I'm a Massachusetts native. Skip Salem and check out this less-crowded neighboring city for Halloween fun.

Anyone from Massachusetts knows that during Halloween, Salem is packed tighter than a Candy Crush board.

I've visited Salem many times, but I akin to evade the area from September through the commencement of November since of the surge in tourism. Each year, the city welcomes approximately 1,000,000 visitors all October, alongside 96,000 group going on Halloween alone.

During the fall, crowds flood the streets on shade tours, obtain selfies in forefront of the statue of Elizabeth Montgomery from "Bewitched," row up at the Salem Witch Museum, and try to snag a ticket to the Haunted Witch Village at the Salem Wax Museum.

It's continually breathtaking to greeted new guests who are enthusiastic to study concerning the city's twisted history. But during October, Salem's narrow streets and scarce parking create its charm difficult to enjoy.

However, a latest three-day staycation in Beverly, Massachusetts —just three miles distant from Salem's city center — gave my family and me the finest of the two worlds: uncomplicated admission to Witch City, affirmative a quieter location to eat, explore, and sleep.

Until this year, I'd idea of it as mostly Salem's sleepier sister, but my period there made me acknowledge I'd been overlooking it as a must-visit destination in its own right.

Beverly has Halloween soul without Salem's October crowds

Downtown Beverly has the autonomous restaurants, family-owned boutiques, and historic architecture that I affection concerning Salem, minus the holiday crowds.

I loved checking out the trails at Long Hill estate, which houses 114 acres of district and gardens. For most of October, the grounds' pathways characteristic thousands of hand-carved glowing jack-o'-lanterns, radiant lights, decorations, and treats akin cider as part of the Halloween on the Hill event.

I've attended the event twice and can't propose it enough.

Our inn was beautiful — and cheaper than many places in Salem

My family and I stayed at the lately renovated Wylie Inn in Beverly, which sits on Endicott College's leafy seaside evidence and has straightforward coast access.

Not lone is the inn stunning, but most rates for a late-October night are cheaper compared to places I've stayed in Salem.

Plus, parking at the Wylie Inn is free, so you don't have to concern concerning competing for a place at a community garage.

The food and saccharine treats were incredible

During our period in Beverly, we dined at Flip the Bird, a fast-casual eatery that had the most delicious, crispy poultry sandwiches and frothy frappes.

The desserts in Beverly additionally blew me away. On our final day, we hit up Prides Crossing Confections. This family-owned candy shop — housed inner a erstwhile train position — featured Halloween treats and tasty chocolate lollipops.

Like Salem, Beverly is affluent in historic charm and traditional activities

Sure, Salem is complete of amazing tales and features many traditional attractions, but the identical is true for Beverly.

While visiting, we checked out Cabot House, an 18th-century Georgian-style mansion. Stepping inner this home, which was the archetypal masonry block mansion built in the city, I immediately felt akin I had traveled rear in period to Beverly's founding.

Along alongside Cabot House, there are plentifulness of another activities to scheme a getaway about — alternatively of fair limiting yourself to Halloween-themed activities in Salem.

For example, the Montserrat College of Art offers five liberated galleries in Beverly, and the nonprofit Cabot Performing Arts Center hosts wit and music acts.

Hiking through Witches' Woods was incredible

One of my favorite moments during the staycation was hiking at the Beverly Commons Conservation Area.

This 409-acre maintain was formerly a important street during imperial times, and during the witchcraft hysteria of 1692, the timber became known as Witches' Woods following families sought refuge there.

Now, centuries later, as I walked below peaceful canopies of trees, I couldn't accept that Salem's occupied streets were lone a few miles away.

If you desire to brave the Salem crowds, it's a abbreviated run or train journey away

Beverly is incredible, but if you're motionless itching to inspect out the environment in Salem, luckily, it's conveniently located nearby.

Beverly has multiple barrier stations, alongside straightforward trains to Salem that obtain concerning five minutes. Plus, during October, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority offers additional train cars, additional departure times, and discounted fares.

But if you have a car, Salem is lone concerning a 15-minute run from Beverly, although holiday traffic can create the trip much longer. I'm a fan of Salem's liberated parking lot at Fort Avenue, which is concerning a 20-minute stroll to the center of the action.