Thread: Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, MA

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So I am getting down to planning for Halloween 2011 since 2010 was pretty amazingly disappointing.

My current atmosphere of Houston has been less than satisfactory in arousing the Halloween spirit in me when it actually comes down to the final week.

So I got to thinking about what I could do to make next year actually good and have something Halloween occur. Then it dawned on me. Something I've always wanted to do was to visit Salem, MA during the Halloween season. As long as my husband's unknown work schedule can be worked around then, I have set my mind on spending the Halloween weekend in Salem next year.

Anyone have any experiences they'd like to share of the place? I've been thinking about the Halloween ball they throw at the Hawthorne Hotel... I've heard good things about it. Nothing too special goes on in Houston, and I'm looking for something big like a Halloween parade or ball sort of thing. Something reminiscent of Hocus Pocus. I have never experienced that before and would love to. If anyone could recommend to me the Hawthorne ball and/or anything else big and fun for adults (I have no kids) in Salem, I'd love to know!

I'm in Marblehead, about a mile from downtown Salem. Salem embraces Halloween and turns on the bewitching charm each year starting about 10 days out. Check out HauntedHappenings.org for details on this year's activities.

If you're interested in staying at the Hawthorne Inn book now! Best hotel in Salem, in fact, the ONLY hotel in Salem. Probably a few nice bed and breakfast places, though.

If you rent a car (there's train service from Boston to Salem) be sure to get out and do some leaf peeping in New Hampshire and drive up the coast to see the sights.

You're on the North Shore so the Cape may be a bit of trouble to get to and from Salem.

Do it, you'll have a great time!

dynoflyer

I went to Salem and stayed in the Hawthorne Hotel about 3-4 years ago at Christmas time. Loved it. We went with the Bertram Room -- Queen option (Alphonsa Room -- Boutique-Style is TINY). Our room was smaller than a normal hotel room, but large enough for us. The bathroom was decent sized, but COLD (if you go during fall/winter they don't heat the bathrooms that I remember!). We stuck some food in the bathroom window ledge that we brought back one night because it was like a refrigerator in there and it was almost frozen a few hours later.

It is a lovely old hotel. The restaurant in the lobby is good and the bar also. They have a lending library in the basement in case you forgot something to read. Had a nice little nod to the "Bewitched" television show - they filmed a few shows in Salem and the cast and crew stayed at the Hawthorne. The staff are excellent, and it's a great place - I want to go back and most definitely will stay there again.

We booked it online, flew in and caught a taxi from the Boston airport - back then I think it was about a 20-30 minute drive and maybe $40? We walked everywhere in Salem so didn't seen the point of renting a car just to get to and from the airport.

There were many tourist traps in Salem, you can usually tell which ones.

You seriously can walk everywhere - the whole town is pretty small, and if you have comfy shoes you can get everywhere. I forgot a few things, but there is a long plaza filled with little shops and drug stores and you can always ask at the hotel desk.

We loved all of the restaurants - but the Salem Beerworks was worth going to for drinking and maybe appetizers (not impressed with the food at all) but the beer... very worth it. In A Pig's Eye a nice little place with great food... and I can't remember the awesome seafood restaurants, but you really can't go wrong. And their seafood kicks Houston's posterior region.

We went to one restaurant that is popular with the locals - http://redssandwichshop.com/ - awesome food, and we actually saw quite a few high schoolers (their mascot is a witch! )

My hubby and I are both history buffs, so our favorite things were the Peabody Museum, touring the replica Friendship (1800s sailing vessel), walking out to the lighthouse in Salem harbor at night, and seeing the house that inspired the House of the Seven Gables and Hawthorne's childhood home.

Going during Halloween is supposed to be CRAZY. Hawthorne Hotel has a Halloween Ball in their ballroom and it's one of the big events in Salem. There are tons of vendors and all of the shops, tours and whatnot are in full swing... you really, REALLY will need to book EARLY to get a decent room.

I can see it all now!! What a grand idea and way to make a year off replenish the spirit! I too am thinking of holding back a year and treating myself and MysterE to a fun bit of Halloween travel. I call it a Hallowcation!!

Thank you, guys, for all the info! I'll look into it. I've been looking at Hawthorne and some B&B inns around the area and within a 10 mile radius.