Salem Ferry has new digs at Blaney Street

Have you ridden the Salem Ferry lately?  If you have, then you know Blaney Street has a whole new look!  The "landside improvements" of the Salem Wharf project have been completed, giving us a beautifully paved parking lot and a new terminal (with climate control and proper rest rooms!).

Salem Ferry service remains the same, providing an awesome transportation option between Salem and Boston.  In under an hour, you can be transported from Salem to Boston, or vice-versa, via the beautiful north of Boston Coastline and Salem and Boston harbors.  There's a galley on board for snacks and drinks, as well as restaurants and both enclosed and outside seating options.  

The Ferry travels from Salem to Boston on the odd hours (7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm and 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays), and from Boston to Salem on even hours (8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm, and 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays).  The fares are $19 RT for adults, $17 RT for seniors and kids.  You'll save a few dollars if you buy your tickets online. 

Pedestrian walkway

Entrance to the Salem terminal

Fabulous staff!

The Salem Trolley meets daytime ferries, providing shuttle service to the Visitor Center

A Boston Harbor Islands Travelogue

 Long Wharf North

A trip to the Boston Harbor Islands is an awesome full-day excursion, whether you live locally or are looking to add an extra day to your Salem itinerary.  The Boston Harbor Islands hold unique pieces of Massachusetts, Boston, and American history.  There are 34 islands and peninsulas in this "urban archipelago."  We visited two of them: Spectacle Island and Georges Island, which were extremely different experiences.

Here's how we did it...

9:00 AM

Salem Ferry heading into Boston

Board the Salem Ferry at Salem Wharf, Blaney Street.  This was the first time we had taken the Ferry since the landside improvements have been completed.  The ferry terminal is still under construction, but the parking lot is paved and lined, and there is an path clearly marked for pedestrians.

Taking the ferry into Boston starts your excursion all that sooner.  There's no traffic, no stress, no parking issues. As soon as you walk down the gangway, your experience has begun. The ferry arrived in Boston at 9:55 AM, and we had enough time to run over to the playground next to Christopher Columbus Park for a few minutes before heading out to Spectacle Island.

The inter-island ferry

10:30 AM
Board the Harbor Island Ferry to Spectacle Island.  We were greeted on Spectacle by a park ranger who welcomed us ashore and gave us a self-guided tour brochure.  We stopped into the visitor center and restrooms before beginning our trek up the large drumlin.  Spectacle has an amazing history.  In the 18th century, it was home to a maritime quarantine station, in the 19th century it held a horse rendering plant, and in the early 20th century it was converted into a garbage processing facility.  In 1992, Spectacle's story took an unexpected turn when the Big Dig / Central Artery project used it as a landfill location, and the sediment excavated from Boston was brought out to Spectacle where it was built up into the island you can see today. 

Fife & Drum welcome

There is a sandy beach, with a lifeguard, interpretive signage, a snack bar and visitor center on Spectacle.  People we rode out with were taking beach and picnic supplies, or were planning to hike and walk around the island's trails. 

12:30 PM
We hopped on the inner-island ferry toward Georges Island. Georges is home to Fort Warren, which is a national historic landmark.  Georges Island is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War this summer, so we were met by reenactors playing Fife and Drum, which set the mood for the day.  As eager as we were to explore the fort, we were hungry, so our first stop on Georges was the Summer Shack snack bar.  After lunch, we started into the Fort to explore.

Fort Warren

There are ranger-guided tours throughout the day, but we decided to explore independently and the kids ran in and out of the bastions, observation towers, batteries and casements.  There were reenactors in costume playing music, and the kids
could try their hands at Civil War-era games. 

The museum at Georges Island was very impressive, depicting the experiences of various people who were

stationed, or imprisoned, on Georges Island.  One exhibit displayed six plates of food, showing what you would eat if you were at Fort Warren, and it varied drastically between enlisted, officers, or prisoners.  

3:30 PM
Time for the Harbor Island Ferry back to Long Wharf in Boston.  By this point in the day there were sailboats

Georges Island museum

racing in the harbor, as well as all of the tour boats and pleasure cruises out on the water, making Boston Harbor a very exciting place to navigate.

We arrived back in Boston in time to head over to the North End and grab some pizza (our Salem Ferry tickets were good for a 10% discount at several restaurants through Boston's Best Cruises' Cruise & Play program), and a quick stop at Modern Pastry for Canolli to eat on the Salem Ferry trip back.

6:00 PM
We boarded the Salem Ferry to head back to Salem.We had walked for miles, ridden multiple ferries, and had a great day that took us from a modern-day engineering feat to a Civil War fort and back again.  And we would all sleep well that night.

DETAILS
Salem Ferry, SalemFerry.com
Adult round trip: $19
Child/Senior round trip: $17

Harbor Island Ferry, BostonsBestCruises.com
Family 4-pack: $37

Boston Harbor Islands, BostonHarborIslands.org 
Check out their "150 Free Things to Do," which includes everything from yoga to self-guided tours to fishing clinics.

Snack Bars on Spectacle and Georges: Summer Shack, SummerShackRestaurant.com
Many people bring picnics to enjoy on the beach.  We brought our own snacks and water, but stopped for lunch.

Salem Ferry from Boston to Salem

I love the new Salem Ferry spot promoting travel from Boston to Salem!  This is the best way to travel between the two cities.  I know I'll be on board this weekend!

Take the Salem Ferry to the Bruins Victory Parade!

MVP Goalie Tim Thomas with the Stanley Cup, from BostonBruins.com

The Salem Ferry has added a 7:00 AM trip into Boston on Saturday morning, to help everyone get to the Bruins' celebratory parade in style, in time, and without traffic and parking hassles.

The parade begins at 11:00 AM.  Visit Boston.com for details.

Regular Ferry service continues after the 7:00 AM trip, with trips into Boston at 9:00 AM and on the "odd hours" until the last trip in at 9:00 PM.  The ferry returns from Boston to Salem on the "even hours," beginning at 8:00 AM, last trip to Salem on Saturday at 10:00 PM.  

Buy your tickets online at www.salemferry.com to guarantee your seat!

Congratulations, Bruins!!

Ten Best Reasons to Ride the Salem Ferry

We are so excited that the Salem Ferry is launching its 2011 season on Saturday, June 11th. The ferry provides daily service between the Salem Wharf at Blaney Street and Long Wharf North in Boston.  

To celebrate our favorite mode of transportation between Boston and Salem, here are Destination Salem's TEN BEST Reasons to ride the Salem Ferry.  
  

1. To celebrate the grand opening of the season, the Salem Ferry will be giving away a free soft pretzel and slushy beverage to the first 300 guests over the weekend!
2. The Salem Wharf at Blaney Street has undergone an extreme make-over, with paved parking, landscaping and a new terminal building (which is coming soon). 
3. Good food at the Galley, including Ben & Jerry's ice cream, pretzels, hummus dip, kosher hotdogs, muffins, fresh fruit and Legal Seafood chowder.
4. Cold beer and creative cocktails. 
5. Count the lighthouses you'll see... Derby Light, Pickering Light, Hospital Point, Marblehead Light... 
6. Historic narration about Boston, Marblehead and Salem harbors.
7. Cruise & Dine in Boston and Salem - show your ticket stub and save at participating restaurants on both sides of your trip!
8. Free parking in Salem.  No traffic in Boston. (Is that two things?) 
9. From Long Wharf North you are a stone's throw from the New England Aquarium, Faneuil Hall, and the North End (Pasta, Pastries and Pizza, oh my!).
10. Like the Boston's Best Cruises' motto says: It's more than just a boat ride!  

Make your plans today!  The Salem Ferry departs from Boston daily at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM (10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday nights).   The ferry departs Salem at 7:00 AM (Monday-Friday) 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM (9:00 PM on Friday and Saturday nights).  


It's particularly awesome to take one of the evening ferries during a full moon. 


You can buy tickets online or at the ticket offices in Boston and Salem.

Salem Ferry is running this weekend, and all month!

Look at that beautiful blue sky! The weather has cleared and it’s time to enjoy the long weekend. I recommend spending your weekend in Salem, and, if you're coming from Boston, you should take advantage of The Salem Ferry. The Salem Ferry runs through October 31, connecting Salem's Blaney Street dock with Long Wharf North in Boston.

In addition to being a great mode of transportation, the Salem Ferry participates in Boston's Best Cruises' Cruise & Play program, which means you can save at Salem and Boston restaurant and businesses by showing your ticket stub.

The Salem Ferry, The Nathaniel Bowditch, departs Salem daily at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM, 7 PM, and 9 PM (Friday and Saturdays only). The Nathaniel Bowditch departs Boston daily at 10 AM, 12 Noon, 2 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM, 8 PM, and 10 PM (Friday and Saturdays only). It is a 55 minute trip, and the ferry has a climate controlled cabin, concession bar, and restrooms.

Round trip price for adults is $19 and for children and seniors it is $17. Tickets can be purchased at BostonsBestCruises.com or at Boston’s Best Cruises’ Ferry Centers.

Be sure to take advantage of the ferry and all it has to offer before it’s too late!

Aboard the Salem Fery

I took the Salem Ferry into Boston for a meeting on Tuesday and used my iPhone to take check on our position. I was delighted to see the traffic on Route 1 that I was avoiding by riding the Ferry!


You can avoid the headaches and hassles of traffic by riding the Salem Ferry, too!! Visit SalemFerry.com for more information.

If you, too, have an iPhone, download the free Salem Guide iPhone App at salem.org/app.

A great way to connect Salem and Boston

Salem Trolley and the Salem Ferry have partnered with Old Town Trolley in Boston to provide a great package option for visitors looking to explore both Beantown and the Bewitching Seaport.

This combination ticket includes round-trip travel between Salem and Boston aboard the Salem Ferry, an all-day pass for Salem Trolley, and an a pass for Old Town Trolley in Boston.

This package costs $70 adults / $64 seniors / $35 children and can be purchased in Boston through Old Town Trolley or Boston's Best Cruises, which is the operator of the Salem Ferry.

The Salem Ferry - One of Boston's Best Cruises!

It's Memorial Day weekend, which means anything that wasn't open for the season yet... is now open (Hooray!), including the Salem Ferry.

The Salem Ferry is an excellent connection between Salem and Boston. Create an awesome day trip adventure in either direction with the Salem Ferry's Cruise & Dine program, in which your Ferry ticket is valid for some nice dining discounts in Salem and Boston. Most restaurants offer 10% off the price of your meal.

To take advantage of the discounts offered by more than a dozen Boston restaurants and nineteen restaurants in Salem, simply show your Ferry ticket / receipt to your server. Most participating restaurants will honor the Cruise & Dine discount for two days after the date on your ticket, so don't throw it away!

Round trip passage on the Salem Ferry is $19 for adults, $17 for children and seniors. In addition to lowering fares this year (last year an adult round trip ticket was $24), the Salem Ferry has added interpretation and narration to the cruise, so you can learn a thing or two - if you want to - while being carried over the cool blue sea between cities. The interpreters identify landmarks on the shore and provide some history of Salem, Marblehead, Boston, and a few of the other communities in between. Bart was our narrator this week, and he was wonderful - history and a splash of humor is always nice!

The Salem Ferry departs Boston's Long Wharf North daily at 10 AM, 12 Noon, 2 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM, and 8 PM. On Fridays and Saturdays, they also leave Boston at 10 PM. Ferry service into Boston runs from Blaney Street, just a block away from the House of the Seven Gables, at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM, and 7 PM. There is an additional 9 PM run on Fridays and Saturdays.

This really is a great way to connect Salem and Boston. It's fun, it's relaxing, there's a galley and bar on board so you can have a snack during your trip, and you get a great perspective of both city's skylines and shorelines. It is truly one of Salem's MUST DO activities.

If you need additional convincing, there's a great video about the Salem Ferry by igetnewengland.com.

Happy Memorial Day!


Photo credits: Sunset image: (c) Leighton O'Connor, BlueSwirls.com. Other images courtesy Boston's Best Cruises.

Free Ferry Day on Thursday!

Today's blog post comes to you from Boston's Best Cruises:

Hello!

It’s Missy from Boston’s Best Cruises, letting you know that we are offering a Free Ferry Day on the Salem Ferry Thursday, October 8, 2009!

Enjoy the Fall Foliage while our Fast Ferry whisks you between Boston and Salem in less than an hour. Amenities like our climate-controlled cabin, restroom, and full concession bar leave little to compare to driving or taking the train.

Tickets for scheduled service will be available at the Ticket Kiosks in Boston (at Long Wharf North, behind Tia’s Restaurant), and in Salem (10 Blaney Street, Salem). We suggest that Guests arrive at least 30 minutes prior to their preferred departure time. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Guests can continue the $avings with our Cruise & Play program (In Salem and Boston)! With over 50 of the best restaurants, shops, and attractions in Boston offering discounts from 10%-20, the savings are yours when you show your Ferry ticket! Most are within walking distance from either dock.

Visit bostonsbestcruises.com for schedule information.

Bostons Best Cruises – more than just a boat ride!

-Missy

Salem, Boston, Salem - a great excursion

We had a plan today. The plan was to take the Salem Ferry into Boston, switch vessels to the New England Aquarium Whale Watch, and head out to Stellwagen Bank for an afternoon of stellar whale watching. We had visions of humpbacks and minke whales dancing in our heads. Bright blue skies, and fairly gentle seas rolling ahead of us.

Unfortunately, a hundred or so other people shared our plan and our vision, and by the time we arrived in Boston to buy our whale watch tickets - they were sold out.

There's a moral to this story, which you've probably figured out already, and it is: Buy tickets online, in advance.

We're a resilient bunch, though, so we adjusted. Our Ferry ride into Boston was great fun. We'd packed a picnic lunch and ate it on board, augmenting our sandwiches and fruit with sodas and candy from the snack bar. We took the 12:00 Ferry (planning to catch the 2:00 PM whale watch), and arrived at Long Wharf North in Boston right on time, at 1:00 PM.

It didn't take long to readjust our itinerary when we learned there were no tickets for the whale watch. We were standing at the foot of the New England Aquarium, so we shifted directions and ventured inside. Put our sweatshirts and jackets (it's 15 degrees cooler out on the water, and we were prepared) in a rented locker ($2.00), and started off on an exploration of rays, turtles, sea jellies, penguins, and fur seals.

I should add hear that my family is very familiar with the New England Aquarium, so we did not

do the entire Ocean Tank. We headed straight outside to the New Balance Marine Mammal

exhibit, which opened last month. There are four resident fur seals, and we were impressed with

their new habitat and the exhibit in general. We joined the crowd for a fur seal training demonstration, and I, for one, was impressed that the fur seals in residents seem to have better teeth-brushing habits than my children.

After fur seals and penguins, we crossed over to the IMAX theatre and saw the 45-minute, 3-D, feature, Under the Sea, which we all enjoyed.

From the aquarium we crossed the Rose Kennedy Greenway and did a pass through Faneuil Hall, stopping to watch the acts of two buskers. The first entertainer was on his last trick - standing on a board on top of a ball juggling household objects including a toilet plunger. We didn't actually see him do the trick, but just standing on the ball holding the objects was enough for us to give him a tip. We saw more of the second entertainer - a yo-yo aficionado who was talented and funny.

Street performers at Faneuil Hall are free and part of the experience of Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. It's important to note (and they don't really let you forget) that the performers are not paid by anyone except the audience. So, if you are entertained it is good form to put a few dollars into the hat.

At this point we had our eyes on the 5:10 ferry back to Salem, so we stopped at Joe's American Bar & Grill for a quick snack, gave the kids 5 minutes to play on the playground at Christopher Columbus Park, and ventured back to the Ferry landing at Long Wharf North.

The trip back to Salem was as smooth as the trip in had been. We passed two freighters and a cruise ship, which was exciting, not to mention the normal boat traffic going into and out of Boston Harbor.

An excursion to Boston via the Salem Ferry is a great addition to a multi-night visit to Salem. It's also a perfect staycation / daycation excursion for people who live in the region.

Weather and seas permitting, we will try the whale watch tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ride the Salem Ferry to Boston

This is the best ride in town. We took the Salem Ferry in to Boston last night - 4pm boat in, 9pm boat back - to see the Tall Ships (sailboston.com) and have dinner (the Ferry's Cruise & Dine program is awesome - save 10% off your meal!). Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Entering Boston Harbor:

The view of the tall ships in the Seaport district from the Ferry:

The Boston's Best Cruises ticket kiosk in Boston (but I recommend booking online to guarantee your spot!):

View of Boston Harbor at 8:45 pm waiting for the Salem Ferry to shuttle us home:

What's the Best Way to Visit Salem?

It's been a busy day, so I'm going to let the blog post speak for itself. Spend 30 seconds getting excited for Salem - and look for this ad on WBZ and Channel 38 in July and August. I hope it inspires you to plan your next trip to Salem soon!

(If you are receiving this blog as an email, please click through to see the video.)

What's the best way to visit Salem?

The Salem Ferry, of course!

If you're receiving this email through a feed, you may need to click through to the blog on Salem.org to see the video that is posted. And do click through - it will make you so excited that this is Memorial Day weekend! And you'll want to ride the ferry... really, you will!

Check out the Cruise & Dine and Cruise & Play promotions offered through the Salem Ferry - they go both ways, giving you discounts in Boston and Salem... just for riding the Ferry. How cool is that?

One final note, and then I'll let the video speak for itself... stay in Salem (what a great weekend!) and take the Ferry into Boston for a day or an evening. Whether you're visiting from Hamilton or from Hackensack, it's a great weekend excursion that can be customized for romance or for family fun. Visit Salem.org for more ideas and information.

Happy Memorial Day!

Ride the Salem Ferry!

This weekend is going to be beautiful! Beautiful, crisp, fall weather is coming our way. And that means you should be riding The Salem Ferry!

Here are some of the Ferry's FAQs, in case you have questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a reservation? Yes, we recommend all passengers make a reservation. Click here to make your reservation online, or you may reserve over the phone.

When should I arrive at the ferry dock? We recommend arriving 15-20 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time for the reservation and ticketing process.

Where do you depart from? We are located on Blaney Street in Salem, just off Derby Street by the House of Seven Gables and the power plant. In Boston, we depart from the New England Aquarium dock. Tickets may be purchased in the Aquarium Whale Watch booth.

Do you offer parking? We have ample free parking in Salem. In Boston, there are a variety of parking garages near the Aquarium dock, the closest of which is the Harbor Garage.

How long is the ride? The ferry travels at over 30 mph and makes the trip between Boston and Salem in 45-50 minutes.

Can I connect with other boats in Boston? Absolutely! We are located very close to the New England Aquarium Whale Watch and Boston Harbor Islands ferry.

Do you close because of bad weather? We operate rain or shine, however sea conditions occasionally force us to suspend service. Service updates are posted on our website.

Do you offer group discounts? Yes, please call (617) 222-6999 to make a group reservation.

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!

Sizzling Summer Cruises from Salem

Experience a new wave of entertainment cruises departing from Salem this summer! Join Salem Harbor Cruises on the Voyager III for a series of spectacular evenings filled with music, dancing, food, and fun! The vessel features a fully stocked cash bar, appetizers from Finz Seafood and Passage to India, and three decks for maximum comfort and enjoyment.

Schedule

June 6: Salem PRIDE Cruise to benefit the Matthew Shepherd Foundation, tickets $39.00
June 27: Sunset Dance Cocktail Cruise
July 18: Jolly Roger Reggae Cruise
August 1: TBA
August 23: Blues of the Bay
September 20: Sinatra Saturday
October 25: Halloween Costume Cruise

Details

• All cruises run from 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
• $35.00 at the dock, or save $5.00 by booking in advance.
• Advance sales made online or over the phone at (978) 741-0220
• Cruises depart from the Salem Ferry dock at 10 Blaney Street, Salem, MA 01970
• Parking is free!
• All cruises are 21+

Ride the Ferry!

I love this time of year because it seems like every week there is something fantastic starting its new season. The weather is getting warmer (well, it's not warm today, but it will be beautiful this weekend), and there are lots of people visiting and exploring Salem.

Today I say, "Hooray for The Salem Ferry!" It is the best ride between Salem and Boston (the train is a close second, of course, but it's tough to compete with open water, coastal views, and a snack bar). Beginning Friday, May 23, the Nathaniel Bowditch is a high-speed catamaran that will carry you between Blaney Street Pier in Salem and Central Wharf in Boston in 45 minutes. Blaney Street is two blocks east of The House of the Seven Gables, and Central Wharf is adjacent to the New England Aquarium in Boston. More centrally located you can not be!

The Salem Ferry has a special spring fare of $9.00 per ticket until June 10, and there are cruise-and-dine promotions with Boston and Salem restaurants. For more information, visit http://www.salemferry.com/.

Buy Ferry Tickets Today!

There is no better way to get to Salem (or from Salem to Boston) then The Salem Ferry. I'm a huge fan of the train, and MBTA service between Salem and Boston (on the Newburyport/Rockport Line of the Commuter Rail) is great, but the Ferry is an exciting excursion on the open water - and there's nothing better then that!

The Salem Ferry connects Salem at Blaney Street, which is a block east of The House of the Seven Gables, to Boston at the New England Aquarium - across the street from Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, and a short walk from The North End. It's a 45-minute trip aboard the high-speed Catamaran Nathaniel Bowditch.

The Salem Ferry offers Cruise-and-Dine packages in Salem and Boston, and - new for 2008 - you can buy your tickets on line! People are already booking passage aboard the Salem Ferry for the 2008 season. Visit http://www.salemferry.com/ for tickets and schedule information.

Salem has a rich maritime history, and you can feel a part of it when you board the Salem Ferry. View Salem from the water and you will know how the great entrepreneurs and explorers of the 17th and 18th centuries felt when the set out on a journey. You'll pass Winter Island, Misery Island, Marblehead Neck, Children's Island and Baker's Island in Salem Harbor. Enjoy a snack (or a cocktail) from the galley on board as the boat cruises at 30 knots toward your destination, be it Boston or Salem. The Salem Ferry begins operation on May 23, and I can't wait!

Discover the magic of Salem by sea!