When we came here, we rented a car for a week, which has enabled us to explore the area a little. One of the places we decided to visit was Salem, MA.
I guess I've always associated Salem with "the witch hunts," which I actually knew very little about. But, the whole association with witches that has come about in recent years had me uninterested in visiting the area.
There is a lot of American history around Salem, one of the oldest settlements in our country. We visited the NPS Visitor Center to begin our exploration of Salem, and then took a hour long trolley ride around town. They offer senior discounts, and when I asked if they gave military discounts, was told an ID lets you ride FREE! We had a great tour guide, and we actually rode around one and a half times total. You can get on and off the trolley at will, to visit different sites.
The town is pretty, with nice sidewalks and parks. It has the oldest marked grave in the United States in its "Burying Place." The Salem witch hunts happened throughout the neighboring communities, when someone could be accused by another, and convicted with limited testimony. Each of the executed said they were not witches, and the signs around town say it was a "mass hysteria" and a "social problem" that led to the hangings, and the subsequent changes in our legal system.
Some of the downtown area has shops with witchcraft and pagan stores. Like Key West, their major tourist draw is Halloween. Not only did I stay away from the "witch tourism" places, it looked to me as though most people did.
There are a lot of great historical buildings around Salem, and the area is full of rich maritime history. The NPS has a schooner replica that is open for tours, as are many of the houses along the waterfront.
The photos today are all from Salem. These bunkers are for storing ammo at the old USCG base.
The other place that I have to give a thumbs up for is the Kittery Trading Post! I went there when I only had an hour or so to look around. I could spend a long time there! It has everything outdoor, on the order of LL Bean. Bikes, canoes/kayaks, watersports, tents, camping, backpacking, specialty clothing, guns, ammo, hunting stuff, dod stuff, cool outdoorsy stuff for your home... etc. Too much to even mention here. Suffice it to say, If you are in the Kittery area, and interested in outdoors and sporting activities, you should visit the Kittery Trading Post!
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