If New England has a Halloween capital surely Salem, Massachusetts would be the prime contender for the title. The town’s association with the famous witch trials of the 1690s has lured and fascinated visitors to this historical seaport town for generations - especially during the prime Halloween month of October.

But while Salem dresses up and puts on a spectacular and haunting show each October, there is so much more to the town than just witches and scares.

Visitors can combine a spellbinding trip to Salem Witch Museum with a fascinating tour through the seaport’s connection with the art and culture of the Far East at the Peabody Essex Museum. And the New England Pirate Museum features a guided tour around a re-created dock-side village, cave and pirate ship, to experience the adventures of New England sea-robbers.

Now, mix in fine restaurants, great places to stay, cultural activities, and shops galore, and it’s easy to spend a weekend experiencing and sightseeing Salem any season of the year. And it’s conveniently located just a stone’s throw north of Boston.

SO WHAT COULD MAKE IT BETTER?

So what could make a trip to Salem even more inviting?

How about some help on the finances? And that’s just what a bunch of merchants in the region have done by offering deals at more than 70 of Salem’s business and tourism activities.

The program is called “Haunted Passport” and offers over $350 in savings.

Salem’s Haunted Passport offers a variety of discounts and benefits that are perfect for families, young adults, and other’s who have come to Salem to enjoy America’s foremost Halloween celebration. Effective October 1,2007 to April 30,2008, the Haunted Passport encourages visitor’s to make Salem a year-round destination for its tourist attractions, cultural and historical sites, restaurants and retailers.

The passport provides visitors with discounts at retail establishments, tour groups, boat charters, artists, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

HOW TO GET YOUR HANDS ON THE HAUNTED PASSPORT…

Haunted Passports are only $13.00 each (Children under the age of 13 are covered when accompanied by an adult holding a valid passport) and can be purchased at: http://www.hauntedpassport.com/

If you purcahse your tickets online at the moment you’ll be entered into several drawings for prizes such as a one-night stay at the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites, tickets to the Salem Witch Museum, gift card for a number of restaurants, and lots more the organizers tell me.

When you purchase your Haunted Passport you’ll receive a Haunted Passport and a Haunted Passport Brochure to help you plan your visit to Salem. The Haunted Passport Brochure will contain the names of each participating organization, a description of their business, and what their offer is to those holding a Haunted Passport.

Of course many people will just purchase the passport to get the discounts for the October Halloween Festivities throughout the town. But as your passport will be valid until end of April 2008, now there’s over 70 reasons for you to keep coming back to Salem and sve on every trip.

For more ideas and suggestions on attractions in the area, check out my Massachusetts Vacations page by clicking here.

More New England events and destinations to come in the next week so keep coming back or subscribe to the RSS feed to get automatic updates.

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
New England Vacations Guide