We enjoyed 3 days off this past weekend, and spent it doing some fun things around town and taking a day trip to Salem, MA.

On Saturday, we drove about an hour and a half north to Salem, MA. Yes, "the" Salem. The Salem notorious for witches and witch trials...actually has quite a bit of history that doesn't have anything to do with witches. Salem was a major shipping port, with a rich maritime history in the spice trade, as well as many other things, but all of that changed in the 50's when "The Crucible" came out and the major focus of the town moved to witches.

The Salem Maritime Museum houses "The Friendship". We paused for a quick photo - a very quick photo...it was in the 30's with winds that made it feel much much colder!

(I was trying to keep my hair out of my face...but Jack looks super cool)


Here is a good look at The Friendship. The Friendship is a recreated 171 foot - three masted - Salem East Indiaman built in 1797.

Jack tried his hand at ship driving while we were in this nautical town. This is a play area in the House of Seven Gables courtyard.

Another exciting fact about Salem, MA - it is home to the House of Seven Gables. Nathaniel Hawthorne was from Salem and the house below is his birthplace. Unfortunately, the way the home is situated (with the visitor center, etc) it's almost impossible to get a good photo of the actual House of Seven Gables. The large house belonged to Hawthorne's uncle, later owned by his cousin (who took over the house and the shipping business when Hawthorne's uncle died). Hawthorne's cousin encouraged his writing and one of his most famous novel was set in this home. Legend tells that Hawthorne found a "scarlet A" in a shipping warehouse belonging to his uncle!

It was a long and tiring day. We never made it to the actual witch museum, but we did drive by the Witch Trial Memorial and a cemetery that includes a witch trial judge and a Mayflower passenger. What amazing history. Hopefully we will make it back up to Salem to visit the Witch Trial Museum...and hopefully it will be a warmer day! Jack and Emma caught some Z's on the way home. We had to share this photo - it never ceases to amaze me how he can fall asleep like this and not hurt when he wakes up - yes, that is his own hand on his neck...his arm is someplace behind his head...and it was like that for almost 2 hours!