Visited Massachusetts Town That’s Better Than Salem: Beverly

Anyone from Massachusetts knows that during Halloween, Salem is packed tighter than a Candy Crush board.

I’ve visited Salem many times, but I like to avoid the area from September through the beginning of November because of the surge in tourism. Each year, the city welcomes roughly 1,000,000 visitors every October, with 96,000 people going on Halloween alone.

During the fall, crowds flood the streets on ghost tours, take selfies in front of the statue of Elizabeth Montgomery from “Bewitched,” line up at the Salem Witch Museum, and try to snag a ticket to the Haunted Witch Village at the Salem Wax Museum.

It’s always exciting to welcome new guests who are eager to learn about the city’s twisted history. But during October, Salem’s narrow streets and scarce parking make its charm hard to enjoy.

However, a recent three-day staycation in Beverly, Massachusetts —just three miles away from Salem’s city center — gave my family and me the best of both worlds: easy access to Witch City, plus a quieter place to eat, explore, and sleep.

Until this year, I’d thought of it as mostly Salem’s sleepier sister, but my time there made me realize I’d been overlooking it as a must-visit destination in its own right.

Beverly has Halloween spirit without Salem’s October crowds

Downtown Beverly has the independent restaurants, family-owned boutiques, and historic architecture that I love about Salem, minus the holiday crowds.

I loved checking out the trails at Long Hill estate, which houses 114 acres of land and gardens. For most of October, the grounds’ pathways feature thousands of hand-carved glowing jack-o’-lanterns, twinkling lights, decorations, and treats like cider as part of the Halloween on the Hill event.

I’ve attended the event twice and can’t recommend it enough.

Our hotel was beautiful — and cheaper than many places in Salem

My family and I stayed at the recently renovated Wylie Inn in Beverly, which sits on Endicott College’s leafy seaside campus and has direct beach access.

Not only is the hotel stunning, but most rates for a late-October night are cheaper compared to places I’ve stayed in Salem.

Plus, parking at the Wylie Inn is free, so you don’t have to worry about competing for a spot at a public garage.

The food and sweet treats were incredible

During our time in Beverly, we dined at Flip the Bird, a fast-casual restaurant that had the most delicious, crispy chicken sandwiches and frothy frappes.

The desserts in Beverly also blew me away. On our last day, we hit up Prides Crossing Confections. This family-owned candy shop — housed inside a former train station — featured Halloween treats and tasty chocolate lollipops.

Like Salem, Beverly is rich in historic charm and cultural activities

Sure, Salem is full of incredible tales and features many cultural attractions, but the same is true for Beverly.

While visiting, we checked out Cabot House, an 18th-century Georgian-style mansion. Stepping inside this home, which was the first brick mansion built in the city, I instantly felt like I had traveled back in time to Beverly’s founding.

Along with Cabot House, there are plenty of other activities to plan a getaway around — instead of just limiting yourself to Halloween-themed activities in Salem.

For example, the Montserrat College of Art offers five free galleries in Beverly, and the nonprofit Cabot Performing Arts Center hosts comedy and music acts.

Hiking through Witches’ Woods was incredible

One of my favorite moments during the staycation was hiking at the Beverly Commons Conservation Area.

This 409-acre preserve was once a major thoroughfare during colonial times, and during the witchcraft hysteria of 1692, the forest became known as Witches’ Woods after families sought refuge there.

Now, centuries later, as I walked beneath peaceful canopies of trees, I couldn’t believe that Salem’s busy streets were only a few miles away.

If you want to brave the Salem crowds, it’s a short drive or train ride away

Beverly is incredible, but if you’re still itching to check out the scene in Salem, luckily, it’s conveniently located nearby.

Beverly has multiple rail stations, with direct trains to Salem that take about five minutes. Plus, during October, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority offers extra train cars, more departure times, and discounted fares.

But if you have a car, Salem is only about a 15-minute drive from Beverly, though holiday traffic can make the trip much longer. I’m a fan of Salem’s free parking lot at Fort Avenue, which is about a 20-minute walk to the center of the action.