Recommended Places to Visit: Salem

Recreation

Mini Golf
Castle Creek Adventureland
100 Swampscott Road

Golf
Olde Salem Greens Golf Course
Old Street and Wilson Street

Parks

Town Common
Washington Square and South Washington Square

Forest River Park
Shore Avenue and Clifton Avenue

Mack Park
28 Tremont Street

Furlong Park
Franklin Street and Foster Street

Leslie's Retreat Park
End of North Street

Salem Willows Park
200 Fort Avenue

Winter Island Park
50 Winter Island Road

Palmer Cove Park
Leavitt Street and Congress Street

Islands
Great Misery Island

Hiking
Recommended:
Salem Woods
Old Street and Wilson Street


Beaches
Collins Cove Beach
Collins Street and Webb Street

Dead Horse Beach
Memorial Drive and Restaurant Row

Juniper Point Beach
Juniper Avenue and Beach Avenue


Shopping Malls
Museum Place Mall
1 East India Square


Events
New England Pirate Faire

Haunted Happenings


Museums
Salem Witch Museum
19 North Washington Square

New England Pirate Museum
274 Derby Street

Witch Dungeon Museum
16 Lynde Street

Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery
285 Derby Street

Salem Wax Museum
288 Derby Street

Salem Witch Village
288 Derby Street

Witch History Museum
197-201 Essex Street

Salem Pioneer Village 1630
Shore Avenue and Clifton Avenue

Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex Street

Salem Museum
32 Derby Square

Salem Athenaeum
337 Essex Street

Tours
Witch City Segway
283R Derby Street

Salem Trolley
8 Central Street

Fame of Salem
Wharf Street

Friendship of Salem
160 Derby Street

Salem Tunnel Tour
176 Derby Street

Sea Shuttle


Harbors
McCabe Marina
104 Kernwood Street

Salem Maritime National Historical Site
160 Derby Street

Architecture

Monuments

Gallows Hill Park
Mansell Parkway and Witch Hill Road

Harmony Grove Cemetery
30 Grove Street

David J Beattie Park
4 Webb Street

Monument
Essex Street and Boston Street

"Bewitched" Statue
Essex Street and Washington Street

Roger Conant Statue
Washington Square and Brown Street

Nathaniel Hawthorne Statue
Hawthorne Boulevard and Charter Street

Witch Trials Memorial
End of Liberty Street

Memorial
Washington Street and Norman Street

Lafayette Park
Washington Street and Lafayette Street

Derby Wharf Lighthouse
160 Derby Street

Fort Pickering Light
End of Winter Island Road

House of Metal Creatures
5 Blaney Street

Irzyk Park
Lee Fort Terrace and Fort Avenue

Baker's Island Light

Places of Worship

St. James Roman Catholic Church
156-161 Federal Street

Grace Church Episcopal
385 Essex Street

Wesley Church
8 North Street

First Parish in Salem
316 Essex Street

Immaculate Conception Church
15 Hawthorne Boulevard

Tabernacle Congregational Church
50 Washington Street

St. Peter's Episcopal Church
24 St. Peter Street

St. John the Baptist Church
28 St. Peter Street

First Universalist Society of Salem
211 Bridge Street

Gateways of Peace
54 Margin Street

Temple Shalom
287 Lafayette Street

First Baptist Church
292 Lafayette Street

Salem Seventh Day Adventist Church
65 Canal Street

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church
64 Forrester Street

St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church
124 Bridge Street

St. Anne's Church
290 Jefferson Avenue

Schools
Salem State University
352 Lafayette Street

Town Facilities
Public Library
370 Essex Street

Superior Court
34 Federal Street

City Hall
93 Washington Street

Police
95 Margin Street

Salem Harbor Power Station
24 Fort Avenue

Run-A-Muck Child Care Center
3 Colby Street


Historical Buildings
Ropes Mansion
318 Essex Street

Witch House
310.5 Essex Street

Old Salem Armory
2 New Liberty Street

Old Salem Jailhouse
50 St. Peter Street

Old St. Joseph's Church
~124 Lafayette Street

Old Firehouse
30 Church Street

Old Custom House
176 Derby Street

Daniel Low and Co. Building
231 Essex Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Dessert
Melita Fiore
83 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Champagne Macaron
Chocolate Banana Macaron
Chocolate Mandarin Macaron
Blueberry Macaron

Western
Opus
87 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Wild Mushrooms Tart
Tropical Sashimi

Great Escape Restaurant (closed)
50 Saint Peter Street
Recommended Dishes:
Stuffed Pork Chops
Mafia Steak

Village Tavern
168 Essex Street
Recommended Dishes:
Bacon Brie

Breakfast

Gulu Gulu Cafe
247 Essex Street
Recommended Dishes:
Berry Nice Crepe
Portabella Mushroom, Spinach and Basil Crepe

Italian
Flying Saucer Pizza Company
118 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Silurian
Creamsicle Float
Ender

Ristorante Gioia
140 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Salmone Picasso
Cozze San Silvestro

Seafood

Finz Seafood and Grill
76 Wharf Street
Recommended Dishes:
Littleneck Clams
Lobster Ravioli
Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie


Tried:
Breakfast
Bagel World (chain)
203 Canal Street
Recommended Dishes:
Roast Beef and Smoked Turkey Egg Bagel

Mexican
Cilantro
282 Derby Street
Recommended Dishes:
Ceviche
Sopa de Crijol
Camarones Rellenos
Flan

Japanese
Koto Grill and Sushi
90 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Yaki Soba


Vegetarian
Jodi Bee Bakes
7 Church Street
Recommended Dishes:
Quiche
Blood Orange Hibiscus Tea

Deli
Kushco Bistro
128 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Smoothie
Brownie Sundae
Baked Eggplant Panini
Portabella Mushroom Panini


Western
In a Pig's Eye
148 Derby Street
Recommended Dishes:
Nachos Grande
Tuscan Onion soup
Turkey Tetrazzini on Angel Hair Pasta

Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill
105 Canal Street

Recommended Dishes:

Crock of Chilli with Chips

Spicy Thai Peanut Sidelines Wings

Sidelines Steak Tips

A and B Salem
50 Saint Peter Street
Recommended Dishes:
Mashed Potato Tots 
Potatchos
Shepherd's Pie Burger
Empanadas
Creme Brulee

October 30th 2016: Haunted Happenings in Salem

We started out today with some breakfast at Cafe Avellino, a small cafe in the town of Swampscott.

We got the Spicy Turkey and Avocado Panini (shaved turkey, sliced avocado, muenster cheese, cranberry mayo),

the Spicy Spinach Omelette (egg, spinach, tomato and garlic, parmigiano),

and the Raspberry Bowtie and Raspberry Square.

The food itself was not too bad, although the desserts tasted weird at times.

Overall, nothing special.

After breakfast, we headed into the town of Salem, where the Halloween event of Haunted Happenings was ongoing.

Not really into Halloween, so to me it was just another regular fair, nothing special.

We stopped by Kushco Bistro, which we initially thought was more of a restaurant than the cafe it was.

We got the Portabella Mushroom Panini (portabella mushroom, swiss, caramelized onion, spring mix and dijon mustard),

the Baked Eggplant Panini (baked eggplant, fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, tomatoes, spring mix, sundried tomato paste),

the Brownie Sundae (vanilla froyo with walnuts, strawberries, chocolate sprinkles and fudge)

and a Smoothie (apple juice, strawberries, pineapple).

The sandwiches tasted really weird because there were too many spices in them, but thankfully the drink and the dessert were not bad. Not recommending this place again though.

We also stopped by a Japanese restaurant nearby, Koto Grill & Sushi, which was decorated for the festivities, and very dark inside.

Being very full from everything we had had, we just decided to go with the Yaki Soba (stir fried noodles with shrimp),

which was just so-so. Overall, nothing interesting on the menu, and not coming back again.

With that, we called it a day for checking out the Halloween festivities in Salem.

October 29th 2016: Checking Out the New Location of Smokestack Urban Barbecue, Worcester

We decided to have lunch today at Smokestack Urban Barbecue, a barbecue place in Worcester which I have been to in the past, but at its old location in town. This new place seems a little smaller though, being separated from the bar area by a wall.

We got the Pork Tacos (pulled pork, corn salsa, pickled onions and Kansas Kick),

Still serving great food here, I guess.

October 28th 2016: Another Crepe from Yoway Cafe, Worcester

Dessert tonight was at Yoway Cafe in Worcester, with the Tropical Whipped Japanese Crepe (mango, pineapple, whipped cream, sauce).

Still good, but is it just me or is the quality of the crepes going down these days, even though this place was pretty full of people while we were there?

October 23rd 2016: Hiking at the Erving State Forest, Erving

We started out this windy day heading to the Erving State Forest in Erving,

going for a hike using the path highlighted below in pink.

The hike up was a little intense at times,

but the views from the 2 viewpoints were pretty decent.

From here, we headed to the French King Restaurant and Motel for lunch, a pretty nice and cosy place.

We got the Seafood Chowder,

the Colossal Shrimp Cocktail (5 jumbo shrimp served with hot horseradish infused cocktail sauce)

and the Beef Stroganoff,

which came with a side salad as well.

We also got the Strawberry Shortcake for dessert.

The pasta, soup and dessert were not bad, although the shrimp were just so-so. Overall, nothing special here though.

From here, it was on to the French King Bridge nearby,

where there were excellent views of the fall foliage and the Connecticut River below.

We also went to Dorsey Road below the bridge to take pictures of it.

From here, we decided it was time to head back, going for dinner at Yen Yen, a Chinese restaurant in the town of Gardner.

We got the Salt and Pepper Spare Ribs and Szechuan Style Bean Curd (with Pork).

The bean curd was alright I guess, but the ribs were on the salty side. Not coming back again.

With that, a nice day of foliage peeping in Erving was finally at an end. Back to work tomorrow.

October 21st 2016: Lunch at Makao Restaurant, Worcester

We had lunch today at Makao Restaurant, a Latin American bar restaurant in Worcester, with somewhat decent decor in a crappy part of town.

We got the Sapodilla Fruit Shake for a drink,

which was thick and creamily delicious.

For food, we got the Mofongo, Fried Cassava and Shrimp with Garlic, which was pretty good as well.

 I would consider coming back here again, if not for the simple menu and sketchy environment, as well as staff that don't know any English.