Had a blast on the Schooner on the 4th. There is some historical information provided and a little…read morebit of story telling without taking away from the scenery. There was a nice breeze on the water on the day I went and we were able to use the sails for pretty much the entire cruise. Capt Mike is great, as is his crew although I forgot their names. I passed on the refreshments as they seemed overpriced based on those around me that did get them, but otherwise it was blast. Been on a handful of cruises in the area, and this is the first one that fired a cannon, so that was a fun experience.

I had mentioned to hubby that I wanted to take a local cruise on a sailing ship. Not too long…read moreafter that, he noticed the ticket booth for Fame right on Pickering Wharf. They were closed, but he noted the website, and we checked it out. Not long after they opened for the season, he went to talk to Melissa at the ticket booth, who told him all about it. We were in! I booked us on a sunset cruise for June 24. We kept watching the weather during the day, and there were showers and downpours even as we ate dinner at Sea Level Oyster Bar. Fortune favored us, however, as the skies cleared just before the 5:00 cruise returned. We boarded with about ten other people, and we set off from the dock right on schedule. The Captain and crew told us about the Fame of Salem and the boatyard where she was built. The views were amazing, and once we got away from the dock, the crew asked for volunteers to help hoist sails! Hubby and I each helped, and the feel of the wind in my hair, as we started to pick up speed was awesome! Another couple on board got engaged during the cannon fire ceremony. It was sooo cool to be a part of that moment with them. Drinks and snacks are available on board, and paying was easy (we used Venmo.) The sunset views were breathtaking. There were great views around the harbor of homes and other boats. We will definitely do this again and are looking into doing a private charter for the end of the season!

Randy took my wife, daughter (6 y.o.) and me out in mid October a couple years back, and we had a…read moretruly wonderful time. Randy kept our daughter engaged the whole time, and she loved it. We rounded up mackerel and used them to catch inshore striped bass all morning. Then we went to some deeper spots not too far off and caught and released cod. We took home a couple of the bass, and reset some lobster traps so my daughter could see how it all worked. Amazing experience, highly recommend, we can't wait to do it again.

Randy did a great job for us today. We collected bait for afternoon trip and then hit the stripers…read more Super patient and kind with my boys 10 and 14. Boated multiple fish at lots of productive spots. Definitely recommend him for anyone with kids looking to get some good action. Very professional veteran guide.

Working with Amy and Bethany // Charm & Awe Travel Co. is simply the best! My husband and I are not…read moresuper well traveled and really did not know where to start when planning our honeymoon to Ischia and Rome, Italy. After our first email correspondence with Amy we knew we were in the right hands as she immediately helped us organize all of our travel ideas and wishes into fun, tangible plans and bookings to look forward to. Amy and Bethany are incredibly creative, knowledgeable, and flawlessly organized travel designers, helping us plan each day with interesting dining reservations, wine and architectural tours etc.. excursions as well as opportunities to relax at the spa, while shopping, and by the sea/pool. They also went above and beyond and secured us the best options at each hotel we stayed at and helped us select ideal tour options. Charm & Awe's coordination, great ideas, and excitement for us for this trip was reflected in every interaction, especially in their availability and kindness in answering our many travel q's and the beautifully detailed digital itinerary they put together for us to reference before and while traveling. Amy and Bethany turned our overseas honeymoon dreams into realities and made each stage of the planning and travel process exciting, collaborative, and stress-free. So beyond grateful to Charm & Awe for this magic Italian experience and highly recommend working with these brilliant travel professionals for your next trip (we are already thinking about our next trip and opportunity to work with them again!) - Maggie & Crosby

Absolutely the best experience using Charm and Awe for our Hawaiian honeymoon last month! From the…read morefirst time I spoke with Amy to the very last - it was truly a pleasure. She responded immediately each time I reached out to her - even on holidays! I felt like I had security and someone that cared about us throughout the entire process. I hands down would recommend her and her services. We will be using her to book our next trip, and all our future trips for that matter. I felt like I had a hand to hold from start to finish. I cannot say enough GREAT things about Amy and how she was there for such an important milestone in me and my husband's journey. 2 thumbs sky high for Charm and Awe/Amy! Thank you so much! Sincerely, The Frauly's

Go for the restrooms, stay for the phenomenal boat they have in the front window and the recreation…read moreof a town. Sign the guest book with your city, maybe snag a souvenir and hit the town by foot. Big nice parking garage across the street too.

We stopped in just to check it out, they had some displays in cases, site maps and souvenirs. They…read morehad restrooms and a information counter. we browsed around for a few minutes, I was able to get a few colonial coins for my boyfriends collection as well as a pin for mine. I learned that Salem was the birth place of the National Guard. They had information on the Boston Tea Party, former Presidents, and the history of the area. It was a one of the cooler visitor centers I have been into and I enjoyed it evne though it was a quick stop.

Sightseeing on a Segway in Salem is SO cool! When you are short on time, or just visiting for a…read moreday, then the Segway tour is a must do! The guides, Brad and Jeff were the best and they certainly deserve the award for best customer service! In a city like Salem, where the history is just as important as the safety of the ride, these guys knew their stuff! Their equipment was brand new, they have free parking and they will answer as many questions as you can dish out! Highly recommend this tour!

Most excellent tour of Salem, Salem Willows (don't forget to get your chop suey sandwich), and…read moreWinter Island. 2 hour tour was perfect, and Jeff provided enlightening color commentary. Takes about 3 minutes to learn to ride ... what a blast. We're local, and stilled learned a few new things about Salem. Go do it !

Great tour! As a local, I really enjoyed it and learned a lot along the way. Barely realized an…read morehour had already passed!

Michael was very informative, he showed us sightings around the downtown area. Was kind and easy to…read morekeep up with.

Bobby was an AMAZING guide. He was very knowledgeable and charismatic. This tour was the BEST part…read moreof my Salem trip.

We could not recommend the Salem Night Tour enough. Sebastian was our tour guide and he was…read moreincredible! He did a great job of humanizing the people he was telling us about so that the history felt alive, which was a perfect compliment to the ghostly stories he shared. He kept it entertaining without sensationalizing, and it is so clear that he genuinely cares about both his tour guests and the historical figures he talked about. If you're the friend who's booking the tour for your bachelorette/girls trip/etc., pick this one. Your friends WILL thank you for it!

From the darkest depths of our souls the dead live on here in wax…read more As you walk the area you will be surrounded by the past . The darkness that came from this area . Salem is one of the oldest cities in our early history. Many individuals have called this place home. How many souls have come and gone. Perhaps are still here . We will never know, nor forget. Some of the best of Salem is presented here in wax. This is a vocal piece of joy walking through. A local human shows you how much they can recall about the past, in wax of the city . We have witches, pirates, sea dogs, and all sorts of creatures . Come and join us. While the admission might be too much, we are supporting a local flavor and it was fun . The employees are enthusiastic about their performance and sell a great product. The wax figures are very nice but look the part as far as the tour. You decide . This is a tourist attraction, many believe a tourist trap . I don't feel that way . Walk the waxy past of Salem and learn something fun about the world of witches and wizards. Step outside of yourself and see what

Overly priced, low quality, outdated, haunted houses suck, management always unavailable, should be…read morefired.

I took a class with Suzanne Merritt when I was visiting Boston and had a fantastic time. I learned…read morehow to take my camera off automatic and actually learn how to use my camera. Suzanne has a real gift for explaining things and was extremely patient. The workshop was so much fun. We got handouts that I now keep in my camera bag for easy reference. We were given assignments and instructions before each activity. We had time then to practice then gather back as a group. After the class we went for coffee and had an opportunity to share our photos and get feedback from Suzanne. It was the best photography class I've ever had. I can't wait to take another when I return to Boston. I highly recommend the Curious Soul Photo School!

From the owner: Hands on photography classes, photo walks, photo tours, and field trips in Greater Boston…read more Professional, dedicated, experienced instructors. We believe it should be fun and easy to learn how to create beautiful images of Boston. Perfect for visitors and locals who want to learn to use their camera to its full potential while seeing the key sights and neighborhoods. Group size less than 10. Go at your own pace. We go slow to see more and be more connected to the experience, not just get the shot. Discover the beauty of Boston as seen by local professional photographers. Chinatown, North End, South End, Beacon Hill, Boston Gardens, just to name a few of our favorite destinations.

I found Hocus Pocus Tours while seeking things to do in Salem on Yelp and TripAdvisor. Fellow…read moreYelpers' rave reviews did not disappoint! In messaging Hocus Pocus Tours with a couple questions about the tour and travel to and from Salem, the owner Susan replied immediately and suggested that I call her. This led to a one hour phone conversation where Susan was so gracious with her time, knowledge, and suggestions, not just about how to make the most of the tour, but how to appreciate a day in Salem. I can see why those who had the opportunity to take the in-person tour with Susan really enjoyed it. Covid changed the business model and Hocus Pocus now offers a self-guided tour by purchasing one of two tour apps. I opted for the $19.99 grand tour and it was well worth it. It has 37 points of interest. The app is user friendly and well designed. It provides a map of all stops, tracks where you are, and guides you to the next stop that you select on the tour. When you get to your stop, you can confirm you're at the right spot by comparing a photo of the site with what you see. Then you click on a 2-3 minute audio recording that provides a great snapshot of the significance of the site. As Susan had pointed out to me, there is much more to Salem than the historic witchcraft trials. It includes author Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House of Seven Gables, America's oldest candy company, and other interesting sites. Of everything I visited, I experienced a very deep emotional connection with the 1692 Witchcraft Memorial with 20 stones dedicated to each of the victims of the witchcraft trial. The tour includes brief descriptions of some of the victims including those written about in Arthur Miller's The Crucible. If you plan to visit Salem, I highly recommend this tour. All sites can be visited on the outside and some on the inside at no charge. Some sites, such as The House of Seven Gables, charge separate admission fees. If you want to travel to Salem and don't have a car, the ferry from Boston offers a nice, scenic, and entertaining 50 minute ride. The commuter trains run more frequently and can come in handy if the ferry schedule coming or going doesn't meet your needs. There are plenty of good places to dine at to break up the tour. We had lunch at FINZ and really enjoyed it (I'll post separately about that).

This was legit SO much fun! The name Hocus Pocus kinda throws you off because you may be thinking…read moreabout the movie, but this tour really is amazing. Start off with the tour guides, extremely friendly and beyond knowledgeable. They really know their history for Salem. The tour itself was a few hours and you walk to all of the sites in Salem with historical significance. There is so much to learn from Salem. So much history and heartbreak. It really is eye opening to hear the stories oof the witch trials and how the witch trials began and who all was wrongly persecuted. The tour guides were so nice and explained everything with such great details. This tour was definitely the highlight of our trip in Salem. I highly highly recommend Hocus Pocus Tours, I learned so much regarding Salem, the witch trials, the history behind the two, and a little bit of Hocus Pocus and Bewitched. So much fun!