Tourism In Salem; Beverly, Not So Much….

It took a number of years and several lucky jumps ahead on the Candyland board before I met my girlfriend and we ended up with a little piece of Ryalside. I started tempting her with places in Salem, as she was, like Shorty and the mysterious reader from Arlington, an urbanite. She had a life in her coffee shops, her book stores, and James Gate.

We ended up in Beverly in part because we didn’t want to deal with tourists — Salem is choked with people on certain weekends, and they come out of the woodwork on Halloween. But tourists are part of what makes Salem fun. You can have a great walk-to-it-all life in either town if you find the right location, and depending on how far you like to walk.

Salem has its annual ice sculpture and chocolate festival this weekend. Apparently, while the marketing is kind of lame, the attractions are impressive (weather permitting) and the chocolate is a reason to get out of bed in February.

Beverly has some great restaurants and parks, but it doesn’t draw much in the way of tourists.

Anyway, here are some new listings in both towns:

Eye candy…

5 OCEANSIDE DR

Beverly, MA 01915

Price: $599,000

Okay, you won’t believe this — about a block from the train station for $80,900! Not 180 — 80! It isn’t the prettiest building in town, but it’s next to a good Italian market and across from a great Indian restaurant, and it could get you into a started years ahead of schedule!

158 PARK ST #1

Beverly, MA 01915

Price: $80,900

This is a really pretty condo in an antique building:

3 WINTER ST #4

Salem, MA 01970

Price: $339,900

This one is just over the bridge from me, and so very pretty….

26 UPHAM ST

Salem, MA 01970

Price: $387,000