Maureen04

Traveling with 19, 15, 9 yr olds staying in Boston first then in route to Bar Harbor considering stopping in Salem. Sounds like a nice town, but have limited time so is the witch museum cheesy or worthwhile? Thanks!

gail

Cheesy. Peabody Essex Museum in same town is really nice, though.

travelinwifey

Actually we enjoyed it. It replays the events leading up to the witchcraft murders with life size wooden made figurines. I think it would be educational for the kids. Love Salem, going back in Sept. We also did a walking tour.

Ditto regarding the Essex Museum.

GBelle

Did it long ago. Not worth it.

wliwl

There are so many good places to stop between Boston and Bar Harbor, Salem would not be my first choice at all.

We went once a long time ago, when we lived in Boston, and all the commercialization of what were essentially murders creeped me out.

Go to the destinations section of Fodors and choose Maine and look through the choices. I really like Portland. We used to go to Plum Island National Wildlife Refuge - it is amazing - but I'm not sure it's open to the public at all anymore. Marblehead and Rockport are charming in a touristy/fun kind of way too.

yk

I had gone once or twice when I was in my late teens and I did enjoy it. I think your kids will like it.

The Peabody-Essex Museum is nice, but I'm not sure how much will the kids like it; unless they enjoy maritime stuff and/or interested in visiting the Chinese House.
http://www.pem.org/yinyutang/

bachslunch

Thought the Witch Museum was quite good. Any other "witch" based attractions in Salem are pretty cheezy, though.

Agreed that the Peabody Essex Museum is excellent, as are the various tours of historic houses, but they might be less exciting for kids unless they're keen on art and architecture respectively.

Ralphie

IMO, cheesy and NOT worth it. Corny stuff can be fun if it's done right, but this is a freakin' diorama show, and a sorry one at that.

I agree with Gail's recommendation of the PEM. It's not overwhelming (doesn't take too long to see) and it's great for kids of all ages. It isn't very witchy however.

bennnie

For anyone interested I wanted to clarify the note about Plum Island. The reserve is open but the majority of the beach will be closed until Sept because of nesting piping plovers - an endangered species of shore bird. Parking Lot 1 is open to the beach but that represents a small portion of the reserve.

You can also go down to Sandy Neck which is about 7 miles out on a primarily dirt road. Its a Massachusetts state park and so you don't have to pay the entrance fee to the national reserve if you tell them at the gate that you are headed there. But parking is extememly limited there and if none is available you have to turn around and leave or go to gate and pay for parking in the national reserve. The remainder of the national reserve (boardwalks through woods and marsh) is open and there is some terrific birdwatching available. (not that teens want to spend their summer vacations looking at egrets!)

There is plenty of beach open to the public where the residences are on the north end of the island. Still very pretty and may be worth a stop with teens.

Newburyport is nearby and often has fairs and free concerts, lots of shops and the Customshouse/Coast Guard museum.

dfnh

I heard the pirate museum was good but it looks cheesy from the outside. Since Salem is so close to Boston if you are looking for something to break up your drive, something further north might be better esp since you could get on the road early and not wait for a museum to open.

shaz60

Took our teen boys to the PEM (which I love). They didn't speak to us for weeks. So, sort of win-win.

I do like Salem though and think the Witch Museum, while hokey, is not bad for kids.

Suzie

My DD who is 14 & will start HS soon went in June and said she thought it was really good. I think we all go to places looking for different types of things so all places don't necessarily appeal to all people. Her description of the place made me want to go see it.