June 2nd, 1692, is generally recognized as the commencing of the Salem Witch Trials.

Hindsight tells us that, despite the rampant hysteria running through the community at the time, none of these people (mostly women) were witches. Fear does crazy things to people.

Salem, rather than denying it, or trying to distance itself from its less tolerant era, has embraced the trials, and has turned witchcraft into a sort of cottage industry.

You can visit the Salem Witch Museum, the Witch Dungeon Museum, the Witch House, or the Salem Witch Village.

While this is not my particular cup of tea, having skipped all of the witch-themed attractions on my last visit to Salem, other people have commented that it was kind of fun to do – once.

Just walking around and soaking in the local color and ambiance was good enough for me.

You decide for yourself.

Photo credit: flickr

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Where else but Salem would Halloween become a month long event?

The city that has made a cottage industry of witchcraft pulls no punches this Halloween, as it launches its month of Haunted Happenings. It’s a combination of an autumn event, celebrating the changing leaves and cooler weather, with the spirit of Halloween, complete with accompanying ghosts, goblins, witches and folklore.

The Halloween events are all found in historic downtown Salem, and it’s easy to walk from one venue to the next. You can choose from museums, attractions, haunted houses, and a variety of tours, or decide to wander the streets enjoying the dramatic reenactments, psychic fairs, and shopping. Events have been designed to appeal to all age groups. There admission fees for entry to some of the events, others are free.

Here is a partial list of attractions: Salem Witch Museum, House of Seven Gables, Salem Trolley, Witch Dungeon, Witch History Museum, and the Pirate History Museum

And if a tour is more to your liking: Candlelit Ghostly Tours, Cemetery 101: Grave Matters (this sounded like one I’d enjoy), Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour, 1692 Salem Village Trolley Tour, Salem Spirits Trolley Tour, Witchcraft Walk, and Spirit of Salem Seance.

That’s just a few of the things you can do in Salem this month, so be sure to check out the full schedule of events. There’s likely to be something to appeal to your spirited side.

Salem is located 16 miles north of Boston on the Atlantic coast. It is easily accessible by public transportation. In fact, this is the busy season for Salem, and traffic can be a nightmare, so public transportation is a very good idea.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

“Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks, when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.”

On August 4th, 1892, wealthy businessmen Andrew Borden, and his wife Abby, were discovered brutally murdered. In reality, Abby was killed with nine blows of an axe, and Andrew with 11. Their youngest daughter, Lizzie, stood trial for the brutal slayings, and was found not guilty. The crime, however, continues to draw speculation as to Lizzie’s actual guilt or innocence, and ranks at the top of unsolved crimes: If not Lizzie, who?

The Borden’s Greek revival home, located in Fall River, Massachusetts, has been beautifully restored into a bed and breakfast. You can stay in Lizzie’s bedroom (in photo), explore the house, and see if you become convinced of Lizzie’s guilt ““ or innocence. Don’t worry, the blood is all gone!

Special tours of the Borden house run daily, on the hour, from 11 am to 3 pm. Prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for children ages 7-12. Crime scene reenactments are scheduled on occasion, as well.

The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast is located at 92 Second Street, Fall River, Massachusetts. (508) 675-7333. Fall River is approximately 25 minutes from Providence (Rhode Island) and about one hour from Boston.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Big Apple-based comedian Charlie Todd established Improv Everywhere in 2001 to spread a little cheer in humans’ dreary everyday existence by staging “scenes of chaos and joy in public places.”

One result of Todd’s ambitious (and somewhat illegal-sounding) endeavor was the first annual No Pants! Subway Ride held in the bowels of the New York City transit system in 2002. I was living in Queens and commuting to work in midtown Manhattan every weekday and most weekends back then, but somehow I managed to miss the eye-opening occasion.

If you want to get in on the bliss here in the Bay State and don’t mind a little cold air whipping around your lower limbs for several hours, the place to be on Saturday is the large, open, downstairs area of the Red Line’s last stop in North Cambridge, Alewife Station, at 3pm EST sharp.

The Facebook website for the gathering (easy registration required) adds that people should only show up if they plan to go pantsless on the subway while maintaining a straight face throughout the entirety of the two- to three-hour ride. In addition, wear normal winter attire and carry along a backpack and fare, but don’t bring a camera; Organizers will take care of photos. I guess it’s also fair to advise against sporting underwear that’s sleazy and provocative, for safety and sanity’s sake.

Interested people who are game to give pants-free T-riding a try along with some of Boston’s bravest should know that it’s not illegal to walk around in public in just your underwear in Boston. All you’ll likely have to worry about is possible frigid temperatures, unidentifiable nasty stuff on subway seats against your naked skin (you can always stand then), and a few or more blank/horrified/stunned/disgusted/outraged stares from your fellow clueless riders. Otherwise, it’s all good times.

Even better, depantsed Bostonians will not be alone because this year, the seventh annual festivities, marks the first time that subway riders will coordinate internationally and go pantsless in additional cities besides New York (read more about this year at Heather’s The New York York City Traveler). Courageous commuters in six other locations—Adelaide, Australia; Chicago, Illinois (check out Matt’s coverage at The Chicago Traveler); Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; Toronto, Canada; and Washington, DC (Jon writes about the event at The DC Traveler)—will be taking part in the stunt, as well.

Learn more essential details about the Boston leg of the mission (yes, that’s what these staged scenes are called) at the Facebook website, and take a look at what happened during the first and last No Pants! Subway Rides below. This is one one-of-a-kind event that’s sure to be a blast—of refreshing cold air if not memorable fun.

And, in case you’re wondering if I’ll be attending, the answer is, “Ahhh, no.” I get cold easily.

Post from: The Boston Traveler