Make Salem your vacation hub

How many days should we plan to stay in Salem?

I hear that a lot. And I can honestly tell you: As many as you have! If you have the time to spend four or five days in Salem, there are an awful lot of options for how to spend your time. Here's how you might fill the hours...

Find your accommodations and check in to Salem on day one. If you check in at 3pm, you have time for one attraction or museum (but do save the Peabody Essex Museum for day two when you have a few hours to spend). Grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant - if you have come from inland, search for terrific seafood on Pickering Wharf. After dinner, muster up your energy for a walking tour of Salem - Salem has tour companies that will share history or haunts, it's up to you! (If your energy is truly waning, grab an historic tour with Historic Salem Pedicab Tours - and leave the exercise to your guide!)

On day two grab one of the trolleys and take their one-hour tour of Salem and then you can use your ticket for an on-again-off-again shuttle service throughout the day. Explore Salem's museums and attractions, take a sail aboard Schooner Fame, stop by one of our confectioners for a treat, and save a bit of time for shopping. After dinner, sample some local music at Rockafellas, The Lobster Shanty, or Gulu Gulu Cafe.

This brings us to day three - the day you head out of Salem. I would spend day three in Boston. Hop on The Salem Ferry in the morning and enjoy the 45-minute ride to Central Wharf in Boston. Make sure to pick up Cruise-and-Dine information and have your ticket stamped so you can save some money on lunch or dinner - in Boston or Salem! If you are traveling with kids, the New England Aquarium is adjacent to the Ferry landing in Boston. Faneuil Hall and Quincy (remember - it's pronounced "Quin-Zee") are across the street and will entertain all ages. Visit the National Park Service visitor center on State Street, and grab a Freedom Trail tour. Boston is a very walkable city with incredible museums, distinctive neighborhoods, theatre, restaurants, and great shopping. If you don't want to walk, hop on the T - Boston's subway system. You'll have no problem filling your day, and you can snooze on the Ferry ride back to Salem. You won't miss your stop, it's the only one!

On day four, after a very good night's sleep, you have the region north of Salem to explore! Head up to Gloucester - the MBTA Commuter Rail can take you there, or you can drive via scenic Rte. 127 or the slightly faster Rte. 128 - and head out on a whale watch with Capt. Bill & Sons. The whale watching is incredible this year, and all of the trips have naturalists on board. Arts enthusiasts will love the art colonies in Gloucester in Rockport, and architectural buffs will be in seventh heavan in Ipswich and Newburyport. Those traveling wiht kids should check out CoCoKey in Danvers. It's an indoor water park, and the kids will love you for adding it to your experience. If you're goal is to add to the shopping you started in Salem, head toward Marblehead, Newburyport, and Rockport. For more information on the region, visit the North of Boston CVB and the Essex National Heritage Area web sites.

I didn't get into the region's beaches - and we have stunning, sandy beaches in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Ipswich, Marblehead, Gloucester, and Rockport. Your innkeepers will certainly be able to point you to the beach that fits your needs.

Salem is a fantastic, unique, historic destination, and it is fortunate to be located in an incredible region of Massachusetts and New England. Enjoy your exploration!