CITY OF WITCHES Summer is just about over. It's time to put your bathing suit away and enjoy the classic beauty of the fall in New England. It's the season of colorful-changing leaves, apple picking, fresh cider, Halloween complete with its scary stories. If you're looking for both a great fall escape, and cultural adventure no place is better than Salem, Massachusetts. If you would like to experience a Mardi Gras-like Halloween celebration, Salem prides itself on the annual "Haunted Happenings" festival, held throughout the month of October. Salem, settled in 1626, is best known for its witchcraft history. Throughout the year, thousands of visitors come to Salem to learn more about the origins of witchcraft. They enjoy exploring the city, asking the locals where they can find "the witches." And witches are everywhere in this city. Nicknamed the "Witch City," Salem is home to the Witch Museum, Witch House and Witch Dungeon. Come learn the historical differences between witches in the year 2007 and that of "witches" in 1693, when the Salem Witch Trials were held. For a little more fun, visitors can arrange to have their palms read, cast a spell, take classes about witchcraft and, if they are lucky, meet local practicing witches and warlocks. There are historical cemeteries and an assortment of souvenir shops. Besides the witchcraft hysteria of 1693, Salem has many other outstanding attractions to visit. Both prior to and following the Revolutionary War, Salem was considered to be one of the best trading ports. Salem bought and sold goods throughout the world. The results of this period can be seen throughout the city of Salem. Some of the finest examples of Colonial Period homes are found in Salem. Many of them have balconies or "widow watches," where owners could look far out into the ocean waters for the returning ships filled with fancy imported goods. Many of the merchant homes that were built in the early 18th century have been preserved and can be visited by tourists. No visit to Salem would be complete with out a visit to the Peabody Essex Museum. This world-class museum has a great collection of marine history, art work and cultural collections from Asia. The museum even has an authentic house that was transported from China to Salem. Visiting the Peabody Museum is like finding a hidden jewel: it should not be missed. A short walk from the Peabody Essex Museum will take you to one of Salem's most-visited homes, The House of Seven Gables. The home, named after the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Salem's most famous author, is known for its ghost stories and secret passageways. Touring the House of Seven Gables and the nearby neighborhood will give you a true perspective of how Salem appeared in the mid-19th century. Come visit the North Shore of Massachusetts, where you can enjoy not only the charm of Salem, but also its nearby communities of Marblehead, Beverly, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester and Rockport. CulturalPaths Travel will create a great vacation for you this fall. For further information about vacations in Salem call CulturalPaths at 1 978 745 7105 or email at culturalpaths@aol.com Need to make reservations? Click on the link for Air, Auto, Cruise and Hotels. Going to Ireland, click on our Reservation page for great trips to Ireland.