I first visited Salem, Massachusetts, on a whim while traveling nearby one October. However, I didn’t realize the city is inundated with visitors throughout the entire month — not just on Halloween.

Infamous for the Salem Witch Trials, the city has become a tourist destination for lovers of everything spooky, especially as Halloween approaches.

Most of my visit was spent finding a parking spot, with the hoards of crowds limiting the appeal for me.

I’d love to visit outside October and recommend only spooky-season fanatics plan a trip during that time frame.

Correction: September 1, 2026 — An earlier version of this story mistakenly called Key West the southernmost point of the US. It has been updated to reflect that it’s the southernmost point of the continental US.

This story was originally published on September 26, 2024, and most recently updated on September 1, 2026.