Robert and Ruth Halperin Professor Emerita in Art History, Stanford University. It is the

“Salem has a rich military history that stretches all the way back to the Seventeenth Century, and continues on today. Salem’s designation in 2013 as the birthplace of the National Guard, and Salem’s privateer connections get most of the military heritage attention, but there is much more to this story. Salem Common was “Ye Olde Training Field” when Captain John Endicott

Salem-Zagster has relaunched for the 2019 season! Zagster is Salem’s bike-share program that provides on-demand bikes to Salem residents and visitors as a way to get around town. Last year Zagster recorded thousands of rides throughout downtown Salem, and about 60% of which were from people visiting from out of town. Riders can take advantage of the 10 bike stations wit

T.C. Cannon: At the Edge of America at the Peabody Essex Museum celebrates the life and work of one of the most influential Native American artists with 90 works including paintings, music, and poetry. Cannon’s work ties his heritage and personal experiences with the ongoing questions of ethnic identity, social justice, land rights, and cultural appropriation which conti

Salem’s Spring Restaurant Week runs Sunday, March 18-Thursday, March 22, and Sunday, March 25-Thursday, March 29. Dine at participating restaurants and order off specially priced pre-fixe menus with either two courses for $20 or three courses for $30. (Menu prices are per person and exclude beverages, tax, and gratuity.) 2018 is the 12th year for Salem Restaurant Week,

Salem is a town for all seasons. Planning your visit between November and April? Read this post as attractions run seasonally. Getting to Salem Arrive in Salem via the MBTA Commuter Rail or the Salem Ferry or drive into downtown Salem an park the car for the day.  Click here for detailed directions and parking information. Where to start To see Salem in one day, we reco

With a festival or celebration every month of the year, a robust local theater scene, active nightlife, and ever-changing museum programming, you will always find something to do and explore in Salem. To start your adventure, here are 10 things to know about Salem, Massachusetts: 10. Salem is a small city   With a population of about 42,000 people, Salem is a smal

Salem Regional Visitor Center Start at the Salem Regional Visitor Center at 2 New Liberty Street to pick up a map, watch short films on Salem’s history, learn where to go next, and use the restroom. While here you can get directions and information from National Park Service rangers and volunteers or sign up for a walking tour or harbor cruise with Essex Heritage. Salem

There is so much to see and do in Salem you can easily make a day-trip into an overnight stay. And with so much to do, we’ve broken each day of a two-day trip into two separate posts—you can get all the details for spending your first day in Salem here. For a first day in Salem, we recommend starting at the Salem Regional Visitor Center to pick up a Salem Guide and Map a

It’s time to celebrate! The House of the Seven Gables is having its biggest party in its 350 year history on Saturday, August 4. All are invited to join in this unique, community celebration of music, dance, food, drink, and fun by the sea! This party is punctuated by its international flair, which pays homage to the unique dual mission of the organization. Founded in 19

The Draken Harald Hårfagre, the largest Viking ship sailing in modern times, is making Salem, Massachusetts the next stop on her 2018 East Coast Tour! View the full schedule for the Draken Experience in Salem here. The Draken will be arriving at Salem Maritime National Historic Site on Monday, August 6 at 6:30 pm. Her arrival is followed by a reception at the Regatta Pu

Salem is an inspiring town! Perhaps there is something in the water or maybe it’s Salem’s turbulent history. Whatever it is, Salem has inspired many to write and share their sense of this place with the world. Here is a short list of some of Salem’s most notable fiction. The Scarlett Letter (1850) was Nathaniel Hawthorne’s first critical and popular success. The novel co

Explore Salem this holiday season and make your own magic with holiday attractions, special events, comfort food, and pop-up shops. Museums & Attractions The House of the Seven Gables This winter, learn about the 1668 mansion that inspired the famous novel and explore four centuries of Christmas celebrations in New England. The House of the Seven Gables is open year

Start the 2018 holiday season by catching Santa’s arrival and the annual holiday tree lighting with Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem. Santa arrives at the top of the Hawthorne Hotel at 6:00 pm on Friday, November 23 with assistance from the Salem Fire Department. Arrive early for the best view of Santa’s arrival and to enjoy carols and other family-friendly fest