Discover Salem
Accommodation in Salem
Salem combines historic cityscapes, waterfront trails, sports facilities, and special events into a diverse destination. Here, you can choose between culture, exercise, and shared experiences without having to limit yourself to just one type of vacation. When searching for a vacation rental or holiday home, the most important question is therefore which themes should shape your trip.
Discover Historic Salem
A good starting point for culture-oriented visitors is the Downtown Salem Historic District. Its original 25-acre street grid, laid out by James Simpson along the Great Road in 1802, is still preserved there. The district’s buildings date from the early 19th century through the mid-20th century. The North Broad Street Historic District also illustrates Salem’s economic prosperity from the 1880s to around 1950. Despite different residential architectural styles, the district has a visually cohesive appearance due to consistent building setbacks and spacious rectangular lots.
Individual buildings also give Salem’s history a tangible face. Preston Place is considered the oldest house in Salem and was built in 1821. A historic city tour takes you to Salem’s historic sites. At the Salem Museum, a gallery combines personal stories, maps, and artifacts with interactive elements and augmented-reality technology that you can use with your smartphone. At Library Square, the LOVE artwork unveiled in 2018 also commemorates Virginia’s tourism initiative. The fully mobile LOVE sign is seven feet high and nearly 17 feet long.
Trails, Water, and Exercise
For an active day out, the Salem section of the Roanoke River Greenway offers an easy 4.4-mile route. You can walk, cycle, run, fish, watch birds, or walk dogs there; the trail is also suitable for strollers. The Mason Creek Greenway and the Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail are also located in Salem. Rotary Park includes a section of the Roanoke River Greenway.
Anyone who wants to explore Salem by bicycle will find the Salem Bike Route, an 11.2-mile road course for cyclists of all ages. The route passes through the historic downtown and offers views of the Roanoke River. The Roanoke River Blueway provides additional opportunities in the river’s upper watershed for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, tubing, wading, and wildlife watching. This allows you to incorporate more peaceful nature experiences and sporting activities into your travel plans.
Sports Facilities and Special Experiences
Salem also offers notable destinations for travelers interested in sports. The James E. Taliaferro Sports and Entertainment Complex covers 65 acres and includes the Salem Civic Center, Salem Football Stadium, and Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. The Salem Civic Center is a sports and event arena with 7,000 seats and has hosted ODAC men’s and women’s basketball championships as well as the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Final Four.
The Salem Municipal Golf Course was established in 1919 on a 46-acre site. The par-34 course has nine holes and is 2,400 yards long. Its sand greens were a hallmark during its heyday. The James I. Moyer Sports Complex hosts various sporting events and tournaments. Families can enjoy an unusual experience at the Ernest “Pig” Robertson Fishing Rodeo: Children can catch up to six trout each, and all fish caught must be kept.
Parks, Market, and Getting There
Longwood Park is the largest park in Salem and features an amphitheater for evening concerts and film screenings. Lake Spring Park can be reserved for weddings, fishing, and special events. The Salem Farmers Market has a clear local focus: Only products produced within a 100-mile radius of the city of Salem may be sold.
Getting there can also play a role in choosing your accommodation. The Salem Fairgrounds can be reached via Interstate 81 running north to south and U.S. Route 460 running east to west. Salem’s bus connections include Greyhound Lines and Trailways / Abbott Bus Lines Inc. When searching for a vacation rental or holiday home, first determine your main interests: Greenways, the Blueway, and the bike route are ideal for active days; the Historic Districts and the museum suit a culture-oriented stay, while sports facilities and events provide a focus of their own. For further orientation, you can then also visit Salem.
For the overarching travel overview: Virginia.
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