Salem is one scary town. From The House of Seven Gables, which inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's eerie 1851 novel, to the witch trial reenactments at the Salem Witch Museum, this historic town is bound to frighten -- and educate. Visitors looking for a little less spookiness can check out the home and art collection at the Peabody Essex Museum, or explore Salem's seagoing history at the Maritime National Historic Site.