Sixty-one homes across Boston’s North Shore, looked after by the family that has welcomed guests here since 1985. Book direct and skip the platform fees.
Hosted by Atlantic Vacation Homes4.74· 199 reviewsSince 1985Book direct, no service fees
Atlantic Vacation Homes4.7199 reviews · 157 Google + 35 direct + 4 Airbnb + 3 Booking.comSince 1985
Atlantic Vacation Homes is a family-owned, full-service vacation rental and real estate company rooted in the four coastal towns of Cape Ann, a little more than half an hour north of Boston.
Hear first when this host opens direct rates or adds a new place.
Waterfront antiques, beach houses a short walk from the sand, cottages in Rockport’s lanes. Three are open to book on this site today; the full collection is on atlanticvacationhomes.com.
The booking sites add a traveler fee of up to 15% to the same home you can book here. Book with us and that fee stays in your pocket, you get our Best Price Guarantee, and the person who answers the phone knows how many steps it is from the driveway to the front door.
I was born and raised in Gloucester and grew up in this business; my mother Carole built it from the ground up. I came home after college and a career in sports management to carry what she built into its next chapter, and I have worked every role here, from reservations to maintenance.
What has not changed is the promise: a home that is clean, fully equipped and exactly as described, a local team you can reach, and the best price when you book with us directly. Call us at (978) 290-4331 or write to info@atlanticvacationhomes.com with any question at all. We would love to show you our Cape Ann.
Jonathan Fonvielle
President, Atlantic Vacation Homes
Pack Lighter
A company that belongs to the place
Through our Pack Lighter program, guests leave unopened food behind and we deliver it to The Open Door food pantry in Gloucester. Our staff volunteer with the Rotary Club of Gloucester, Action, Inc., the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and Discover Gloucester; retired linens go to Cape Ann Animal Aid and the Beverly High School culinary program; and we partner with Triangle, Inc. to employ young people and adults with disabilities.
Affiliations
Partners and memberships
In motion
A few seconds on Cape Ann
The river at River Watch, the beach from Over By Good Harbor, Rockport harbour.
Cape Ann is a little under an hour from Boston and Logan Airport by car, up Route 128 to the A. Piatt Andrew Bridge. The MBTA commuter rail runs from North Station to Manchester, Gloucester and Rockport, and the CATA buses and the Rockport shuttle cover the towns in summer. Head north along the coast for Newburyport and Plum Island; south for Beverly and Salem.
Notes from the North Shore
Seasons, festivals, day trips and the homes to book for them, from the Atlantic Vacation Homes team.
Visit Salem While On Vacation In Cape Ann
By Atlantic Vacation Homes · September 30, 2026
Take a day trip to Historic Salem, MA!
Salem is a magical place to visit in the fall, but Fall doesn’t end after Halloween! You can visit Salem anytime of the year, and sometimes it’s even better after the crowds have dissipated and the leaves have reached their full potential! Whatever time of year you visit this spooky New England town, plan your trip with our great team atAtlantic Vacation Homes!
If you have ever watched Hocus Pocus at Halloween, you have likely daydreamed about exploring a spooky yet charming town like the one in the film. Salem is that town, and from a vacation rental on Cape Ann, it is an easy day trip by train, with MBTA service every day of the week. Finding a place to stay in the heart of Salem during the holiday season can feel like a trick, but a Cape Ann rental is the treat. Book your vacation rental in Cape Ann, enjoy the fall leaves and brisk autumn air, and take the train to Salem during the spooky season.
Experience the best of Fall and take a day trip from your Cape Ann vacation rental by train to Salem, MA.
The train ride takes roughly an hour and costs under $10; typically, 5 services run weekly. More information about the train schedule can be found here: View Schedule
The easiest way to get to Salem from your Atlantic Vacation Homes rental is either by train or car. The MBTA’s commuter rail (Newburyport/Rockport) to/from Salem is a short 5- to 10-minute ride to/from Beverly. Kick back and relax while you enjoy the scenic sights you would otherwise miss. Traveling through Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, and Rockport during the Fall is spectacular; watching the leaves change is nothing short of magic, and if you look closely, maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of one of the Sanderson sisters flying by too!
Once you arrive in the Historic Town of Salem, you’ll have plenty of options, but here is a list of our favorite must-dos.
Top 15 Favorite things to do while visiting Salem, Massachusetts.
The best way to get a feel for the area is to start your trip with a fun Walking Tour. The Essex National Heritage Organization offers a unique walking tour focused on myths and misconceptions. Another great tour is the Salem History & Witchcraft Day tour.
#1 Take a guided walking tour of the area
After walking, you’ll definitely need a caffeinated pick-me-up! Swing by Witch’s Brew Cafe for a cup of coffee on Derby Street before heading over to our next favorite spot in Salem.
#2 The House of 7 Gables
For literary lovers, a visit to the home that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s dark Gothic novel “The House of the Seven Gables,” also known as the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, is a must! Enjoy a tour of the iconic House of Seven Gables located in Salem, Massachusetts. This home holds 300 years of rich Salem history, and thrill-seekers may even be able to crawl through a secret passageway to a hidden room. Many visitors to this historic mansion have reported witnessing spirits and other apparitions, including the spirit of Susan Ingersoll, who passed away in the home at 72 years of age in 1858. John Turner, a Sea Captain and merchant, is credited with building the home in 1668, before it was sold to the Ingersoll family in 1782 to Captain Samuel Ingersoll, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s uncle.
**#3 Visit the Salem Witch Trials Memorial **
#4 Burying Point Cemetery
Another stop for the History Buff and literary enthusiast in your group who read The Crucible: “For it is MY NAME, I cannot have another ” is to visit the Salem Witch Trials Memorial just next to the Burying Point Cemetery. This simple memorial site was created to show respect for the tragic loss of life that took place during the witch hysteria of 1692. Created in 1992 for the 300th anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, the memorial is the first in Salem dedicated to the trials.
#5 Old Burial Hill Cemetery
The cemetery on Orne Street in neighboring Marblehead appears in the film’s daytime cemetery scenes. It lies outside Salem, so it makes for a short side trip for fans with time to spare.
#6 Visit Ropes Mansion & Garden
Stroll through the cemetery at Old Burial Hill in Marblehead, then stop by the Ropes Mansion Garden. This Colonial Revival garden was created in 1912 and provides the perfect photo backdrop! Fans of Hocus Pocus will recognize this mansion, as it served as Allison’s house.
#7 Peabody Essex Museum
#8 Salem Witch Village
#9 The Witch House
Embrace the spooky fun at Salem Witch Village. This Witch City lives up to the hype with attractions like Frankenstein’s Castle and walking tours of the Haunted Neighborhood.
Grab a to-go lunch and have a Hallmark-worthy picnic at the Salem Common under the charming gazebo. The park is an easy walk from downtown and the perfect place to enjoy an outdoor picnic in Salem’s crisp Fall air. Stop by America’s oldest candy shop, still making sweets & treats by hand using its original 19th-century recipes. Grab a sugary pick-me-up from Ye Olde Pepper Companie on Derby Street before heading off to Salem Willows Park to burn through some coins and work off your lunch!
#10 Salem Commons
Set aside as a training field in the seventeenth century, the Common is where the colony held its first militia muster in 1637, an event that is also being commemorated this year. It’s also a great place to have a family picnic lunch. Fans of Hocus Pocus will recognize Phillips Elementary School, which appears in the film as Max and Allison’s school. You can see its exterior from the Commons, though the building isn’t open to the public.
**#11 Ye Olde Pepper Companie ( Oldest Candy Store in America ) **
Salem Willows Park which boasts two free beaches, walking trails, a seaside promenade, an arcade and depending on the season a live local concert! Enjoy popcorn, fun, and a vibrant local atmosphere!
#12 Salem Willows Park
#13 Salem Pioneer Village
A visit to Salem wouldn’t be complete without visiting Old Salem Village, the home of Thackery Binx! You can find this Pioneer Village at 98 West Avenue. It is mainly open on weekends in October, but it’s definitely worth a visit! As America’s first living history museum, Pioneer Village recreates the city of Salem in the 17th Century.
**#14 Bewitched Sculpture **
Don’t leave Salem without walking by the Bewitched Sculpture in Lappin Park on the Corner of Essex Street and Washington Street. Grab a selfie with the most beloved witch of the suburbs! While you’re in the neighborhood, swing by Gulu-Gulu Cafe for a quick pick-me-up before dinner.
#15 Turner’s Seafood
Before heading back to your North Shore vacation rental in the safe, unfeathered town of Cape Ann, grab a bite at Turner’s Seafood. Indulge in fresh, locally caught seafood in the same building that hosted guests such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and even Alexander Graham Bell. Turner’s Seafood is located in Lyceum Hall, which has been home to many restaurants over the years. This building is believed to have been built on an apple orchard once owned by Bridget Bishop, whom visitors frequently describe as seeing in a long white gown wandering the halls of this local restaurant.
This amazing little town has inspired many tales throughout the ages, and behind its charming walls hides an albeit dark yet enchanting history. Enjoy the magic wafting through the air of this charming Massachusetts town for the day and then take the train ride back to your safe, ghost-free vacation rental in Cape Ann, cozy up on the couch, pop the popcorn, and watch Hocus Pocus for the millionth time with a brand new appreciation of the film!
A Few Honorable Mentions
Old Town Hall
At 32 Derby Square, Old Town Hall is where the Halloween party scene in Hocus Pocus was filmed, and it’s another stop for anyone who is following the film through town.
Max and Dani’s House
The house that served as the Dennison family home in the film is located in Salem, but it is a private residence owned by a local family. If you happen to find it in town, please be respectful of the family. Feel free to admire it and take a picture from the outside, but please don’t ask to go in or bother the owners.
Directions to our list of top spots to visit on your Day trip from Cape Ann to Salem, MA
Salem Witch Museum
19 1/2 Washington Square
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-1692
Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970
(978) 745-9500
The Witch House
310 1/2 Essex St.
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-8815
Salem Witch Village
282 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-2929
Old Burying Point Cemetery
51 Charter St.
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 745-0195
Old Burial Hill Cemetery
Marblehead, MA 01945
The House of the Seven Gables
115 Derby St.
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-0991
Salem Witch Trials Memorial
24 Liberty St, Salem, MA 01970
Essex National Heritage Commission
10 Federal St #12, Salem, MA 01970
Salem Common
N Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-0180
Salem Pioneer Village
98 West Ave, Salem, MA 01970
**Ropes Mansion: Allison’s House From Hocus Pocus & Home to the Beautiful Colonial Garden **
318 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970
(978) 745-9500
Salem Willows Park
165 Fort Ave, Salem, MA 01970
(978) 745-0251
Ye Olde Pepper Companie
122 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970
(978) 745-2744
Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall
43 Church St, Salem, MA 01970
(978) 745-7665
Where to Stay
Atlantic Vacation Homes offers a wide variety of vacation rental homes across Cape Ann, perfect for your Cape Ann getaway. To book, view available rentals, and request a quote, enter your desired dates. You can also call us at (978) 290-4331 to speak with a Guest Experience Specialist.
