MPGFA

[Lori_Ariadne]

As some of you may know, Tina and I took a trip to Salem this past October and we had such a good time we're planning to go again in October of 2012 over the Thanksgiving/Columbus Day Weekend.

We just wanted to put an idea out there and see if anyone else is interested in meeting us there. We thought it would be a lot of fun to have a mini-pagan gathering there - perhaps all stay at the same hotel and everyone could come and go as they please but, those who choose to, could go to some of the events and attractions together.

Here's a bit of info on prices etc as it really wasn't as expensive as we had originally thought (except for all the shopping we did ) Please note, these are 2009 prices so expect some increase.

Travel expenses - drive is a little over 11 hours from Charlottetown, so similar from NS or less from NB. We made it there on just over 1 tank of gas - around $58 each way. If you have airmiles, Boston airport is on the commuter rail line so flying would be an option too and no need to rent a car.

Hotel - We stayed at a hotel in North Beverly which is right next to a commuter rail station. For seven nights we paid $745 for a suite with 1 bedroom with 2 double beds and a separate living room with pull out couch and full kitchen. Could sleep up to 6 people but would be pretty cramped. Hotels in Salem are approx $200 to 300 per night in October, so staying in Beverly and hopping on the train ($2.50) was well worth it. Kitchen also allowed us to have breakfasts and late supper at the hotel.

Here are some of the attractions we tried last trip:
- Salem Red Trolley Tour - goes to all the witchcraft sites and seafaring ones, too.
- Seance at Angel's Landing - private seance for groups of up to 8 people
- Rebecca Nurse Homestead & Danvers Witchcraft Memorial at the site of the old Salem Village Meeting House
- Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour
- Spirits of Salem Seance - larger seance with 20 people
- Spiritways, A Night In Beseiged Salem Village - full immersion journey through old salem village held in the woods at the Pioneer Village.
- Cry Innocent, The Trial of Bridget Bishop - audience serves as jury
- Spirits of the Gables - story of the house of 7 gables performed in the House of the Seven Gables
- Legacy of the Hanging Judge - performed in Nathaniel Hawthorne's birth house, the story of his ancestor who was a judge at the witchcraft trials - this one was our favorite - very entertaining but also moving and very well done.
- Old Burying Point Cemetary and Salem Witch Trial Memorial
- 13 Ghosts Haunted House (I could have skipped this one )
- lots of shopping at the multitude of pagan shops in Salem and in tax free New Hampshire

So, if anyone is interested in coming to Salem in 2012, now is a good time to get a Canada Savings Bond deduction started or if you have more willpower, start a travel fund.

Let us know if you're interested in coming along and we'll exchange info on hotels and booking attractions, etc.

Lori

[Lori_Ariadne]

Forgot to add - Colubus Day weekend Salems hosts their annual "Haunted Biz Baz" All the pedestrian streets are lined with vendors by the hundreds selling their wares (mostly of a witchy nature) on Saturday and Sunday.