Ah Boston, you sunny old soul. Day four of our travels – though technically only the third full day on this patch of the map – dawned with the kind of weather that makes you believe life might just be alright after all. Warm sunshine, a breeze with a cheeky nip in the shade, and a day brimming with potential. What could possibly go wrong? (Spoiler: not much, unless you count mild disappointment in historical witchery.)
Hitting the Pavement (and the Breakfast Menu)
Helen & Brian: The Perpetual Punctuals
At this point, it’s becoming something of a running joke – the daily race to the hotel lobby. Once again, our travel companions Helen and Brian managed to beat us downstairs by a solid sixty seconds. Sixty seconds might not seem like much, but in the world of competitive holidaying, it’s the equivalent of lapping someone at Silverstone. Hats off to them – their punctuality is only rivalled by their good humour.
The Berkeley Perk Cafe: A Tasty Bargain
Michele, who has now unofficially taken the role of breakfast curator, led us to Berkeley Perk Cafe, just a literal stone’s throw from our hotel. And when I say “stone’s throw,” I mean it – we could have lobbed a hash brown and hit it from our front door.
It was a no-fuss, friendly little spot, blessedly affordable, and just what we needed after a few days of paying big city prices for avocado toast with a side of existential crisis. The staff? Delightful. The coffee? Strong enough to revive the dead (which, as you’ll soon find out, might have come in handy in Salem). The vibe? Relaxed, welcoming, and completely lacking in hipster pretension.
All Aboard the Witch Hunt Express
Mind the Gap (and the Schedule)
Post-breakfast, we were off to Salem, the town infamous for its witch trials and, one would assume, a hefty dose of spooky charm. To get there, we took the Boston Green Line from Arlington station to North Station. Simple, right? Well, almost.
Turns out we were a little overzealous and arrived just in time to miss the train. Classic tourists. But never mind – an unexpected wait simply translates to an unplanned coffee break. And if there’s one thing we’re consistently good at, it’s turning poor planning into caffeine consumption.
The Train to Salem: Clean, Cheap, and Quick
Once aboard, the journey to Salem was pleasantly uneventful – smooth, scenic, and only $8 each way. Honestly, it’s hard to complain about public transport when it behaves itself like this. You can keep your Uber surge pricing and traffic-jammed taxis – give us a clean train and a window seat, and we’re happy campers.
Salem: Ghosts, Graves and… Gah?
Witchy Wonders (or Lack Thereof)
Now, I don’t want to come across as overly critical – Salem is a lovely town, full of charming buildings and enthusiastic tourists. But we were expecting a little more… oomph. You know, a touch of theatricality. A wandering witch or two. Perhaps even a jump scare. What we got felt more like a history field trip with a dash of witchy branding.
That said, we dutifully visited the Salem Witch Museum, which was informative and suitably moody in its presentation. Dramatic lighting, spooky voiceovers, and dioramas that looked like they hadn’t had a dusting since the 1600s – all very on-brand.
Then it was on to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial. A solemn and thoughtfully designed space honouring those wrongly accused and executed during the hysteria. It was a moment of quiet reflection in an otherwise bustling day, and well worth the visit.
But truth be told, beyond that, Salem felt a bit… flat. A bit theme park with not enough theme. We’d been primed for an all-out spooky spectacular, but what we got was more ‘historical walking tour with optional broomstick merch’.
Beer to the Rescue
Still, there’s little that a cold beer can’t remedy. We popped into a nearby pub and toasted to the witches (wrongly accused or otherwise) with a local brew. Conversation turned to dinner plans and whether we’d ever attempt to dress as witches for Halloween again. (The answer is yes. With dramatic eyeliner and probably too much glitter.)
Back in Boston: A Return to Culinary Glory
Five Horses Tavern: Redemption on a Plate
After our return train journey – again easy, again cheap – we found ourselves back in Boston with empty stomachs and high hopes. Enter: Five Horses Tavern on Columbus Avenue. If you’re looking for somewhere that hits the sweet spot between trendy and comforting, this place delivers. Hard.
The menu was eclectic without being ridiculous, and everyone found something to rave about. Whether it was the juicy burgers, the loaded mac and cheese, or the sheer volume of craft beer options, we were all in our happy place. Michele gave it a solid 9/10. Brian muttered something about “finally, a real meal”. Helen just grinned and ordered Mac and cheese.
Nightcap and Next Steps
With full bellies and slightly rosier cheeks (thanks again, beer), we sauntered back to the hotel for a nightcap. There’s something satisfying about that last drink of the day – the clink of glasses, the shared stories, and the comfortable silence between friends who’ve laughed a little too much.
Tomorrow, we head south for sunshine, sand, and the next chapter of our American adventure. The flight to Tampa departs at 11:30, which means another early rendezvous with Helen and Brian at 08:00 sharp. Will we finally beat them to the lobby? Tune in next time to find out…
Final Thoughts on Day Four
It was a day of contrasts. A lovely breakfast, a mild train mishap, a slightly disappointing trip to Salem, and a triumphant dinner that restored our faith in holiday food choices. That’s the joy of travel, really – not every stop is a hit, but every moment becomes part of the story.
We laughed, we learned, we might have misjudged the witch-to-wow ratio in Salem. But we did it all with full stomachs and good friends. And really, that’s more magical than anything we found in those dusty dioramas.
