Halloween is right around the corner, and I am going to start a new series of articles highlighting some of the spookiest things to do and see in the United States, and abroad! Since this is the first week (and since I've been feeling American Horror Story vibes all day) I'm going to start with a creepy, American classic:
Salem, Massachusetts
It's true what you've heard: Salem is a creepy, archaic American town, infamous for its history of witchcraft hysteria and, of course, executions. In 1692, more than two-hundred people were accused of practicing black magic and/or witchcraft, twenty of them being executed by hanging. This event created a swell of mass hysteria throughout the small, Puritan town, with neighbors turning against neighbors and families being torn apart. Oddly enough, after a year had come and gone, the governing body of the town admitted that the trials were a "mistake" and compensated the families of the twenty executed. The dark mystery surrounding Salem remains, though; what, or who, planted these seeds of hysteria in the first place? Were there real witches in Salem? Or were twenty innocent people killed, totally in vain? That's mostly left up to the modern tourist's imagination, but the town offers some up-close and personal insight into the situation.
According to Salem's official tourist website, there are quite a few activities available for the "Halloween enthusiasts" (AKA, you witchy women and men) to participate in around town. One of those activities, of course, is a walking tour of Salem's most notorious, "haunted" locations, including the old courthouses and town squares in which Salem "witches" were tried and hanged. The tour is said to be led by a real "modern witch" of Salem and, even better, the entire tour takes place after dark. How much creepier can you get, guys? Alleged witches, ghosts, and more await you on this haunted tour of the town.
Other activities for the more disturbed tourists include Psychic readings, MULTIPLE graveyard tours by candlelight, a "botanical" shop, "Frankenstein's Castle" wax museum, and more. So, if you're thinking of planning a creepy little trip this fall, head northeast to Salem, Massachusetts. You (hopefully) won't regret it... ;)
