Salem, Mass -- anybody???

I'm trying to plan our first anniversary trip, but having a problem because me and my DH both have different ideas of where to go!! I want to go to Vegas, but he won't step foot on a plane -- he wants to take the train from hell, aka Amtrak, but I won't EVER step foot on that again in this lifetime or any other that I might have!! So the next idea my DH comes up with is 'up North' -- that narrows it down, huh? Can I tell you how many brochures have come to my house and he hasn't looked at any of them?!

Ok, so I come up with Salem (and Boston, etc.) because he LOVES Halloween and I figured he'd get a big kick out of it, especially in October. I went many years ago on Halloween, it was fun, but I cannot remember the hotels in Salem and the surrounding areas. So, that's my question -- has anybody ever been there and have some info to share??? My husband would be forever grateful because if he doesn't come up with a definite decision soon, I'm hopping on a flight to Vegas -- he can meet me at the train station!!! LOL (Just Joking before I get flamed!!)

Thanks guys!

No info for you, but your post had me cracking up AS USUAL! Especially the 'hopping a flight to Vegas' part...

Thanks Jen!! Joe was laughing when I told him that last night -- he told me I'm driving him crazy asking where and when, um, hello, but who's driving WHO crazy? The other night I asked him to get the book and start looking through it, are you ready for his reply? He couldn't do it then because Spongebob was coming on!!!! Could you ever????? Gotta love him!!!

You're kidding... SPONGEBOB?! Men... Gotta love 'em!

Jen, I kid you not!! Ever since we went to my friend's son's 1st b'day party in May, he has become obsessed with Mr. Squarepants!!! And now Spongebob is ALL over my house and 'Bob' comes with us in the car too!!!! Listen, on our honeymoon he had to bring 'Frankie' (aka Frankenstein) and he's even on our video standing in the sand on the beach!!! You should have seen the inspectors when they were checking our bags and found him, they were hsyterical and then started to play with him -- nobody in Aruba probably saw Frankie before!! LOL (Can you imagine when we have kids? Who's going to have more toys?)

112903, thanks!!! The prices for some of these hotels are outrageous -- Vegas is cheaper (another plus on my side for going)!! I'll probably email you tomorrow for more info!

How funny will it be when your children are taking 'Daddy's' toys and Daddy is tattling to you!?!?

Either that or they're crying because Daddy is playing with all their toys!!! Oh geez, I can just see it now!!! Can you imagine my posts then?? LOL :) The big chooch!!! Is Patrick like that? I think they made that song for Toys R Us just for men!!!

Patrick is only like that when it comes to his X-Box and assorted other video games... oh and his tools... loooooves his tools and gadgets!! He came home about a week before Christmas last year and thanked me for the air compressor that I had just bought him. I said 'I didn't get you an... oh geez...' and went outside to find that baby in the garage, newly purchased by Pat, for Pat, with no knowledge on my part, but yet it was 'from' me. He acted like he had just been given the Space Shuttle, and spent hours in the garage chillin' with his new baby. (insert eye roll from me! )
So yes, I guess Patrick IS like that!!!

We used to live in Boston and visited Salem several times. What used to be Haunted Happenings Week (around Halloween) has grown to be Haunted Happenings month. You can check out the web site at

http://www.hauntedhappenings.org

It's very crowded and crazy. The carved pumpkin patch in the center of town is a lot of fun to see. The Hawthorne Hotel is the big old hotel in the center of town but it may be hard to get a room. There is another place not too far away - the Kings Grant Inn.

Plan to go on a weekend for sure. Marblehead is nearby and a nice town to visit. And you're only about an hour out of Boston too.

I would definately go to Marblehead if you go to Salem. My brother lives in Marblehead and it is a lovely old town right on the water. When you walk though the town many of the homes have signs on them listing the year the house was built and who is was built for. Lots of little shops there too. When we go to visit we usually stay in Danvers, which is only a short drive from Salem. I know the last time we were there they were building 2 new hotels in the area.

You might also want to consider staying in Boston and seeing Salem as a day visit. It is not that far away and a fairly easy drive. I highly recommend the Seaport Hotel in Boston which is beautiful. The Seaport also happens to have a five star restaurant called Aura, which has marvelous, fantastic, totally awesome food! Okay I may be a bit biased...my brother is the executive chef there. It really is wonderful though.

Thanks Karen and Wendy!! I will definitely check into your suggestions!! As for the Haunted Happenings Month, that's the BIG selling point for my husband!!! I printed out the info and last night he just looked at it and said BOOK IT!!! WHOO HOO!!!!!

And I was actually thinking of staying in Danvers, so I'm glad you said that!! I'm going to start my research again!!! Thanks again!!


Jen, anything that makes noise -- whether it be tools, toys, electronic whatevers -- you know was created for and by a MAN, right???? Last year when we were fixing our apt, I came home from a shower and heard this loud noise. I go inside to find Joe COVERED from head to toe in white soot (he looked like he went gray) and grinning like a big chooch because he went out and bought the drillsaw or whatever the heck it's called (it cuts wood for the mouldings)!!!!! You would have thought he won the lottery the way he was carrying on! Go figure!!!

Thanks Wendy!!

Kara, I wrote you back!!!