12 Fabulous Things To Do In Historic Salem, Massachusetts

Like most New England seventh-graders who read The Crucible, I visited Salem, Massachusetts, on witch trials–themed field trips during middle school. I didn’t realize it then, but as important a social lesson as this perfect storm of xenophobia, misogyny, and greed was, it accounts for just 15 months of the city’s history. Now that I’ve been visiting as an adult, I can say that the witch trials are far from the most intriguing part of Salem, a thoroughly modern city along the north shore of Massachusetts.With about 42,000 residents in its 8 square miles, Salem isn’t a sprawling metropolis. Instead, the downtown, which is easy to reach by train, ferry, or car from Boston, is highly walkable and packed with things to see and do. Salem manages to balance a small-town feel with worldliness, thanks to an eclectic, sometimes oddball, mix of people, businesses, and cultural institutions.Summer is a popular time to visit and offers the chance to sample several options for outdoor recreation, f...