The Holidays can be wonderful, but they can also be stressful! So this year Mike and I decided to get away for a weekend before the Holidays really ramped up. We checked in to The Hotel Salem, a fabulous Lark Hotel located in the heart of down-town Salem. It was perfect timing, the Halloween crowds were gone and things were still calm ahead of the Holidays. 
The Hotel Salem opened just over a year ago. It is conveniently located, a bunch of great restaurants and cute shops are all within walking distance. The Peabody Essex Museum is just one block away and The Witch Museum is right next door! If you’ve never been to Salem I highly recommend doing both.
On Saturday we hit up Far From The Tree Cider and did a couple of flights to sample all their different ciders. On warmer days you can sit out on the patio, they don’t serve food but you are welcome to bring your own or have something delivered! Definitely try the seasonal cider, everything is made with local, freshly pressed apples for small batch cider. 
The Hotel Salem has a restaurant located on the first floor of the building, The Counter. The staff was super friendly and the food was delicious! Friday night I had the Short Rib Grilled cheese, this thing was bigger than my head and it was amazing!! For breakfast in the morning I had the French Toast and Mike had the Chorizo Hash, while we planned out our fun day of exploring Salem. When you stay at the hotel you get 10% off food at The Counter so definitely stop in for at least one meal during your stay.
Our hotel room was roomie and as with all Lark Hotels was uniquely designed to fit the location. It was the perfect setting to unwind and relax. Each room comes with all the necessary amenities; waffle robe, big screen TV, comfy bed, and most importantly a wine opener! There is also a coffee and tea station on each floor that you can help yourself to anytime of day. The station was also equipped with sparkling and filtered water. We had such a nice time, after a long day of exploring Salem we literally just crashed and took a quick nap before dinner. If you’re a light sleeper, try and request a room towards the back of the hotel, our room overlooked Essex St and it was definitely a bit noisy with all the bars and restaurants right there. 
After a weekend with The Hotel Salem I am feeling refreshed and ready for the holidays! What are you doing to relax and unwind before the holidays?
