Ultimate Guide to 3 Days In Salem/Boston, MA During Halloween

I couldn't think of a more perfect place to be for Halloween than Salem, Massachusetts because when it comes to spooky destinations in the United States, few can beat Salem. Being the location of where the Salem With Trials took place, this small town in Massachusetts has a rich history and has become one of the most popular Halloween destinations. This is actually what attracted one of my besties and I to visit the charming, yet dark, town of Salem for a Halloween (and the fact that we are big fans of Hocus Pocus and there are so many filming locations to visit here!). Salem wasn't the only place we stopped at. We actually stayed in Boston and took an Uber to Salem for the day. 2 of the best cities to spend a 3 day weekend at! In this blog, I take you through our day by day itinerary of some of the best things to do and places to eat in Salem and Boston, Massachusetts during Halloween weekend!

Salem

What we did:

• We got there bright and early at 9:30 am on Halloween morning and asked our Uber to drop us off as close to the Salem festivities as possible.

• We spent the day walking around downtown Salem where the Witches Museum/House is at. That entire area was/is blocked off for Halloween day and there is plenty of eateries, shops, food trucks, people, festivities, etc.

• All of the witch shops are a must! Definitely plenty to see and do to keep you busy for hours.

Where we ate:

• Ugly Mug Diner. I saw this place on plenty of blogs, favorited for their brunch menu and it did not disappoint. It is aesthetic, they have outdoor dining, they have a creative coffee menu, they have a wide brunch menu, and they are quick. 10/10 recommend!

Recommendations:

• The news and many people will advise you to travel to Salem early in the day on Halloween because as the day progresses, the traffic gets busy and you do not want to be in Salem after dark on Halloween for safety reasons.

• Also, make reservations for somewhere to eat, the moment you get into Salem. We made ours right at 9:45 am and there was already a 2 hour wait and lucky we did, because the restaurants book in advance and close early.

Boston

Boston is one of those cities that is totally do-able even if you do not consider yourself a "city person" primarily because of its small size, you can cover so much ground and explore in just a 3 day weekend.

What we did:

• No trip to Boston is complete without going to Fenway Park, the oldest baseball stadium in Major League Baseball. The entire area around Fenway Park is an experience you must have. We booked a one-hour stadium tour for only $21 each and it was completely worth it.

• We also went to Beacon Hill. Beacon Hill is arguably the cutest neighborhood in all of Boston, and is home to Acorn Street; What many call, the cutest street in the United States (and for good reason). When walking Beacon Hill, in many ways, you feel like you’re stepping back in time. With cobblestone streets and beautiful brick row homes, it will surely win you over if the rest of Boston hasn’t already.

• Walking through Boston Public Gardens is worth it. It is so gorgeous and an amazing spot for photos or just to take in the wonderful change of color in the trees and landscape.

• Prudential Center Mall is a nice mall with fancy dining inside. Definitely fun to walk around and buy some souvenirs.

Where we ate:

• Citrus & Salt is a Mexican spot in Boston and everything is Instagramable here from the decor, to the food, to the walls in the bathroom, to the names of the drinks on the menu.

• Tatte has AMAZING pastries, grilled cheese, house lattes (and so much more)! This is my number one recommendation of where you should get brunch! With so many locations all over the city, I feel like you’re bound to find one at least within a mile of wherever you’re staying.

• Rock Bottom had the best nachos and best spicy margarita a girl could ever ask for!

• Legal Seafood is a fancy, dim lit dinner spot that is a MUST to eat at while in Boston. My bestie got their Lobster Mac n Cheese and wow, it was to die for. They also have amazing Clam Chowder and a great Lobster Roll.

• Earls Kitchen and Bar came highly recommended primarily for their roof top dining which resembles a green house but with fancy tables and seating. This is actually where we spotted Gaten Matarazzo who plays Dustin from Stranger Things. He was sitting in the booth right directly behind us! We are huge Stranger Things fans so we were definitely fan girling! Oh also, the Calamari is to die for from here!

• Honorable mention goes out to Airport Food since we had some length in between flight lol.

Recommendations:

• Highly recommend booking and doing your trip during the months of September, October, and/or November! Boston is pure magic in the fall.

• Don't rent a car! Parking is hard to find and if you stay in Downtown Boston, majority everything is walking distance at no more than a 15/20 minute walk to the furthest activity.

• Bring comfortable walking shoes! We walked around 20k steps a day!

Boston is beyond beautiful and I would not mind visiting again. You'll fall in love with the architecture of the city and be prepared to get plenty of steps in! If you are planning a trip and have any questions, reach out to me. I am happy to help!