Salem, Massachusetts. What a place. Once the home of insanity that resulted in many women losing their lives, now a destination to celebrate the very thing they tried to rid the town of. Visiting is an internal battle for me. On one hand, the journey to radical acceptance of differences is a beautiful thing. On the other, the history of it feels more somber than the festival in town. That said, historic Salem Village (where the horrific events of 1692 occurred), is actually now Danvers. Salem Town is where all the festivities are. If you aren’t fully familiar with the history of Salem, I encourage you to check out the documentary by Nat Geo.

Alright. So what do you need to know to go to Salem with kids? The first thing you should know is that Haunted Happenings is not specifically geared toward children but can be kid friendly if you plan your day correctly. So, with that, let’s get this party started!

Do your research.

If you’re headed the Salem, the absolute first thing you should do is visit the Haunted Happenings website. There is stuff going on all month, and you’ll want to narrow down exactly what you want to experience. Plan for a day in Salem like you’d plan to go to Disney. The website starts getting populated with events around July-August of every year, which gives you a few months to plan. That said, if you’re coming from out of town, you’ll probably want to factor in the foliage and book your hotel much further in advance. Pro-tip: for a better experience, book a hotel in Boston and take the T.

Because it’s coastal, Salem peaks in the second half of the month. We took our annual pilgrimage down there at the beginning of October, and there was still a ton of green on the trees. If you’re constricted and MUST go at the beginning of the month, factor in a drive to interior-Southern NH for a day. It’s only about an hour drive, and those leaves peak a few weeks earlier than Salem. Get off the beaten path, spend a day in a state park, and you won’t be disappointed.

Additionally, you’re going to want to factor in your own personal tolerance for chaos when planning. As the month wears on, Salem gets more… intense. Or that’s what I’ve been told from locals – we always go early in the month. If you have little kids, this may be a non-starter for you. Though it appears that the more child-focused activities also occur later in the month (like the Kids Fun Fest and Broom Making at the Witchery), so it might be worth it for you.

Map out your day.

This is a mistake I always make when visiting Salem. Don’t be me. Sensory overload during Salem’s Haunted Happenings is a very real thing. There’s a ton of people, so many smells, a lot of noise, as well as a million things to choose from. Many of the shops have lines to get into them. Amplify this by a factor of ten when you’re traveling with kids. Anyway, you’ll want to – at minimum – have a rough outline of what sights you want to see, when / where you’ll eat, and what bathrooms you’ll use (my personal favorite is the National Park Service bathroom, but there are porta-potties everywhere).

Dress alike.

I always dress my kids alike when we go to crowded places. It makes them easier to spot in a crowd, helps keep us all together, and ensures a quick recovery if we do get separated. You can read more about my philosophy here.

Bring an Ergo.

I’m just going to say it: Salem isn’t stroller friendly. Between the crowds, traffic, uneven sidewalks, and small restaurants / shops, a wearable is your best bet. There are plenty of wearable options for older kids – so look into that if you think the walking will be too much for your littles. We’ve been using (and loving) the Tula toddler recently as an upgrade to our ErgoBaby.

And snacks!

Snacks are the difference between a pleasant day and a tear-filled one. On our most recent trip, we ended up doling out pretzels, hummus and peppers as we sat in line for the restaurant to open. Make sure you have plenty of high protein and low sugar options to keep the behavior roller coaster in check. You don’t want to add crazy carbs and insane sugar into the overwhelm.

Park at the MBTA

Okay. You could totally park closer to the action – and spend $50. Or you could walk a few extra blocks, park at the MBTA and pay nothing – or up to $3 for the day. You choose. I’ll take the extra jaunt and free parking.

Choose a tour

We’ve done a few tours in Salem over the years. In past years, we’ve done a Fall Foliage & Lighthouse Cruise with Mahi Tours, and a walking tour with Hocus Pocus Tours.

This was our first year doing Salem Kids Tours and I am so glad we did! Our tour was at 9:15 AM on a Sunday, which meant we had snagged amazing parking at the MBTA, and we were able to walk the streets without any traffic. The tour guide is a local sixth grade history teacher, and she did a fantastic job of telling stories that were just spooky enough to make it fun. My kids (7, 5, and 3) were not scared, and managed to stay with us until the very end.

A walking tour may not be right for you if you have mobility issues above and beyond that of a three to five-year-old. The sidewalks are very uneven – my 5-year-old took a tumble at a well-known tripping spot. If a walking tour doesn’t seem like a good fit for your family, I’d highly recommend a tour through Mahi Cruises (especially in the morning). Just remember to pack extra layers!

Skip Rockafella’s and grab lunch at the Flying Saucer Pizza Company

Rockafella’s is like… a Salem staple. It’s right on the corner, and people LOVE it. Why? I’m still trying to figure that one out. The inside feels dingy, but the seating outside provides great people watching. The bathrooms are very dungeon-y and the food is not that great. It’s also overpriced – blame the location.

Instead, cross the street and enjoy a slice or two at the Flying Saucer Pizza Company. There’s indoor and outdoor seating, or you can grab a pizza to go on the lawn. The bathrooms are way better, and the drinks are strong. Don’t worry, my husband drove home. It was our first time over in this part of Salem, and I’ll have to say – it was a lot less crowded, and I thoroughly enjoyed meandering through the streets.

Visit Pioneer Village

We didn’t get this in during our most recent trip, but I wish we had. Pioneer Village is a living history museum, and it’s adjacent to a park. It’s $5 to get in, but off the beaten path enough that I think it would be well worth it. Kids do best with history when it’s hands on, and what’s more hands on than a living history museum? Not only do you get a little history lesson for your kids, but some sensory decompression.

Grab an ice cream on your way out.

Trust me on this: The maple bourbon ice cream at Melt is worth the stop. Don’t worry, there are plenty of “kid friendly” flavors. Whatever that means. My toddler eats tuna. Since it’s right next to the MBTA, you can grab cups on your way out and keep the kids entertained for a little bit in the car. Just make sure to bring wipes because it’s inevitable they will be needed.

Whether you go to Salem during Haunted Happenings, or you visit some other time of the year, a visit to Salem is a great way to immerse kids in history. You only live once, so if it’s been on your list a while, pack a picnic blanket, load up the kids, live free and drive! There’s no better time than the present.