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“#1 Cultural Tourist Attraction In The U.S. Right Here In Massachusetts”

Author Lauren Beckham Falcone
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Who would’ve thought a quaint seaside city on the North Shore would snag the nation’s top tourist attraction?

Yep, Salem has done it again!

The History & Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour by Witch City Walking Tours has just been named the No. 1 cultural and history tour in the U.S. for 2024 by Tripadvisor.

Oh, and it’s also No. 2 in the world! Not too shabby, Salem.

Top Tourist Attraction Bragging Rights

Kristen Dalton, the big boss at Tripadvisor, spilled the beans on Tuesday, saying, “Experiences make a trip, and our Best of the Best Things to Do Awards offer some of the highest-rated activities from across the world, highlighted by our community of travelers.”

Salem, infamous for the 1692 Witch Trials, becomes the go-to spot every October. Over half a million people flock there for its monthlong Haunted Happenings. But don’t worry if you can’t make it in the fall. The History & Hauntings tour runs daily, all year round. Just head to Salem’s Old Town Hall to get started.

Beth Crowley, the tour’s owner and guide, loves giving visitors a mix of everything, she told Boston.com last year. “A lot of tours will focus on just the witch trials or just ghost stories. We combine it all so our travelers will learn about our maritime history, dive deep into the 1692 witch trials, and explore three centuries of beautiful architecture. And, of course, we throw in the spooky ghost stories,” she told Boston.com after last year’s top ranking.

So, who managed to beat out Salem for the No. 1 spot worldwide? An Amsterdam canal cruise with a local skipper guide. Yeah, that sounds pretty cool too.

But let’s not forget our other local heroes. Boston’s Freedom Trail: Small Group Walking Tour of Revolutionary Boston came in at No. 4, and Downtown Portland, Maine City and Lighthouse Tour snagged the No. 23 spot in the U.S.

The 2024 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Things to Do Awards are all about traveler reviews and ratings on Tripadvisor from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. So, if you’re planning a trip, you know where to look!

Ready for some ghostly fun? It’s right around the corner and the envy of the world!

Lauren Beckham Falcone is the co-host of Bob & LBF in the Morning. Formerly an award-winning reporter and columnist for the Boston Herald, she credits her current success as a pop culture commentator to watching too much TV as a kid and scouring the internet too much as an adult. LBF is a regular contributor to NECN and is an honorary board member at the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. Lauren lives in Canton with her husband Dave and her daughter Lucy. Lauren writes about trending topics, New England destinations, and seasonal DIY.

The Ghostliest City in Massachusetts Isn't Salem

Last week, it was The 12 Most Haunted Places in Massachusetts. This week, it’s the Ghostliest City in Massachusetts.

 

Or, rather, The Ghostliest Cities in Massachusetts. This all comes from a recent BetMassachusetts piece that lays out the Cities with Most Ghost Sightings in State of Massachusetts. The number-crunchers over there took a break from sports betting odds and instead laid out the odds of you seeing a ghost in Massachusetts. As they put it: “The odds of you seeing a ghost in Massachusetts are actually better than the odds of the Patriots winning the Super Bowl.” Their words, not mine. Although, I have to say I agree.

 

We’ll dive into the Commonwealth’s Ghostliest Cities below, but the big surprise is that Salem doesn’t top or even make the list. That honor goes to Lowell. So, how did that happen? BetMassachusetts dug into the data over at GhostsofAmerica.com, that’s how. And the data said your chances of sighting a spook in Lowell are actually higher than grabbing a ghoul in the Witch City. Go figure. Think about it: if word about this gets out, Lowell might start copping some of those big October tourist bucks that Salem rakes in every Halloween season. Witch City Part Two: Mill City.

 

The Ghostliest City in Massachusetts

So you already have the city that leads the list: Lowell. So how far back is Salem? And who else made the list? And if my city or town is on the list, does that mean my house could be haunted? Or maybe it’s haunted right now? All of these questions (except that last two) will be answered. Just scroll on. And yeah, if your city did make the list, maybe leave a light on in the hallway at night. And check under the bed before you go to sleep tonight.

  • Lowell

    Lowell is chock-full of ghosts, perhaps none more famous that Witch Bonney at the Lowell Cemetery.

  • New Bedford

    The Bristol County Jailhouse and New Bedford Armory have had their fair share of ghost sightings over the years.

  • North Attleboro

    Actual haunted houses? And investigations? In North Attleboro? Yup.

  • Ware

    Maybe because of its proximity to Dana?

  • Chicopee

    So haunted they have their own YouTube channel.

  • Malden

    Hey, it made MassLive’s Top 5 a few years back.

  • Danvers

    Three words: Danvers State Hospital.

  • Brockton

    Because it’s waaay too close to the Triangle.

  • Whitman

    You can’t sit here and tell me Kings Castleland isn’t haunted.

  • Orange

    The Wheeler Mansion? Positively oozing with ghosts.

Author Lauren Beckham Falcone
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