Spooky Pit Stops: Salem Massachusetts

October 8, 2021 By

If you have kids who laugh in the face of fear, this pit stop is for you! (And if you don’t, keep reading anyway; there’s something here for the fainter of heart as well!) The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 placed Salem, Massachusetts on the map as one of the spookiest places in the U.S., and while thankfully, superstition and ignorance have gone the way of pilgrim hats, the town still does a great job of scaring you silly throughout the weeks leading up to Halloween.

Located off I-95, Salem is an easy detour during road trips, and you can easily enjoy their haunted attractions in a few hours. Throughout the month of October, enjoy their Haunted Happenings, which run daily and include pumpkin festivals, harbor cruises (highlighting Salem’s rich pirating history), a street fair and carnival, and trick-or-treating. The truly scary stuff starts after dark, with witch trial reenactments and candlelit walking tours such as the Terror Trail and Witch Trial Trail (not for young kids).

If you have school-aged kids who can handle the dark subject matter, the Salem Witch Museum (19 1/2 Washington Square North) is one of the best of its kind, with life-sized replicas of the key players in the witch trials, audio/visual displays, and reenactments. (Young kids can enjoy the autumn weather and play with an adult on the beautiful grounds nearby.) The Haunted Neighborhood at the Salem Wax Museum (288 Derby Street) is also excellent, but again, not for anyone frightened easily.

Dates offered: Now through October 31st

Distance off the interstate: Several minutes off I-95.

Hours: Most attractions open daily. See daily itinerary and schedule below for details.

Dining options: A comprehensive list of family-friendly dining choices can be found here.

Website: This site has a calendar of events for the town and community.

Admission: Varies by activity. Nightly walking tours are $12 for adults and $5 for kids under age 17. If you think you might do it all or a bit of everything, combination tickets are available. Ask at any single museum or attractions, or at the visitor’s,tourist center.

Directions: Slight left at MA-128 N. Take exit 25A to merge onto MA-114 E/Andover St toward Salem.

 

Spooky Pit Stops: Harmon’s Tree Farm

October 21, 2010 By

Harmon’s offers seasonal fun all year long!

3152 Augusta Highway (US Highway 1)
Gilbert, South Carolina

Looking for a family-oriented fall festival in a beautiful setting? Want to add a haunted house, corn maze, and spooky hay ride to liven things up? Harmon’s Tree Farm, located half an hour outside of Columbia, SC has it all! Their ‘Boo House’ is tame enough that most young kids can have fun touring the spooky exhibits (the haunts will not jump out and startle you), while older kids will love the challenging corn maze and haunted hay ride.

Dates offered: Harmon’s has farm events for all seasons, but their fall attractions are open now through October 31st.

Distance off the interstate: Ten minutes from I-20 (directly on US-1).

Hours: Monday-Friday 1 PM-6 PM, Saturday 10 AM-6 PM, Sunday 1:30 PM-6 PM

Dining options: None on site.

Website: Harmon’s Tree Farm

Admission: Prices are reasonable, and vary by activity. Check their full list of fall activities and Halloween events for exact pricing.

Directions: From Columbia SC, follow US-1 N/Us Highway 1 to destination near Windy Hill Road.

While you’re in the area: Check out nearby Riverside Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo!

Not in South Carolina? Be sure to check out our other Spooky Pit Stop picks: Salem, Massachusetts. Or if you’re looking for something truly scary (not for the faint of heart, young or old), check out this directory of haunted houses listed by state!