SPONSORED CONTENT | Written by Discover Gloucester
Planning a trip to Salem Haunted Happenings this October? Make a little more room in your itinerary to explore the rest of the North Shore while you’re here.
Just up the coast, Gloucester and Cape Ann offer an easy home base for a Salem getaway, with oceanfront accommodations, fresh seafood, fall activities, historic sites, and plenty of ways to keep the spooky season going.
From ghost tours and Gothic castles to whale watching and schooner sails, here’s how to experience some of Cape Ann during your October trip to Salem:
Where to Stay Near Salem: Make Gloucester Your Home Base
Still looking for a place to stay near Salem this October? Head a little farther up the coast to Gloucester.
Staying on Cape Ann gives you the opportunity to turn a day in Salem into a fall getaway by the ocean, with accommodations ranging from waterfront hotels and historic inns to cozy motels and vacation rentals.
For views of one of Gloucester’s most iconic beaches, check into The Vista, overlooking Good Harbor Beach. The property offers sweeping ocean views and is just a short walk from the beach, making it an especially scenic place to wake up on a crisp October morning.
From downtown Gloucester to nearby Rockport, there are plenty of places to stay throughout Cape Ann, whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or simply adding an extra night to your Salem trip.
Getting to Salem from Cape Ann
One of the best parts about staying in Gloucester or Rockport this fall? You can leave the car behind.
The MBTA Commuter Rail connects Gloucester and Rockport directly with Salem on the Rockport Line, making it easy to spend the day enjoying Haunted Happenings before returning to Cape Ann for the evening.
Driving is an option, too. If you’d rather avoid bringing your car directly into Salem during its busiest season, drive from Cape Ann to Beverly, park there, and take the Commuter Rail just one stop into Salem.
If You Love Salem, Add These Cape Ann Stops to Your List
Start with Gloucester’s Haunted Harborwalk, a ghost tour through the city’s historic waterfront and downtown. Hear stories of maritime legends, haunted history, spectral sailors, the witches of Dogtown, and more while discovering a darker side of America’s oldest seaport.
Next, head to Hammond Castle Museum for a Spiritualism Tour by Candlelight. Explore the Gothic-inspired castle after dark while learning about the Hammonds’ connections to spiritualism, astrology, and attempts to communicate with the supernatural.
And because every fall itinerary needs something sweet, stop by Holy Cow Ice Cream in downtown Gloucester to try one of their seasonal fall flavors like Apple Pie or Loaded PSL in a waffle cone that’s pressed to order.
Fans of Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay may recognize a few places along the way, too. The series filmed at locations throughout Cape Ann, including Gloucester’s Half Moon Beach at Stage Fort Park, the setting for the show’s inaugural swim. October might be a little chilly to recreate that particular scene, but the crescent-shaped beach, surrounding park, walking trails, and harbor views make it well worth a stop.
More Things to Do in Gloucester This Fall
Whale watching season runs through October, so you still have time to head out from Gloucester Harbor in search of humpback whales and other marine wildlife.
You can also see Gloucester under sail. Maritime Heritage Charters aboard Schooner Ardelle, and Schooner Thomas E. Lannon offer sailing experiences into October, combining Gloucester’s maritime history with some of the best views of the harbor and coastline.
Back on land, explore Rocky Neck Art Colony, one of the oldest continuously operating art colonies in the country. Wander the historic waterfront neighborhood, browse galleries and studios, and discover the community that generations of artists have called home.
If your perfect fall day includes great thrift finds, make time for Second Glance Thrift Store. One of the area’s favorite secondhand shopping destinations, Second Glance is packed with clothing, accessories, home goods, books, gifts, and unexpected treasures. Even better, proceeds support The Open Door and its hunger-relief programs serving the local community.
And no trip to Gloucester would be complete without experiencing the city’s working waterfront and fresh seafood. Stop by Turner’s Seafood Market & Fish Fry for local seafood right in the heart of America’s oldest seaport.
This October, make Haunted Happenings part of a bigger North Shore adventure and discover what’s waiting just up the coast in Gloucester.
Start planning your trip and find a full list of places to stay at discovergloucester.com.
