Annaliesa & Thomas
Things To Do
Downtown Salem
Most widely known as the site of the 1692 Salem witch trials, this coastal town on Boston's north shore has many other attractions and activities to offer visitors.
Salem Heritage Trail (Salem's Red Line)
Follow the red line on the Salem Heritage Trail, a free walking tour, to learn about many of Salem’s primary historical sites. You can walk the self-guided tour alone along a red-painted line on the sidewalk or go with a group. It starts at 2 New Liberty Street, the National Park Service Salem Regional Visitor Center, where you can watch a free film and then embark on your journey. From there you'll pass several sites like the Witch History Museum; the Old Burying Point Cemetery, which contains a Mayflower resident; and a statue of Samantha Stephens from the TV sitcom Bewitched.
The Roof - Rooftop Bar and Restaurant at the Hotel Salem
Unique among Salem, MA restaurants, The Roof offers Salem’s only rooftop bar and restaurant. Located at the top of The Hotel Salem, this seasonal dining space features an outdoor kitchen and expansive views of Salem’s cobblestone streets and bustling harbor. Expect to find some of the best-crafted cocktails in the area, as well as tacos, rice bowls, and oysters. The Roof is for locals and tourists alike looking for a laid-back, yet sophisticated atmosphere to unwind.
Notch Brewery & Tap Room - Salem
The Tap Room has 8 to 14 beers on tap. Communal tables, counter service, light snacks, and Skee Ball. The 2000 sq ft biergarten has a seating capacity of 200. Communal tables on the South River basin in Salem. Watch the tide come and go from the south facing beer garden. Catch a view of our harbor seals, birds of all types and striped bass when they are running. Outside food is allowed. Well behaved dogs are encouraged!
Kokeshi Ramen Restaurant & Bar - Salem
Kokeshi serves up excellent, whimsical takes on Asian street food in a decidedly non-New England space that eschews a Colonial aesthetic for colorful murals and communal tables. Although Kokeshi is open for lunch, the real scene gets going for dinner, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Goodnight Fatty Cookie Shop - Salem
Open exclusively on the weekends in Salem MA, this late night cookie shop is here to curb your sweet tooth. Each weekend night we sling a new variety of “Fatties” (That’s what we call cookies) made in small batches, served warm with milk. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, we serve Breakfast treats, like our Bagel "Chubbies" with coffee. Cookie Shop: open Friday 7 pm - 11 pm, Saturday 2 - 11 pm and Sunday 2 - 10 pm Breakfas: open 8am - 2pm every Saturday & Sunday
Kayak/Canoe ride down the Ipswich River - Ipswich
Rent a kayak or a canoe for a few hours and explore the Ipswich River (a few miles north of Salem), which runsquietly through beautiful forests, fields and farmlands. Much of the undeveloped land along its banks is protected, including a wildlife sanctuary, scenic wetlands, and two state parks.
Castle Hill on the Crane Estate - Ipswich
Castle Hill is a part of the 2,100 acre Crane Estate - one of the region's most scenic and historic landscapes. A system of footpaths and winding drives invites visitors to explore this remarkable National Historic Landmark. The Great House, a 59-room Stuart-style mansion, presides over Castle Hill’s 165 acres of designed and natural landscapes with commanding panoramic views of the ocean. Its famous rolling lawn - the Grand Alleé - stretches half a mile from the portico of the Great House to the precipitous bluffs which overlook Crane Beach, a four-mile expanse of beaches and meandering trails across dunes, also part of The Crane Estate. Castle Hill offers seasonal house and landscape tours, a café, and an extensive schedule of public events. Self-guided, first-floor tours of the Great House are free with grounds admission (which is $15 per car). The Crane's estate is also down the road from Russell Orchard Farm, which is famous for its apple cider and apple cider donuts.
Woodman's of Essex - Essex
Essex, located 26 miles north of Boston, is a quintessential New England travel experience with its coastal, river and salt marsh views, old historic homes, many antique stores, shipbuilding history and many sea food restaurants. To get a taste of classic New England fried seafood, stop at Woodman's of Essex. This classic seafood shack located on "The Clam Highway" across from the scenic Essex River first opened in 1914 as a roadside grocery stand, where the first fried clam was invented and sold in 1916. A local favorite, it is also known internationally for its fried clams and New England clam bakes.
Great Marsh Brewing Company - Essex
Located a few minutes from Woodmann's of Essex, this casual brewery and restaurant has beautiful views of the water. Guests can sip either in the first-floor tap room, the second-floor restaurant space, the open overhang that overlooks the brewing floor below or in the beer garden outside, weather permitting.
Downtown Newburyport
Newburyport is a small coastal, scenic, and historic city 35 miles northeast of Boston (20 miles north of Salem). A historic seaport with lots of fun shops and restaurants.
Michael's Harborside - Newburyport
Michael’s Harborside is a waterfront steak and seafood restaurant overlooking the Merrimack River. It is a favorite of locals who dine out often, boaters staying at one of the many marinas, and tourists who come from all over New England, Canada and even farther away to get a true taste of New England.
The Paddle Inn Restaurant - Newburyport
The Paddle Inn focuses on classic comfort food dishes in popular beach communities around the world. The casual menu offers snacks, sandwiches and composed plates designed to satisfy the craving for crunchy, savory snacks after a long day on the water. Seasonal cocktails are offered alongside craft beers on draft and in bottles.
Plum Island - Newburyport
Plum Island is an 11-mile long barrier Island off the shore of Newburyport, with miles of public beaches and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, home to over 800 species of birds, plants and animals. Sandy Point State Reservation on the southern tip of Plum Island is a wonderful place to swim or explore the life of the tide pools. Here you can enjoy fishing, boating, kayaking or just relaxing on the beach.
Bob Lobster - Plum Island
While on Plum Island, if you’re looking for a classic New England lobster roll a visit Bob Lobster is a must. From traditional lobster rolls and seafood platters to creative specialty lobster rolls like The Spicy and The Avocado, there is literally something on the menu for every seafood lover. Located diagonally across the street from the famous Plum Island Pink Spite House, Bob Lobster offers both indoor and outdoor seating and is known for its beautiful sunset views over the Plum Island Marsh. Customer walk up to the counter to place their order and the food is delivered to their tables. Outside seating is filled with casual picnic tables, including a covered area to protect against the elements, while inside has several booths and tables.
Harvard Square, Harvard Yard, Harvard Coop Bookstore, Harvard Fogg Museum - Cambridge
Harvard Square: considered the historic center of Cambridge, Harvard Square is a vibrant neighborhood filled with boutique shops, cafes, restaurants, theaters and street performers. Harvard Yard: is the central green space of Harvard University. Stroll past freshman dorms, classroom buildings and libraries, or visit the university’s Memorial Church, Peabody Museum of archaeology or one of the school’s many art museums. Harvard Coop: Founded by Harvard students in 1882, this impressive four-story bookstore is a must-see in Cambridge. It has all the best Harvard and MIT merchandise and is considered one of the largest campus stores in the United States. Harvard Fogg Museum: is the oldest art museum at Harvard University. Opened in 1896, the museum features an excellent collection of Italian Renaissance paintings and Western art dating back to the Middle Ages. Works by Paul Cézanne, Édouard Manet, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh are on permanent display.
Boston Historic Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile-long path through downtown Boston, Massachusetts, that passes by 16 locations significant to the history of the United States. Marked largely with brick, it winds between Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown
Boston Common
Boston Common is a central public park in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States.
Boston Public Garden
Boston Public Garden, is a large park in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Boston Common. The Public Garden was the first public botanical garden in America.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace - Boston
Shopping center with many stores & restaurants comprising 3 historic market buildings & a promenade.
North End - Boston
The North End, Boston’s Little Italy, is a maze of narrow streets with some of the city’s oldest buildings. Italian restaurants, coffeehouses, pastry and gelato shops, and old-school delis pack the area, especially on lively Hanover Street. Part of the Freedom Trail, the North End features historic sites like the 1680 Paul Revere House and the Old North Church, which played a key role at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
Beacon Hill - Boston
Beacon Hill, a one square mile area, is one of Boston’s most picturesque neighborhoods. Brick row houses feature ornate doors and decorative iron work. Its narrow streets are lined with brick sidewalks and gas lamps. This quaint neighborhood was home to many famous Americans, including: Louisa May Alcott, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Daniel Webster, Robert Frost, Sylvia Plath, and Senator John Kerry. Charles Street features antique shops and a variety of local restaurants and other businesses. Famous as the inspiration for the television show Cheers, the former Bull & Finch Pub, now officially known as "Cheers Boston", is also located in the Beacon Hill District.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum - Boston
Step back into the re-created world of the early 1960’s and experience first-hand the life and legacy of John and Jacqueline Kennedy through 25 exhibits, 3 theaters and 20 video presentations. The JFK Museum is open seven days per week, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Parking at the library is free.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - Boston
Once home to Isabella Stewart Gardner, this splendid palazzo now houses her exquisite collection of art. The museum includes thousands of artistic objects, especially Italian Renaissance and Dutch Golden Age paintings. On the morning of March 18, 1990, two thieves dressed as policemen walked out of the museum with 13 pieces of art valued at half a billion dollars. Twenty-eight years later, it remains the largest unsolved art heist.
Fenway Park - Boston
Since 1912, it has been the home for the Boston Red Sox, the city's American League baseball team, and since 1953, its only Major League Baseball franchise. It is the oldest ballpark in MLB.