I fell in love with Salem, Massachusetts the second I drove into this charming New England town. Salem is a town to visit if you love rich history, Halloween and spooky culture, are a fan of Hocus Pocus, exploring coastal towns, or are looking for beautiful fall foliage. While it is known for its witch trials and the House of Seven Gables, this town offers so much more – amazing food, walking tours, and family-friendly fun! This year (2026) will be especially special as they are celebrating their 400th birthday! I hope that you will consider visiting Salem, Massachusetts in October as it is truly magical.

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How to get to Salem

Salem is only a 35 minute drive from Boston. We have always toured Salem on our road trips through New England, but you could fly into Boston’s Logan Airport and drive over to Salem. There are also train and ferry options. Parking is not too difficult to find, but the early bird definitely gets the worm. We always get there in the morning a few minutes before the shops open up to get a great parking spot and take some photos on Essex Street before the crowds get too heavy.

Best Time to Visit Salem

The best time to visit Salem is in the fall. While the crowds are heavier, it is just so beautiful and fun. You feel like you are walking through Halloweentown. They go all out on their Halloween decor and many people dress up on Essex street. The fall foliage is beautiful and the weather is perfect. If you travel to Salem, Massachusetts in October, you can also attend the Salem Haunted Happenings Festival!

How Many Days Do I Need in Salem?

This depends on how much you want to do. If you are only interested in a day trip, you could easily do that. I would stop by the Hocus Pocus filming locations as well as taking a walk through the witch museum or tour the House of Seven Gables. I would then take a stroll down Essex Street and stop in some of the local shops and then grab some seafood at Turner’s Seafood! If you are interested in a weekend (my preference) you could add in more tours and drive around to look at the decorated houses. I would also drive to Marblehead – it is beautiful.

Top 5 Things to do in Salem Massachusetts in October

1. Visit the Hocus Pocus filming locations. Don’t skip out on driving to Marblehead (the graveyard scenes) for incredible views.
   
2. Visit the witch trial history sites such as the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, the Witch House, and the Peabody Essex Museum.
   
3. Take a tour – there are many to choose from. Ghost tours, witch museums, haunted houses and more.
   
4. Kid-friendly spots: The Halloween Museum on Essex Street was a huge hit with my kids! Tour the House of Seven Gables. They have a scavenger hunt for the kids to do that was really fun and they get a treat if they find everything at the end.
   
5. Hidden Gems in Salem: Stroll down Chestnut Street and visit the Pickman House (built in the 1600s). Grab a coffee at Black Craft (you need a reservation mid-September – November) and be sure to visit the store next door as well. Stroll down the Commons and see the orange lights during October. There is also a playground here for the kids. Visit the stores. There are too many good ones to name but I will try: Wicked Good Books, Kakawa Chocolate House (the best chocolates), Ye Olde Pepper Company (candy store), The Coven’s Cottage, Wynott’s Wands, The Lost Library, and Moon’s Gift Shop are some of our favorites.

Where to Eat in Salem

Where to eat in Salem is one of the most asked questions I get each year that we visit. Here is a list of restaurants we have tried and loved.

Bella Verona is one we want to try this year! I’ve had this restaurant recommended to me by many. You must make a reservation. Try the pumpkin ravioli.

Turner’s Seafood is a nice option if you want seafood.

Flying Saucer Pizza was great if you’re in the mood for pizza or need a very kid-friendly place to grab an easy lunch or dinner.

If you need a great brunch spot, Salem’s Retreat is delicious. It was a hit with my entire family.

Black Craft Coffee is a must for coffee, but you must have a reservation during the fall.

Red Line Cafe is right on Essex Street and so easy to grab a cup of coffee or a pastry. You do not need a reservation here.

Grab a sandwich at the Gulu-Gulu Cafe.

We all love The Village Tavern – also located right on Essex Street and very kid-friendly.

Where to Stay in Salem

The Salem Inn and the Hawthorne Hotel are the most popular places to stay in Salem. The Hawthorne Hotel is the most haunted hotel in Salem, so stay at your own risk (cue spooky music). We typically stay in Boston and drive into Salem.

Is Salem Worth Visiting During Halloween?

For lack of a better word…DUH! It is crowded, sure, but it is so magical. If you are a spooky lover, this city was made for you. If you love rich history (like my family does) it is also more than worth visiting. My kids love it and beg to go back every year. There is truly something for everyone in this coastal New England town. The food is fantastic, the Halloween decorations and shops are top-notch and the people are very friendly. Salem is truly a magical town.

Check out my 11 Day Itinerary in New England for more spooky season content, fall foliage and other tips on what to do in Salem!

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It’s April and finally time for spring outfits! I put together some cool and classy looks for going to the farmer’s market, tennis lessons, date night and more!

Outfit 1

Outfit 2

Outfit 3

Outfit 4

Outfit 5

Some of my favorite spring trends for 2026 are statement necklaces (so nostalgic), jelly shoes (again, nostalgic), polka dots, neck scarves, and peplum! I have started mixing some of these pieces into my wardrobe this year and can’t wait to style them. How will you be wearing these spring trends in 2026?

It’s officially Christmas in July – the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is back and better than ever this year! There are so many great closet staples included from some of my favorite brands. From July 12 through August 3, you can get up to 50% off coveted items from top brands like MOTHER, Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren, Hoka, and more. I am especially excited about the ON Cloudnovas marked nearly half off and beautiful Barbour jackets discounted.

Why Shop the Nordstrom Sale?

Why shop the Anniversary Sale?

1. Brand new styles are discounted – unlike typical sales that clear out old stock, this event lets you shop the upcoming season’s hottest arrivals at a discount .
2. High-end brands on sale – from designer fragrances and premium denim to chic handbags and classic outerwear—all discounted up to 50 %.
3. Nordy Club perks – free two-day shipping, alteration services, bonus points (including double or triple point days during the sale), and exclusive events make this a no-brainer.

Tips for Shopping the Sale:

1. Join Nordy Club + get the card.
Signing up is free, but having a Nordstrom credit card unlocks Early Access starting July 8-11th—the first days of the sale before it opens to everyone.

2. Build your wishlist.
The NSALE preview is live and you can begin searching for the items you need to add to your closet – include your size, color, and item specifics and add them to your wishlist. This way, when your access begins, you can checkout quickly ensuring you get the items you want the most. Things sell out before my eyes every year when I’m trying to checkout. Moving quickly is key.

3. Shop essentials.
Start with higher end investment pieces—shoes, handbags, designer denim, outerwear—and only then browse seasonal trends under $100. Shoes (especially sneakers and uggs) often sell out first, so be ready.

4. Check out quickly & choose fast delivery.
Place your initial orders quickly—especially within the first hour of Early Access—and upgrade to two‑day shipping or same‑day pick‑up to reduce cancellation risks if it is available to you.

6. Stay alert to restocks.
This is where I come in! I’ll be sharing restock alerts throughout the sale, so make sure you are following along with me on the LTK app and Instagram! Popular items sometimes come in and out of stock as customers make returns. Keep wishlist notifications turned on and check back often.

7. Use bonus‑points days.
Activate your Double/Triple Points Day for your first Early Access order to maximize rewards, which convert into Nordstrom Notes. You can do this easily by chatting with someone on the Nordstrom website here and they will set it for you.

8. Stick to Your Budget.
Treat the sale as a chance to replace, upgrade, or complete your wardrobe. Don’t get swept up in impulse buys. This sale gets a lot of attention and hype (for good reason) but do not feel the need to overspend. At the end of the day, it is just stuff.

NSALE Dates:

First Look Favorites:

It’s my favorite time of the year again! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has officially begun. I am listing my tips for shopping the sale below along with my top picks from the sale. Be sure to follow me in the LTK app and on Instagram for updates, styled outfits and in-stock alerts.

Shop Top Picks HERE

Tips for shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale:

-You must go into the sale with a plan. The more prepared you are, the more likely you will be to grab your favorites.

-Make sure your card information is up to date and check your cardmember status to see which day you can begin to shop. Icons shop today, Ambassadors shop tomorrow and the sale opens to the public on the 15th.

– Do a closet inventory of what you need for this year and make a list of items you plan to shop for. This is also a great time to grab some Christmas gifts and winter items for your kids.

– I tend to stick to buying basics for this sale – think boots, jeans, coats, etc. These brands are great quality and last for years. I love to stock up on sneakers and athleisure as well.

– Add things to your wish list on the Nordstrom website under your account so that you can check out quickly.

If you can’t wait to shop the fall sale, check out their current sale on summer clothes and accessories here!

Follow me on Instagram and in the LTK app for more sale coverage! Happy shopping!

Fall in New England is magical. Not just because of the changing leaves and cooler temps or maple lattes and apple cider donuts, but also because of the people – the vibe is so uplifting and everyone seems to be in genuinely good spirits. We recently got back from our 11-day family trip to New England and many of you have reached out asking about our itinerary and food recommendations. I am so excited to finally share it with you all. For privacy reasons, I am not going to share where we stayed in case we revisit but I am happy to share with my IRL friends if you want to reach out.

Outfit linked here.

This was our second road trip to New England and we switched it up a little from our first time, but we all agreed that this was the better of the two trips by far. Both years we chose to drive, allowing us to stop at fun places along the way and really experience all that New England has to offer – but the pinnacle of the trip is the fall foliage. The views (even from the road) do not get old.

The first couple of days were non-stop driving but we made it to our first destination – New York City around lunch time and we spent a full 24-hours there. I love NYC but to be honest, this was a very unnecessary stop. We covered most of the sight-seeing last year, so we spent our time doing some shopping and eating pizza. One of my favorite stops is always Ralph’s Coffee on 5th Ave. It is such a cool atmosphere and decorated in my favorite color. The coffee is also insanely good.

Outfits linked here.

We left NYC around lunch time the next day and drove to Mystic, CT where we stopped at Olde Mistick Village. It was ADORABLE! We had so much fun walking around shopping and we ate some yummy treats. The Pop on the Block popcorn shop was a hit with my kids, but we primarily stopped to visit the Cloak and Wand shop. If you are a Harry Potter or Hocus Pocus fan, this store is a must.

Outfit linked here.

The next pit-stop we made was in Newport, RI where we visited Kiel James Patrick’s flagship store. This is another must stop if you love all cozy fall things. The store was so cute and the location was on the Wharf, so it was also fun walking around and visiting some of the other shops.

From there, we drove to Boston where we arrived later that night. We actually stayed in between Boston and Salem because we were planning to visit both. The next day in Boston was packed. We walked over 20,000 steps that day but it was so worth it. We walked the Freedom Trail downtown and saw so much history. Along the way, we stopped at Tatte Bakery for coffee and breakfast. It is really good and I highly recommend it. We stopped at the D.C. location last year and enjoyed it as well. Before leaving downtown we made a pitstop by Fenway Stadium. They were having an event there so we weren’t able to go in, but I was told by some locals that the stadium tour they offer is more than worth it. That is definitely in the plans for next time we are there. After Fenway, we drove to Harvard and explored the campus for a bit before hitting the road for Concord, MA (just a 30-minute drive) to see Louisa May Alcott’s home and Walden Pond. If you love literature, this is a must. You can also visit Emerson’s home (we only drove by it) in Concord.

Day 5 of our trip was spent in Salem, MA. No one does Halloween like Salem! This was our second October visiting this fun little town and it never disappoints. Everyone dresses up in costumes and really has fun with it. We love it, but if you have kids who are easily scared, it may not be for you. There is some scary decor in some places so just be aware of that. We try to stay in the kid-friendly areas and only visit the family-friendly shops. I could write an entire blog post on Salem (I might soon), but for now I will give you my shortened version of must-dos.

You can visit all of the Hocus Pocus filming locations that are fairly close together. The Rope’s Mansion (Allison’s house) is right on Essex Street, which is another must-visit. This is where the popular hotels, restaurants and shops are. You can also see the famous Bewitched Statute of Samantha. Our favorite shop to visit is the very kid-friendly Coon’s Card and Gift Shop. We rack up on sweatshirts and coffee mugs here. Also, Wicked Good Books is the cutest bookshop – we are suckers for a good local bookshops! The Red Line Cafe is really good for coffee or a quick bite and is also located right in the middle of Essex. This time we did a tour of The House of Seven Gables which was really fun and again, very kid-friendly. They even have a scavenger hunt to keep the kids occupied – they get a prize for finding all the items on their checklist! It was cute and so fun for them.

From Salem we headed to Maine where we stayed for two days. When I say it is beautiful, that word does not do it justice. It was breathtaking and everywhere I looked was magazine cover-worthy. The giant boulders, crashing waves, tall mountains and fall trees all collide to make the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. We have talked about skipping NYC next time so we can spend more time in Maine because we loved it so much.

Hiking Outfit Linked.

We started our first morning off by grabbing coffee and Acadia Perk, which I highly recommend (especially if you are a Friends fan). They were so sweet and had the best coffee. Then, we went on our first hike of the trip in Acadia National Park – the Gorham trail. It was the most kid-friendly hike we did. It took us a little over two hours, but we stopped a few time to take pictures and to take it all in. The trail has a loop that allows you to finish down by the beach and it is such a pretty and scenic hike. The views are gorgeous. After our hike, we decided to eat lunch at Side Street Cafe and it was deliecious. I recommend the lobster roll (when in Maine!) and the patty melt. Both were delicious. We then walked around the little town of Bar Harbor for a bit and it was really adorable.

Later that afternoon we drove up Cadillac Mountain, where we did some more hiking. It is the highest point in Acadia National Park and the views from the top are incredible. You have to buy tickets in advance and the early morning times sell out quickly (Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the US where you can see the sunrise), but regardless of when you go, the view is definitely worth it. Maine was stunning and I really hope to go back and spend more time there. The only downside (if it is even a downside) is that you do not have great cell service there, so if you rely on your phone’s GPS for directions, be aware! But we found that helped us to really unplug and enjoy everything around us.

Before we hit the road to Vermont, we got up really early the next morning and drove to the Bass Harbor Headlight to watch the sunrise – it was breathtaking to watch. Fun fact – this lighthouse was featured as one of the original Windows desktop screensavers.

Driving from Maine to Vermont was absolutely beautiful. We took the scenic Kancamagus Scenic Highway route to Vermont and it was incredible. We made several stops along the way to take a peek at some covered bridges and beautiful fall foliage in New Hampshire.

We spent the next three days in Vermont, which is always our favorite part of the trip. On our first full day, we drove to Stowe and stopped by the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. They are famous for their amazing apple cider donuts (which we actually found out you can have delivered anywhere in the US). We then headed to the hardest hike we did on this trip – Pinnacle Point. I think this hike is suited more for older kids (my oldest two did fine) but my younger boys struggled a bit. There were a lot of stairs and a scramble at the top that was VERY fun. haha

Seriously, though I’d do it a million times over for the views at the top. The mountains were so stunningly vibrant that they looked fake – almost like dyed cotton balls everywhere you looked. It was incredible. The top of the mountain was not the most kid-friendly. It was very uneven so we had to be careful about where we let the kids walk. All in all it took us about four hours to do, and I was very proud of my kids because it was a very tiring hike (even for us adults!) but they did it. We ended our day with the best venison chili at the Idletyme Brewing Co. Their food was amazing, the outdoor dining was perfect, and my kids also approved.

Our second day in Vermont we went back to Stowe to my favorite coffee shop – Black Cap to get their amazing maple latte. I think I drank three while we were there. They are so delicious. Their breakfast sandwiches are also my favorite. We rode the gondolas up Mt. Mansfield – Vermont’s highest mountain – but it was too foggy to see much that day. We did this last year and I can atest to the spectacular views, but definitely worth looking ahead at the weather. After the gondola ride we took a few photos down by the iconic church and then we walked around the shops. We all agree that the General Store has the best sweatshirts, kids tees, and souvenirs.

Outfit linked here.

Our third day in Vermont was spent mostly in Woodstock. We grabbed coffee at Mon Vert Cafe (get the spiced maple latte and thank me later) and then walked around the shops and took a few photos of the kids around the town. After we finished up there we drove back to Stowe for one last drive through Smuggler’s Notch (the most beautiful scenic drive) and then did a quick and easy dinner at Pizza Chef (another one of our kid’s favorites) before heading back to the hotel.

Before leaving Vermont, we stopped through Woodstock again for a minute but it was raining so we hit the road pretty soon after that. On the drive home we stopped by Yankee Candle Village a couple of hours down the road. That was a really fun and spontaneous stop but I recommend it, for sure. Every room was decorated for a different season with all of that season’s scents. It was really huge and such a fun place to visit. I won’t bore you with the rest of our 20+ hour drive home, but needless to say, it was once again an incredible trip and I’m so thankful for the memories we were able to make with my family. We all agreed that the hikes were our favorite part of the trip. We would love to do more of the next time, but we will see.

We didn’t have time to do some of the things we did last year in Vermont because we did more hiking instead (apple picking at Liberty Orchards was really fun). But you could easily spend an entire week just in Vermont exploring all there is to see and do. I guess we will just have to go back…

If I missed anything that you want me to cover, please let me know and I can add it in. You can always feel free to email me or DM me on IG (I check it multiple times a day) for any other questions. I also saved my IG stories in a “New England” highlight for you to reference. Thank you for trusting me to be a resource to you. <3

Day by day summary:

Day 1 – Driving
Day 2 – Driving – afternoon in NYC
Day 3 – Morning in NYC, then Mystic, CT and Newport, RI – drive to Boston
Day 4 – Downtown Boston, Harvard, Concord
Day 5 – Morning in Salem, drive to Maine
Day 6 – Day in Maine
Day 7 – Morning in Maine, drive to Vermont (Kancamagus Highway)
Day 8 – Day in Stowe, VT
Day 9 – Day in Stowe/Woodstock, VT
Day 10 – Morning in Woodstock, VT – drive halfway home
Day 11 – Drive home

Why is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale so popular?

Every year, Nordstrom releases their brand new fall and winter lines from popular brands (even some designer) to the public at a discounted price (usually around 40% off) for a limited time before they go back up to full price for the start of the fall season. Things tend to sell out quickly, so be sure to add everything to your cart and check out in a timely manner. That strategy is key to snagging your favorites from the sale.

When does the NSALE start?

You can start shopping at 12:01am ET on the date of your tier. This year’s shopping dates are below:

The sale preview goes live on July 3rd where everyone can get a sneak peek at all of the goodies that will be included in the sale. I highly recommend you add your must-haves to your wish list (on their website) so that you can check out quickly on your shopping day. Things have been known to sell out before my eyes even at 12a.m. You do need to go into the day with a plan and be prepared to check out quickly. As always, I will be sharing all of my favorites from each category in the LTK app and on Instagram, so be sure to follow me for updated coverage, outfit inspo and in-stock alerts throughout the sale.

You can apply for a Nordstrom card here and receive a $40 note when you do.

This coat and henley were two of my favorite purchases from last year’s NSALE!

Tips for shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale:

As I stated above, you must go into the sale with a plan. The more prepared you are, the more likely you will be to grab your favorites.

-Make sure your card information is up to date and check your cardmember status to see which day you can begin to shop.

– Do a closet inventory of what you need for this year and make a list of items you plan to shop for. This is also a great time to grab some Christmas gifts and winter items for your kids.

– I tend to stick to buying basics for this sale – think boots, jeans, coats, etc. These brands are great quality and last for years. I love to stock up on sneakers and athleisure as well.

– Add things to your wish list on the Nordstrom website under your account so that you can check out quickly.

If you can’t wait to shop the fall sale, check out their current sale on summer clothes and accessories here!

Follow me on Instagram and in the LTK app for more sale coverage! Happy shopping!