Still working on the itinerary..........

Hi again everyone. Following on from the advice given to my previous post I%26#39;m wondering if you thought that Salem would be a good start for our trip? I%26#39;m thinking in terms of a 4 day stay in Salem Waterfront Hotel and using this as a base to see Cape Ann area and perhaps a trip into Boston by train. Then after that move down in the direction of the Cape and/or Newport (as suggested in the previous post). Are there nice restaurants in Salem - I%26#39;m thinking in terms of somewhere within walking distance of the hotel that we could go to after a days sightseeing so as my DH could have a drink and not worry about the car. Thanks

Still working on the itinerary..........

HI, I did see your other post so I won%26#39;t repeat anything here but yes, 4 days sounds good in the Salem area and yes, there are nice restaurants in Salem, most within walking distance of the hotels from what I remember. Haven%26#39;t been up that way in about a year but you should have no trouble finding food and drink places that are nice. As far as a trip to the Cape goes, be very, very careful of when you%26#39;re going! Avoid the weekends like the plague due to heavy traffic trying to get on and off the bridges. Early September is still too early for the cottage owners and random vacationers to have said good bye for the season so again, weekends are a nightmare, traffic wise. I believe the same would be more or less true for Newport although getting there would probably entail less back-up traffic. I%26#39;d let some Rhode Islanders speak to that as they may chime in differently.

Still working on the itinerary..........

The tavern at the Hawthorne Hotel has very decent food and is quite comfy after a day of walking. There%26#39;s a large bar and comfy chairs and small sofas around the tables. Not sure if it%26#39;s in walking distance of your hotel. Don%26#39;t know when you%26#39;re coming but they have two for one specials (three-course dinners for 2 for $28)on Sunday through Wednesday nights during June. Have never eaten at the fancier restaurant in the hotel (Nathaniel%26#39;s).

Here%26#39;s link:

www.hawthornehotel.com/dining/index.htm

When you%26#39;re on Cape Ann in Glouchester stop at Halibut Point for great chowders, burgers and a little history. Get some strudel at Helmut%26#39;s Strudel when you%26#39;re in Rockport.

Have fun :%26gt;

Am I the only one who feels Salem is not the best place to base yourself for a 4 day vacation? Probably. I mean, sure, it%26#39;s a nice place to visit, but it is a city, not some quaint New England seaside town. I love visiting for a day, but then I%26#39;m so over it. Hope I don%26#39;t offend the Salem folks. If I had to stay in a seaside city north of Boston, my choice would be Gloucester. JMO. :)

preventing blackheads