Hotel at a Glance: Hawthorne Hotel

Built in 1925, the Hawthorne Hotel retains its historic charm. The lobby extends into a grand sitting room filled with vintage-style sofas and armchairs. Throughout the hotel, the walls are adorned with crown moulding and ornately-gilded mirrors. Warm wood with expertly-carved accents encompasses the entirety of its Tavern on the Green, where guests and locals alike dine beneath golden chandeliers.

• The Salem Witch Museum: Minutes away, guests can learn the history of the town’s infamous trials.
• The Tavern on the Green serves New England favorites such as fresh seafood and pastas alongside local beers and a full wine menu.
• Nathaniel’s offers a more casual setting for dining and imbibing while also hosting live piano performances on Fridays and Saturdays.

Salem, Massachusetts: Witch-Trial History and Colonial Architecture on Massachusetts Bay

About 20 miles up the coast from Boston, Salem is a town whose history the rest of America is hard-pressed to rival. It’s best known as the site of the Salem witch trials, which resulted in the execution of 20 alleged witches in 1692 and 1693. Only one structure with direct ties to the event remains: the former home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, a magistrate who administered some parts of the trials. It’s known as The Witch House.

You’ll find The Witch House in the McIntire Historic District. This area contains a wealth of 17th- and 18th-century houses, arguably forming the largest concentration of such homes anywhere in the country. You can take a self-guided walking tour of the district in about an hour. For a different glimpse of Salem history, visit the Pioneer Village (3-acre replica of a Puritan village), or browse the Peabody Essex Museum to see works of art ranging from 17th century all the way up to present day.