If you are looking to get into the Halloween spirit, then look no further than Salem, Massachusetts. This past weekend, I took a long-awaited trip to Salem from my home in New York. This was my first time going there, and I’d been super hyped about it since I found out I was going last December.

Yes, these plans were made nearly an entire year ago.

Why, you may ask? Because if you want to take an October trip to Salem to get in the spooky (or spoopy) mood, then you MUST plan for it a year in advance! If you live far from Massachusetts, you simply cannot expect to take a weekend trip there and snag any ‘ole hotel room. Hotel rooms are gone faster than a toupee in a hurricane. So if you’ve always thought about traveling to Salem during the most frightening time year (subject to debate, because most people would say this whole yearwas scary due to the presidential election), then you should consider booking your room now for the following October.

And I promise the trip will be worth it.

I had the privilege of going with my family, which was an entertaining adventure. There was never a dull moment and Salem was the perfect scene for us, because my family is pretty witchy. If you could get a group together and take the trip, then you should consider it because the more the merrier! It was a lot of fun traveling around and sightseeing with numerous people involved; it made the whole experience feel even more special. But I must warn you—Salem is extremely crowded during October, and odds are you may get separated from your group two or three (or twenty) times during your wide-eyed walks around town. It’s easy to get lost in the sea of people, but it’s not too hard to find one another again. Just make sure your phone doesn’t die from taking a million pictures so you can actually call the friends/family you’re looking for. A dead phone equates to you heading over to the cemetery and hanging out with the headstones until someone from your gang comes and finds you. And waiting there alone can be pretty creepy. But hey, if you dig the creepiness, then by all means let your phone die and go hang out with the dead folks in the graveyard. No judgement over here.

And lest I forget all the incredible stores to shop in and places to eat and drink that I visited! Take a stroll down Essex Street, and you’ll have yourself a really good time. Some of my favorites included (but are not limited to):

Gulu-Gulu Café

The Atmosphere here is poppin’ and the list of drinks to order is extensive—all amazingly named! Their specialty “Wild On the Beach” cocktail (a strawberry smoothie mix and Green Mountain Lemon Vodka-concoction) is the easily the best drink I’ve ever had in my whole life. Bless the bartender who gave it to us for free because it was a mistaken order.

Wicked Good Books

This is probably one of the best places I visited while I was in Salem because I’m a total bookworm and I geeked out when I saw this cute store (and strayed away from my family to take a look inside, sorry-not-sorry guys). And it does NOT disappoint. Not only do they sell all the best books, apparel, and branded accessories, but they sell this Edgar Allen Poe tote bag. Since Poe is my main squeeze, I totes had to buy it. This store is quaint, and the people who work here are so nice!

Hawthorne Hotel

This place is full of old-style elegance, class, and beauty. Not to mention, the lobby has this beautifully arranged pumpkin patch. At one point, me and my cousins snuck upstairs to peek through the little windows at a beautiful wedding going on in the ballroom, and it was miraculous. Spending a portion of the night in the Hawthorne Hotel truly felt like I entered into a magical world, and I didn’t want to leave.

Witch House

This is a place for a seriously good photo-opp. The exterior has a creepy, yet beautiful vibe. Many people travel to Salem to get a peek and take pictures of this witchy site!

Flying Saucer Pizza Company

UM, YUM. Calling all Vegans and health-food freaks! The Flying Saucer has an extensive menu of delicious vegan pizzas, as well as many non-vegan options (pictured above is their killer Silurian pizza, which is a vegan macaroni & cheese pizza. I was obsessed!). Also, this is the first place I’ve ever been to with a gender-neutral bathroom (which was a hallway of seven doors—not gender-oriented) and it’s really interesting. I had some very in-depth conversations with a few of the fine folks waiting in the hallway. Plus, the unique and detailed art all over the walls made it a very cool environment.

The Coven’s Cottage

Wow, this store is like a bona-fide witch’s domain (minus the stereotypical caldron, of course). Everywhere I turned, there was sage, dried out flowers, minerals, healing remedies, sage, deer antlers, all natural elements, and did I mention sage?? I fell in love with this store and everything it has to offer!

Burying Point Cemetery

This is another one of my favorite places in Salem. While I find it’s oddly strange that a resting-ground for hundreds of people is a tourist attraction, I couldn’t help but feel drawn to it. Some of the headstones dated as far back as the 1600s. It was intriguing to read the names of people, the dates they passed away, and in some cases, it was incredibly interesting to see that some of their stones disclosed how they died. Most of the headstones were so old they were nearly crumbling, but the whole experience was eye-opening and helped me to remember how far we’ve actually come as a society…and the things we still need to improve upon.

Jaho Coffee & Tea

Best. Hot. Chocolate. Ever. Also, this place is super cozy and cute inside! If you dig little café environments, then this is surely a place for you to visit in Salem!

Salem Wax Museum

This place has just the right balance of creepiness and historical information. The wax figures are eerily lifelike, and it almost feels as if their eyes follow you as you walk from station to station. But this museum is rich with historical facts and accurate depictions of scenes from the time of the Salem Witch Trials. Not to mention, one of the pirate wax figures looked strikingly similar to a younger version of my dad (what even??).

Ugly Mug Diner

This is a great little breakfast place with an awesome vibe and really cools cats who work here! Their lights above the bar are upside-down coffee pots with lightbulbs in them, and the rest of the artsy diner’s light fixtures are a mix of bulbs inside cheese graters and metal colanders. The tabletops are all different painted scenes that are relevant to the history of Salem, which is a really nice touch! Also, their pumpkin pancakes are BOMB. They use fresh pumpkin to make the batter, and they are served with a consistency as thick as pumpkin pie!

Now, I cannot write an article about Salem in good conscience without mentioning the Salem Witch Trials. Although this article is not a historical piece, I think it’s very important acknowledge the historical side of Salem, aside from all the fun, cute, and scary activities it has to offer. According to the Salem Witch Museum’s main webpage, “To understand the events of the Salem witch trials, it is necessary to examine the times in which accusations of witchcraft occurred. There were the ordinary stresses of 17th-century life in Massachusetts Bay Colony. A strong belief in the devil, factions among Salem Village fanatics and rivalry with nearby Salem Town, a recent small pox epidemic and the threat of attack by warring tribes created a fertile ground for fear and suspicion. Soon prisons were filled with more than 150 men and women from towns surrounding Salem. Their names had been "cried out" by tormented young girls as the cause of their pain. All would await trial for a crime punishable by death in 17th-century New England, the practice of witchcraft.” When it was all said and done, “apologies were offered, and restitution was made to the victims' families. Historians and sociologists have examined this most complex episode in our history so that we may understand the issues of that time and apply our understanding to our own society.”

While I absolutely loved being in Salem and I thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance, I couldn’t help but think of the people who died here so many moons ago—especially the women. It also makes me put how we live today into perspective. On one hand, it’s nice that as woman, we’re able to declare our identities and claim our right to be and say who we are without being severely condemned for it. Nowadays, a woman can be openly honest and admit she is interested in witchcraft while she waltzes through the streets of Salem in a witch costume, and she won’t get killed for it. But on the other hand, it feels strange to celebrate in a city where such tragedies took place, and where people were hanged for accusations that were wrongly trust upon them. Is Salem commercialized? Yes. But it’s nice to pay tribute to the people who did lose their lives, and to take solace in the fact that our society has progressed since then.

Overall, Salem is by far one of the best places I’ve ever visited, and it’s the epitome of the Halloween culture people are so strongly drawn to. I highly suggest taking a fun trip here during October because the autumn aesthetic is highly worthwhile, and the city itself is one big slice of magic.

With love, by Ari.