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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Great Trip, Great Friends, Great Stories!

Sorry it took so long to get this post up. I've been having issues with all of my technology, but then again, it could just be that my technology is having issues with ME.

Anywho...My BFF, Valerie, and I recently took a road trip. We originally planned on visiting and staying in  Boston, but when I saw the hotel prices, I researched other options. Then, it hit me--what could be better than staying in Salem? 


Ever since seeing the Bewitched Salem Saga back in 1970, I've wanted to visit the site of the Salem Witch Trials. So we packed our bags...

and drove North.

We were lucky enough to get a room at the Hawthorne Hotel. (The very same hotel where the cast and crew of Bewitched stayed!)



Photo courtesy of The Hawthorne Hotel


The lobby was beautiful and cozy.

The hallway did remind us of The Shining, and we expected the twins to appear at any moment.


But our room was beautiful!





and the food was delicious...



Pumpkinhead beer with a cinnamon-sugar rim.



Absolutely, the BEST seafood chowder I've ever tasted!

The next morning, we decided to catch the ferry into Boston. We got our 'old-lady' cart ready, which we could use to carry all our packages...


and followed the 'Red line' down toward the water.


We made a few stops along the way...















By the time we reached the dock...



the last ferry was gone. But lo and behold, they had a bar!


and all that walking stirred a mighty thirst.



After a couple of cold ones, we walked back to the hotel








and stopped at the oldest candy store in Salem.


We had lunch at the Witch's Brew Cafe, and I would have taken a photo of my clam chowder, lobster roll and witch's brew drink, if I hadn't ingested everything in record time.

The next morning, we decided to take the train into Boston,


We missed the 10:00 train,


but we caught the next one. 

The conductor punched my ticket so quickly, turning the hole-punch this way and that, I half expected to see the word, Believe. I was a little disappointed that I didn't.



We took a trolley tour.



Look at the detail on this building!

The Parker House Hotel where the Boston Cream Pie was invented.





Leonardo DiCaprio ran up the stairs in the movie, The Departed.




We took a harbor tour...











Boston was an amazing city. It was clean, friendly, and full of history. Unfortunately, we didn't schedule enough time there.


The Hawthorne Hotel was smack dab in the center of everything. Two blocks from the hotel, we were able to stroll Essex Street, which was closed to car traffic and offered shops, museums, and cafes.







Displays in the Salem Witch Trials Museum







This home is the scene of a murder. Parker Brothers was based in Salem, MA, and people say this house is the inspiration for the board game, Clue. 













Aside from all the touristy, witchy stuff going on in Salem, the one place that affected me deeply has to be the Salem Witch Trials Memorial. You can read all about it HERE.













I hope you enjoyed my pictorial! If you've never been to Boston or Salem, I highly recommend them both. They are both wonderful settings to truly great stories. Why not create your own?








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