My husband and I are older parents of a teen girl with autism. We love to travel as a family, creating trips that are that are both sensory-friendly and fun for our daughter G. Our posts are relevant for any family traveling with children, but take the extra step to give details about potential sensory issues at popular destinations so that you can steer clear of triggers and focus on having fun.

We love New England Coastal towns, and often head to Boston’s North Shore.     If you’re traveling to New England from another part of the country, this area is absolutely worth a few days of your time.    If you’re local to the Boston area, any of the towns featured in this series is a good day trip on a sunny Saturday or Sunday!

Salem, located about 20 miles north of Boston, is a historic maritime city dating back to 1626.     It soon became an international trading hub exchanging local lumber and fish for Caribbean molasses, sugar, and rum, and later, a major player in the Asian trading routes for luxury goods like tea, pepper, porcelain and silk.    At its peak, Salem was the sixth largest port in the United States, generating enough tariff money to contribute 5% of the early federal government’s entire budget.  

From a kid’s point of view, the most interesting thing about Salem is that this is The Witch City.    In 1692, twenty women were condemned to death during Salem Witch Trials.   Fast forward 300 plus years, and Salem is now the premier destination for anyone interested in witchcraft, wizardry, magic and spooky things.

For the entire month of October, Salem hosts a giant Halloween festival called Haunted Happenings.    There are street performers, haunted houses, and open air markets selling spooky treats and souvenirs.   The intensity builds the closer you get to Halloween night, when the downtown area closes to vehicles and hosts a massive, open-air costume party with live music and LED drones displaying giant pumpkins, witches and ghosts.  

The last week before Halloween in Salem is a complete and total sensory overload.   The good news is that you don’t need to wait until October 31st to enjoy Halloween in Salem, because the magic continues 365 days a year here.

Early fall is the ideal time to visit — the weather is warm enough to wander around comfortably, and any kid who has noticed that supermarkets are now selling Halloween candy is more than ready to get a jump start on the holiday!

Anyone is welcome to wear a costume in Salem at any time, so feel free to dress up as a good witch, an evil wizard, or a magical creature if that adds to the fun. You can bring your wand, broomstick and cauldron too, but leave your weapons - even toys - at home.

Start your day at the Peabody Essex Museum, which has a great collection of treasures from Salem’s China Trade and artifacts from the witch trials.    Kids will especially enjoy exploring the Yin Yu Tang, an authentic traditional Chinese multigenerational home rebuilt inside the museum, and the massive, 750 pound taxidermy leatherback turtle that has been dripping oil for over 100 years in the zoology section.   The PEM museum is open 10-5, Thursday to Monday.   You need to reserve a time slot for Yin Yu Tang in advance, although some tickets are available same day.    Plan  to spend 1.5-2 hours at the museum.

If museums aren’t your thing, consider taking the Slightly Spooky Walking Tour of Salem.   It’s about 60 minutes long, featuring ghost stories that aren’t very scary, and quirky bits of actual true history.   All of the guides are current or former teachers, so they have experience dealing with children on the spectrum.   

There are lots of cafes and restaurants immediately nearby.   The decor at the Witchside Tavern on Derby Street will fit well with the theme of your day.    For families with food sensitivities, The Flying Saucer Pizza Company has both regular and GF pizza, and operates a completely peanut and tree nut free facility.

After lunch,  explore the magical side of Salem.    Most of the witch and wizard themed shops are on Essex Street, with a few more down on Pickering Wharf at the waterfront.     For activities, you can make potions at The Good Witch, take a broom making class at the Witch City Broom Company, choose the perfect magic wand at Wynott’s Wand Shop, and explore the small fantasy worlds at Professor Spindlewink’s World of Wizardry.   There are plenty of shops selling witch hats, Ouija boards, Tarot Cards, and other magical necessities.

The Witch Museum in Salem is a very popular tourist attraction, telling the true story of the 1692 Trials from the point of view of someone who has been accused.    The museum rates its content as age-appropriate for children over the (developmental) age of ten. It provides an excellent history lesson and sends a good social message about bullying, but for anyone who has problems with the dark, loud noises, or scary realities, this isn’t a good choice at all.

Instead, the Real Pirates Museum has genuine artifacts from the pirate ship Whydah, which sank off the coast of Massachusetts back in 1717.    Or you might like to tour the House of Seven Gables, the real world house that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s famous mystery novel about a cursed house built on stolen land.   

If you have time left after you finish up with all of your spooky and magical exploits, drive over to the Salem Willows, 35 acres of waterfront parkland that includes a small amusement area with a carousel, bumper cars, arcade games, snack bars and three beaches.

If you’re driving, Salem is about 30 minutes north of downtown Boston. The historical and magical district of Salem is very compact. Park in the municipal garage across from the Peabody Essex Museum, and everything you want to do will be in easy walking distance.

The MBTA commuter rail has regular daily service between North Station in Boston and Salem Station. The train ride about 35 minutes on either the Rockport or Newburyport lines, see here for the schedule.    Most of the tourist sites are within a 5-10 minute walk from the station.

The MBTA offers a weekend commuter rail pass for only $10 for adults, free of charge for children 11 and under.   The pass allows unlimited travel on all commuter rail trains in the Greater Boston area, but not on the regular subway or bus lines.    If you’re downtown, and your child enjoys train rides – this is a Great Adventure for your family!

There are just a few hotels right in downtown Salem. The Hawthorne Inn is a classic, historical property in the middle of everything. If you’re looking for a hotel with a pool, your in-town options are the Hampton Inn or the Salem Waterfront Hotel and Suites.

If you’re also planning to visit Rockport or Gloucester on this trip, consider staying in Danvers or Beverly, halfway between Rockport and Salem.    This is more of a business community than tourist area, so you’ll easily find your favorite chain restaurants, stores and extended stay hotels.    Your room will be about half the price of staying directly in Salem.    The Doubletree Hilton has a nice indoor pool, and the Marriott Residence Inn has a good outdoor pool.     Our family loves the Residence Inn – it’s easy to keep G on her usual routines in an apartment like setting.

Sailing in Gloucester Harbor

One Day in Rockport, Mass

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