Recommended Places to Visit: Salem

Recreation

Golf
Olde Salem Greens Golf Course
Old Street and Wilson Street

Parks

Town Common
Washington Square and South Washington Square

Forest River Park
Shore Avenue and Clifton Avenue

Hiking
Salem Woods
Old Street and Wilson Street


Beaches
Collins Cove Beach
Collins Street and Webb Street


Shopping Malls
Museum Place Mall
1 East India Square


Museums
Salem Witch Museum
19 North Washington Square

New England Pirate Museum
274 Derby Street

Witch Dungeon Museum
16 Lynde Street

Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery
285 Derby Street

Salem Wax Museum
288 Derby Street

Salem Witch Village
288 Derby Street

Witch History Museum
197-201 Essex Street

Salem Pioneer Village 1630
Shore Avenue and Clifton Avenue

Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex Street

Salem Museum
32 Derby Square

Tours
Witch City Segway
283R Derby Street

Salem Trolley
8 Central Street

Fame of Salem
Wharf Street

Friendship of Salem
160 Derby Street

Salem Tunnel Tour
176 Derby Street


Beautiful Scenery
Salem Maritime National Historical Site
160 Derby Street

Palmer Cove Park
Leavitt Street and Congress Street

Architecture

Monuments

Monument
Essex Street and Boston Street

"Bewitched" Statue
Essex Street and Washington Street

Roger Conant Statue
Washington Square and Brown Street

Nathaniel Hawthorne Statue
Hawthorne Boulevard and Charter Street

Witch Trials Memorial
End of Liberty Street

Memorial
Washington Street and Norman Street

Lafayette Park
Washington Street and Lafayette Street

Places of Worship

St. James Roman Catholic Church
156-161 Federal Street

Grace Church Episcopal
385 Essex Street

Wesley Church
8 North Street

First Parish in Salem
316 Essex Street

Immaculate Conception Church
15 Hawthorne Boulevard

Tabernacle Congregational Church
50 Washington Street

St. Peter's Episcopal Church
24 St. Peter Street

St. John the Baptist Church
28 St. Peter Street

First Universalist Society of Salem
211 Bridge Street

Gateways of Peace
54 Margin Street

Temple Shalom
287 Lafayette Street

First Baptist Church
292 Lafayette Street

Salem Seventh Day Adventist Church
65 Canal Street

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church
64 Forrester Street

St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church
124 Bridge Street

Schools
Salem State University
352 Lafayette Street

Town Facilities
Public Library
370 Essex Street

Superior Court
34 Federal Street

City Hall
93 Washington Street

Police
95 Margin Street

Salem Harbor Power Station
24 Fort Avenue


Historical Buildings
Salem Athenaeum
337 Essex Street

Ropes Mansion
318 Essex Street

Witch House
310.5 Essex Street

Old Salem Armory
2 New Liberty Street

Old Salem Jailhouse
50 St. Peter Street

Old St. Joseph's Church
~124 Lafayette Street

Old Firehouse
30 Church Street

Old Custom House
176 Derby Street

Daniel Low and Co. Building
231 Essex Street

Derby Wharf Lighthouse
160 Derby Street

Fort Pickering Light
End of Winter Island Road

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Western
Great Escape Restaurant
50 Saint Peter Street
Recommended Dishes:
Stuffed Pork Chops
Mafia Steak


Breakfast

Gulu Gulu Cafe
247 Essex Street
Recommended Dishes:
Berry Nice Crepe
Portabella Mushroom, Spinach and Basil Crepe

Seafood

Finz Seafood and Grill
76 Wharf Street
Recommended Dishes:
Littleneck Clams
Lobster Ravioli
Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie


Tried:
Western
In a Pig's Eye
148 Derby Street
Recommended Dishes:
Nachos Grande
Tuscan Onion soup
Turkey Tetrazzini on Angel Hair Pasta

August 22nd 2013: Salem Tunnel Tour in Salem

Today after work, I had a tour about the old tunnels built in the town of Salem with Salem Tunnel Tour. Before that, I decided to grab some dinner at Sakura, a small Japanese restaurant in the town of Winchester. After looking at the menu, I decided to get the Una Coco Maki (apple, kani, tempura crumbs topped with eel, coconut flakes, homemade sweet sauce),

which actually was pretty good.

I was almost late for my tour, but somehow I managed to find parking right next to the Custom House, which is pretty difficult on a Thursday night, so I was right on time. I was the only one on the tour tonight though.

I have to say, the tour was a pretty enriching experience. I never knew that tunnels existed below Salem, even though I have been here quite a few times, even more that they were everywhere here, linking all sorts of buildings to each other. Even houses were built with 4 chimneys to support the tunnels. Of course, these tunnels were used for all sorts of purposes over the years, especially illegal means, like smugglers trying to avoid paying taxes on goods etc. However, most of these tunnels have been filled up or used for sewage or electrical and gas lines, even covered by large rocks used as memorials. I was still able to see some of the openings though, like one on the Salem Common, and one that looked more like a drain on the roadside.

Tunnel entrance on the Salem Common

another Tunnel Entrance

Tunnels with power lines

It was also interesting to note in winter, one can see the entrances to tunnels, as the air there is warmer and melts the snow faster. His stories got me to buy his book, Salem Secret Underground: The History of the Tunnels in the City. I look forward to reading it. 

My tour guide was apparently psychic as well, so our conversations also included haunted houses in the area, murders and conspiracies that people till today were still trying to hide, and he showed me pictures of ghosts manifesting as orbs, and his own personal experiences with spirits and demons as well. Apparently they don't like cameras and like to drain their batteries or damage them. My tour guide did tell me about the House of Metal Creatures as well and how ghosts would drain camera batteries if we tried to take pictures of the sculptures there.

After I was tempted to go and see if his story was true, but as it was already dark, I decided to come back another time in the day to do so.

With that, I headed home for the day, satisfied that this tour was worth my travelling all the way to Salem.