5 Things To Do in Salem With Kids (Besides the Witch Museum)
Salem, Massachusetts is a city with a rich history and cultural heritage, making it the perfect destination for families with kids. From the witch trials of the 17th century to the iconic maritime heritage, there is something for everyone to explore in Salem. But with so many exciting things to do, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this list of our five favorite things to do in Salem with kids.
Side note on the Witch Museum: I wish I’ve done a bit more research on the museum as I was expecting to see witchcraft-related artifacts, but it was very far from that. The whole experience completely terrified my daughter and, frankly, me.
Here are our five favorite things to do in Salem with kids:
The first three places are within feet of each other, which makes them very easy to visit.
Table of Contents
Peabody Essex Museum
Peabody Essex Museum is on a smaller side so it is easily manageable with the kids of all ages.
The museum houses African, American, Asian, maritime, Native American, and Oceanic art primarily from the 1700s to today.
These two exhibitions are not be missed:
- Charles Sandison: Figurehead 2.0. An animated digital projection of words and images from 18th-century ship captains’ logs. On view till January 3, 2021
- All the Flowers Are for Me by Anila Quayyum Agha. A sculptural chamber of light and shadow inspired by Persian and Turkish architecture and textiles. On view till February 22, 2021
Kakawa Chocolate House
Just steps away from the museum, this specialty chocolate store/cafe is a perfect pit stop.
Kakawa Chocolate House is set to recreate authentic and historic drinking chocolate elixirs. In addition to these elixirs, you can also try truffles, ice cream, caramels, chocolate dipped fruit, and more.
We opted for elixir flight, and let me tell you, those were some very interesting flavors.
Witch Pix Costume Studio
Punto Urban Art Museum
This awe-inspiring open-air museum is free to visit.
The idea behind Punto Urban Museum is to bring Salem’s visitors the Point neighborhood to provide economic support to immigrant-owned local businesses.
Each unique mural is showcasing not only the artist’s talent but also the impressive ability to use buildings as the canvas.
We are absolutely in love with the Chrome Dog mural by Bikismo.
Learn more about the murals and their artists here.
Hocus Pocus Filming Locations Tour
If you are a fan of now-classic Halloween movie Hocus Pocus, a great way to explore Salem is to set on DIY tour of the movie filming locations:
- Ropes Mansion is Allison’s house.
- The opening scenes of the movie were filmed at Pioneer Village.
- Old Town Hall is the Halloween party location.
- Many of the outdoor scenes were filmed in Salem Commons.
Here is the link to a custom Google map with these locations.
See additional info on Salem’s blog here.
Other Suggestions
If you are looking for more things to do, here are some other suggestions:
House of the Seven Gables. Explore this historic house and learn about the inspiration behind Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel.
Salem Witch Village. Learn about the history of witchcraft and the role it played in Salem’s past.
New England Pirate Museum. Explore the history of piracy and discover the true story of the pirates of New England.
