As October 31 creeps up yearly — inspiring pumpkin-adorned doorsteps and towering skeleton backyard greeters — a selected New England metropolis clutters with friends.
With its rich maritime historic previous and kitschy witch-themed retailers, Salem, Mass., sees over a million vacationers yearly. In response to PatchAmerica’s Witch Metropolis “welcomed virtually 1 million friends to its 8-square-mile metropolis limits” all via the 2022 Halloween season alone.
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Salemites take pride inside the Essex County metropolis’s infamous 1692 Witchcraft Trial historic previous and recognition as a Halloween movie filming location. And as loads as we, too, adore the spooky trip and its campy, corn syrup blood-soaked custom, perhaps the scariest issue about it is the waste.
Per Hummingbird Worldwide (an e-waste recycling service), 83 p.c of Halloween costumes incorporate non-recyclable plastic and 35 million of talked about costumes are tossed inside the U.S yearly. Plus, a couple of billion kilos of pumpkins are despatched to landfills yearly, which supplies to harmful methane gasoline emissions. That’s enough to scare the pants off of Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers.
Nevertheless we’re not proper right here to demonize anyone touring to the pedestrian-friendly metropolis to have an excellent time All Hallows Eve. In actuality, we’re proper right here to fill your Salem journey with outdoorsy actions, eco-friendly buying, and delicious vegan eats.
If you happen to occur to’re planning a go to to Salem, Mass., in the middle of the autumn months and previous, check out our Inexperienced Metropolis Info to the city.
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The place to stay when visiting Salem, Mass.: This B&B has supplied quaint, sustainable services since 2002.
Northey Avenue Residence Mattress and Breakfast:
In search of to spend your money at a sustainable, woman- and POC-owned establishment? Look no further than the Northey Avenue Residencepositioned at 30 Northey Avenue, and inbuilt 1809.
With a mission to be “in all probability essentially the most sustainable mattress and breakfast in Salem,” the Northey Avenue Residence has been acknowledged for its eco-friendly efforts, profitable a lot of sustainable journey awards.
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The B&B’s site boasts about its photograph voltaic panels, rain barrels, curbside recycling and composting, on-site worm rental composting, an metropolis yard, and a yard annex.
Your maintain in one in every of many three 18th century-style rooms could be as cozy because it’s helpful, as a result of the Northey Avenue Residence is barely a 15-minute stroll from tourist-tempting Salem landmarks.
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The place to eat: The proper eateries with plant-based selections in Salem.
Life Alive Pure Cafe:
Located at 281 Essex Avenue, pure cafe Life Alive serves plant-forward meals “that is good for you and good for the planet.”
The colorful Massachusetts chain is assumed for mineral-rich grain bowls and vibrant noodle dishes. Whipped sweet potato and ginger tamari sauce? Certain, please!
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All Souls Lounge:
Head to 282 Derby Avenue in the event you occur to’re looking out for a queer-friendly neighborhood bar with a traditional jukebox and old school cocktails. Suppose Corpse Revivers, Zombies, and Applejack Rabbits.
Though All Souls Lounge is assumed for gourmand scorching canines and grilled cheese sandwiches, the menu offers vegan substitutes for franks, spreads (along with pesto), and cheese. These ooey-gooey sandwiches will even be ordered on gluten-free bread!
All Souls sweetly welcomes “all who nonetheless have their souls — and even some who don’t.” We’ll drink to that!
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Flying Saucer Pizza Agency:
Located at 118 Washington Avenue, Flying Saucer Pizza Agency is your preferrred trip spot for gluten-free and vegan pizza on typical New York mannequin crust. Plant-based baddies have an excessive amount of selections on the celestial pizza joint.
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The Vegan Nick Fury pie, as an illustration, choices vegan alfredo sauce, mozzarella, mac and cheese, scallions, buffalo breaded chick’n, and sriracha. Pair that with the Vegan SpaceBalls, some Bellsprouts, and Northeast draught beer, and you’ve got your self a meal.
(Check out sister restaurant Gulu-Gulu Cafe at 247 Essex Avenue for added plant-based selections.)
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The place to purchase in Salem: Quirky retailers and low-waste havens.
Unpacked Dwelling:
Unpacked Dwelling is technically based in Beverly, Mass., nevertheless in the event you occur to’re eager to journey 3 additional miles, this plastic-free residing retailer is a paradise for zero-wasters.
Located at 156 Cabot Avenue, Unpacked Dwelling offers each little factor from bamboo kitchen utensils to sturdy face wash, making it a one-stop retailer for low-waste non-public care, home objects, and presents. The women- and Latino-owned small enterprise even boasts a killer refill station, allowing prospects to refill their reusable containers with over 90 frequently merchandise.
The store often hosts pop-up events in partnership with sustainable producers and spherical designers/artists, along with guided meditation classes.
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Peabody Essex Museum Retailer:
Whenever you’re visiting the world-renowned Peabody Essex Museum at 161 Essex Avenue — which “holds one in every of many world’s most important collections of objects and construction related to the Salem Witch Trials” — stop inside the PEM Retailer!
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Mark Your Spot:
Located at 55 Lafayette Avenue, Mark Your Spot is a magical little boutique that gives “one-of-a kind traditional and classic home objects along with a sturdy assortment of dwelling vegetation, succulents, and completely different yard gear.”
Whether or not or not you stumble all through traditional Homer Laughlin china or spooky, totally-not-haunted statuesMark Your Spot is a stellar retailer for whimsical oddities and cacti alike.
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What to do: Salem is stuffed to the witch’s brim with themed strolling excursions.
Seize a Maple Vanilla Cloud Chilly Brew from Life Alive and take a stroll!
Feeling unbiased? Do a self-guided tour on the Salem Heritage Pathwhich explores 400 years of Salem historic previous. It’s admittedly glorious for first timers. Some stops on the trail embody the East India Marine Hall, the Witch Historic previous Museum, the long-lasting Bewitched Statue, the historic Witch Residence (the place Salem Witch Trials Resolve Jonathan Corwin as quickly as lived), and the Salem Witch Trials Memorial.
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And if these trotters get drained, the Sail on the Fame tour — which departs from the Pickering Wharf Marina — is a soothing interactive crusing tour full with further Salem historic previous and privateer role-play.
In “Inexperienced Metropolis Guides,” a journey sequence from Inexperienced Points, we break down what to do, the place to stay, what to eat, and additional in various cities across the globe — whereas staying sustainable.
