Culture and kitsch collide in Salem

GETAWAY: :

"It's one of the oddest (and most effective) marketing strategies of any city in the world: Come to Salem where 19 innocent women and men were hanged for being witches, and while you're here, enjoy a visit to the Witch Dungeon! Salem must be one of the most fascinating and complex cities in the country. Multiple Salems exist simultaneously. Yes, it's the site of the Witch Hysteria of 1692, but it's also home of the brilliant and enduring architecture of Samuel McIntire; the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne; a bustling seaport during the Old China Trade; home of a devout Wiccan community that may number as many as 1 in 10 residents; a New Age mecca; home of Laurie Cabot, 'the official witch of Salem'; site of the stunningly transformed Peabody Essex Museum; and, of course, it's Halloween Central. It's all here, all on the same street, at the same time."

I've visited Salem - it's one of my favorite tourist traps. Don't think I'll make it for this hallowe'en though, got too much on my plate..