Salem, Mass: Witchelorette Party
- Vicky
- Oct 19, 2024
- 7 min read
One of my dearest friends is getting married!! So, when she asked me to join her on her destination bachelorette party, I was ecstatic. The destination in question was to none other than Salem, Massachusetts. I already knew this was going to be a vastly different experience from when I went with Michael a few years ago. I was very excited to do this trip with Amanda the bride-to-be, Ali, and Bethany.
Day 1: Boston Bound
We landed in Boston on September 11th, eager to kick off Amanda’s bachelorette party! While waiting for our luggage we realized we not only were celebrating the bride-to-be but also all of our 14-year friendiversary.
Our first stop was the Boston Public Market, which is an indoor marketplace featuring farmers, fishers, artisans, and food entrepreneurs. The most important part here being the food. We were all very hungry. We all ordered some New England clam chowder at Red’s Best. From here we wandered through the historic streets of Boston, marveling at Quincy Market (did you know this market has been bustling since 1826?) and snapping some fun photos along the way. We saw the statue of Samuel Adams in front of Faneuil Hal, which is only fitting as he rallied the citizens of Boston to the cause of independence. For those history buffs in the audience: this is where the colonists first protested the Sugar Act in 1764 and established the doctrine of “no taxation without representation.”
The next part is also going to be fun for all you history buffs – standing at the Old State House, we saw the site of the Boston Massacre, where five colonists were killed by British soldiers in 1770. We tried hunting down some Boston Cream Pie but the location we decided to stop at was sadly closed. Regrouping and figuring out what to visit next, with Bethany’s suggestion we went to the Boston Commons and then the Public Garden, both peaceful green escapes in the heart of the city. The Public Garden was extremely beautiful, with willow trees and a tranquil pond.
One of our favorite games walking was trying to see how many Dunkin’s we would pass. Each of us would shout and point when we spotted one, we got to 8 different ones. But we still hadn’t found a good spot for some Boston Cream Pie. On our way back to the parking lot we decided to try North End Bakery, located in Quincy Market. And voila, behold, classic Boston Cream Pie. We each ordered and it was a dessert to remember for sure as we sat on the second floor savoring every bit of it.
With excitement in the air as we made our way closer to Salem and our AirBnb, we were ready for dinner. However, that’s when the day took a turn. While eating at a restaurant close to where we were staying, a mouse decided to join us from the kitchen to the dining area! Let’s just say that really wasn’t part of the plan and we religiously started looking at reviews to anywhere else we would eat.
Day 2: Witches Unite
First day of Salem! We got ready to embrace our inner witches with matching T-shirts!
We kicked off the day at Witchside Tavern, where Amanda, glowing with wedding-bound excitement, stole the show—especially after some sweet customers from another table surprised her with a dessert! We then excitedly took off to explore Salem via the Heritage Trail. Well, we didn’t stick to the trail that well. There were so many shops to explore!
We walked around the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, which honors those who unjustly lost their lives in 1692 for being accused of witchcraft. Then we spent time at the Charter Street Cemetery. This cemetery is the resting place of Richard More (Mayflower Passenger), Col. John Hathorne (one of the judges in the witch trials), and Bartholomew Gedney (sat on the court during the witch trials). The cemetery is the oldest European burial ground in Salem and among the oldest in the country.
We continue our exploring via shopping in Salem’s quirky, witch themed stores and ended the day with a feast at Turner’s Seafood, which was very happily mouse-free.
Day 3: Friday the 13th, Witches in Style
Could it get more perfect than celebrating Friday the 13th in Salem? Amanda, crowned as our Mother Superior Witch, led us elegantly through the streets. As we continued exploring this historic city and visiting many more quirky shops.
First stop, the historic Witch House—the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Witch Trials. The house was home of Judge Jonathan Corwin. It was closed at the time for maintenance. We then visited Ropes Mansion and Garden, a beautiful Georgian Colonial mansion with fun trivia – did you know it was featured in Hocus Pocus? The garden is an elegant Colonial Revival design which allows geometric flower beds being arranged in concentric circles intersected with axial paths. Here we saw a Witch, Jason, and Beetlejuice. The Witch mistakenly identified Amanda as a bride getting married in the garden.
After a quick stop at Lulu’s Bakery for refreshments and to cool down. We ventured to Jaho Coffee Roaster & Wine Bar, where we got more refreshments. Afterward, we took a stroll to the Salem Maritime District. Walking along the Derby Wharf we captured many stunning photos and made lasting memories. It’s safe to say that we all enjoyed our time by the water. A short walk later we visited the House of the Seven Gables, a 1668 colonial mansion made famous by Nathanial Hawthorne’s 1851 novel The House of the Seven Gables.
With a quick photo session at Salem Commons, we then ended our day at the historic Hawthorne Hotel, where we dined at Nathaniel’s Restaurant with live music playing.
Day 4: Chilling adventures: Lizzie Borden, Rhode Island and ghosts
Since we are a spooky crowd, we couldn’t resist a detour to Fall River, Massachusetts to visit the infamous Lizzie Borden House. This house is the location of the 1892 unsolved double murder of Lizzie’s father and stepmother – Andrew and Abby Borden. We did a tour of the house so we got to step into the rooms where her stepmother and father were found dead was an eerie experience – especially knowing the mystery surrounding Lizzie’s involvement still lingers.
Our tour guide, Karen (not that type of Karen), was simply wonderful. She gave you many facts of the murders, the case, and what happened to Lizzie and her sister later in life. She is just as nosy as Lizzie’s former neighbor Mrs. Churchill. Our tour also included a visit to the basement, where we got to see Andrew Borden’s blood still coating the floor boards underneath. We also saw a picture of the resident cat ghost, Max, and his footprints on the floor.
After absorbing the grim history of the Borden House, we cheered ourselves up with an impromptu trip to Rhode Island for lunch at the Boathouse. Amanda, Ali, and myself hadn’t been to Rhode Island before and were very excited to cross off another state on our list. Enjoying our amazing lunch while watching the boats go by was a very relaxing.
Then it was back to Salem to visit Proctor’s Ledge, the actual site where the 19 accused witches were hanged. It was believed for a long time that the 19 were executed at the summit of Gallows Hill, but no markers on maps from the 1700 showed an execution site. A local historian, Sidney Perley, believed the spot was at the base of the hill on Proctor’s Ledge. Then in 2010 a group of researchers investigated and concluded that Perley was correct. The real execution spot was then confirmed in January 2016. It is unclear when the name Proctor’s Ledge came into existence, the area was owned by Proctors at one time, it is not directly connected to John Proctor who was executed here in August 1692.
From here we transformed for a ghostly photoshoot in one of Salem’s cemeteries, channeling our inner spirits! The whole process was hilarious since we couldn’t see and felt very awkward. We also had our handy dandy towel holder to stand Bethany’s phone in order to capture this paranormal activity.
To wrap up the day we ate at Boston Burger Company. These hamburgers aren't your typical burgers. I had one that was a take on Thanksgiving Dinner. Also we walked in saying how we weren't really hungry but none of us could resist the shakes they had.
Day 5: Boston Tea Party Finale
On our final day, we returned back to Boston to visit the Boston Tea Party Museum. Though we didn’t have time for the full tour, we made sure to stop at Abigail’s Tea House to sample the five teas thrown into the harbor on December 16, 1773. We sat looking out at the Eleanor, a full-scale replica of an 18th-century sailing vessel and one involved with the tea party. It was such a unique experience to taste history! Amanda favored the Congou, a well-made black tea. Bethany and I favored Souchong, a black tea with a distinctive smoky aroma.
I really enjoyed sampling each of the teas to figure out which one I thought was the best. Amanda, Bethany, and myself started with the black teas first. Only later to realize that Ali did it the correct way by starting from the green teas and making her way up to the black teas. Each of the teas had facts about them and it was fun to learn about each. Singlo a green tea, had been to the colonies prior to the Tea Act but under the new act the price was actually more affordable. The East India Company hoped by driving the price down it would entice the market to accept the Tea Act as a positive change. Each ship contained 20 chests, so those eager to try the affordable Singlo were disappointed, since it ended up steeping in the salt water of Griffin’s Wharf. Young Hyson Green Tea was a favorite of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. There were 15 chests onboard the three ships. Bohea this black tea was popular because it was the most affordable. Congou is a smooth black tea with sweet flavors of baked apples. There were 15 chests onboard. Finally, Souchong the smoky black tea, the natural smokiness of the leaves is brought out by being “smoked” over a charcoal fire during the drying process. There were 12 chests aboard the ships in Boston Harbor.
Final Thoughts
Our trip was a prefect blend of history, shopping, witchy vibes, and fun-filled memories with friends. Salem with it’s cobblestone streets and historical landmarks, was the perfect place to celebrate Amanda’s upcoming wedding. From the spooky stories to eerie vibes this was one Witchelorette party we will never forget.
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