Witches, Broomsticks and Ferries!
40 Miles north of Scituate is the infamous and historic town of Salem. Famous for its witch trials and well-known author, Nathanial Hawthorne, Salem is worth the trip.
There are several ways to reach Salem, and the choice will depend on your group, level of adventure and the weather. On a recent Fall day, we wanted to relax, enjoy fresh air and the coastal beauty of Boston Harbor, Boston and Marblehead. With that in mind, we drove to Hingham (28 Shipyard Dr, Hingham)
and hopped on the ferry to Boston. https://www.mbta.com/schedules/Boat-F1/timetable. Parking is directly in front of the ferry building, H Lot. Pull into a numbered spot and put $2 for daily parking into the numbered slot at the “H LOT PAY HERE” kiosk.
Except for specific dates in October (more on that at the end), the ferry terminates at either Rowes Wharf or Long Wharf North, in Boston. The Salem ferry departs from Gate 5, Long Wharf North, so that’s the most convenient destination from Hingham, but Rowes Wharf is a 7 minute walk along the scenic waterfront, through the Marriott Long Wharf hotel (public bathrooms too), to Long Wharf North. That’s the routing we took.
The Hingham ferry pulls in here. Note the green awning as a landmark when you’re trying to find the right slip.
The shortest route is between these two buildings.
Lots to see along the way
Cut through the hotel, grab a coffee, public bathrooms on the other side.
Salem ferry
The ferry to Salem https://www.cityexperiences.com/boston/city-cruises/salem-ferry/ is a 50 minute ride out the harbor, past Logan Airport and along the coast to Marblehead and Salem.
Boston from the water
The “trolley combo” ferry ticket includes a narrated “hop on hop off” tour of Salem.
From the ferry landing into the center of Salem is a short walk past well-preserved, historic buildings. There are so many things to see and do in Salem, it’s hard to choose. www.salem.org lists events, museums and tours. We signed up for a 2 hour walking tour, “History & Hauntings” through https://www.witchcitywalkingtours.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi5q3BhCiARIsAJCfuZlBCaUDtcd1TV7BYT1RjUpznUQ9e-OuQ5qfpHgtK3_OI4d5E9rZP1QaAkAaEALw_wcB#tour-descriptions. It covered the witch trials, architecture, ghosts, gardens and more. Highly recommend!
We also elected to tour the House of the 7 Gables, 115 Derby St, made popular by Nathanial Hawthorne’s novel. It was fascinating to walk through a house build in the 1600’s and learn how it had changed over time and up to 110 years ago, to entice book tourists. Secret staircases, anyone?
On the way back to the ferry terminal, 10 Blaney St, we stopped for some homemade fudge and chocolates at Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie, 122 Derby St. http://www.oldepeppercandy.com
On our next visit we’re going to check out the Witch Dungeon Museum, http://www.witchdungeon.com/witchdungeon.html, the cemeteries dating back to the 1600’s and the Salem Heritage Trail http://www.salemheritagetrail.org.
The ferries run promptly. They serve drinks and snacks, and are very popular with commuters and tourists alike. In nice weather, they are a glorious and relaxing way to travel.
If the weather is rough, or a ferry trip too much, driving to Salem is simple, if not especially scenic. Salem is north of Boston, so traffic can be a factor. There is usually parking available at the MBTA garage, 252 Bridge St, Salem.
VISITING SALEM IN OCTOBER
Salem, in October, is the largest celebration of Halloween in the world. If you want to go, be sure to PLAN AHEAD. Pack your costume, grab your broom and make reservations in advance. Check out http://www.hauntedhappenings.org for more details.
Boston Harbor City Cruises offers direct ferry service from Hingham to Salem on select dates in October. https://www.cityexperiences.com/boston/city-cruises/hinghams-salem-ferry/ This will be, hands down, the easiest and fastest way to get to Salem.
Have fun!!