Salem: Kids Slightly Spooky Walking Tour & Witch House

4.91

(128 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was how the bricks felt uneven under my shoes—Salem’s streets just have this old energy, you know? We met our guide, Ms. Parker (who said she’s taught third grade for years), right by 18 Broad St. She handed out little stickers to the kids and started us off with a question about witches that made my son giggle. The air smelled faintly of leaves and something sweet from a bakery nearby. I kept thinking how different it felt to walk these streets with someone who actually knew which house belonged to which judge or author.

We stopped outside this big dark house where Nathaniel Hawthorne lived—our guide told us he used to walk here with his wife Sofia and their kids, and suddenly it was easy to picture them dodging puddles just like we were. My daughter tried saying “Athenaeum” out loud (she got stuck halfway through), and Ms. Parker laughed gently before telling us about its most famous member who believed in ghosts. There were a few moments where the wind picked up and I swear even the adults shivered a little—nothing too scary though, just enough for the kids to squeeze our hands tighter.

I didn’t expect my favorite part would be the cemetery—climbing that small hill (watch your step if you’re pushing a stroller) while our guide pointed out gravestones from 1655. She asked if we could feel how quiet it was compared to downtown, and honestly, I still think about that silence. At the end, we stood outside the Witch House as dusk started creeping in. My son whispered he wished the tour lasted longer. So yeah, not everything gets wrapped up neatly in Salem—I guess that’s part of its charm.