Salem Willows Park

One of Salem’s most well-known treasures, Salem Willows is a must-stop on your East Coast adventure. Filled with ocean views, marvelous trees, quick and delicious snacks, and countless options for fun and games, this place has lots to offer.   

Salem Willows is a great spot to head down and enjoy the day or watch the sunset. A paved walking path goes around the entire park, underneath the famous white oak willow trees, and along the ocean. Conveniently, there are also benches placed along the path facing the ocean for you to stop and take in those views of the boats passing by.

There are two newly renovated arcades. One is a “casino” arcade where you use your coins to win tickets. The other has some ticket-winning games, but it is mostly filled with “for fun” arcade games such as air hockey, car racing, basketball shooting, Dance Dance Revolution, as well as many others. Kiddy rides and games for the younger children are also available. There is also a large field for open space games such as soccer or frisbee, a basketball court, and a tennis court all located right outside the park.

After working up an appetite from playing games, there are a few options for food. There is a shop for pizza, an American grill, seafood, Chinese, ice cream, homemade popcorn, and fried dough. Most of the concessions are cash only; luckily there is an ATM located in the arcade. Benches and picnic tables are spread out throughout the park, where you can enjoy your meal and take in the beauty of the park around you. With willow trees and gazebos, there is ample shady spots to escape the heat of the sun.  

Also available are three beaches around the park where you can dip your toes in the water or bring a blanket to enjoy the sun. The beaches are sandy but do have pebble rocks as you get closer to the water, so water shoes may be wise. Also, be mindful when swimming at these beaches because there are no lifeguards on duty. 

Salem Willows is handicap accessible, and the park provides bathrooms, making it a great place for all families. Many events and concerts are hosted throughout the summer, so make sure to check out the Salem Willows website before heading down to see if anything is going on. 

There are a few different options for parking. Located right in the park, there are coin-operated meters. There is a dirt lot right outside of the park for free parking; should that be full, there is additional parking down the road by the entrance of Winter Island Campground. Be aware, the Salem Parking Police are constantly driving around searching for expired meters. Should you decide to park in a metered spot, be sure to bring extra quarters.

There is much to enjoy at Salem Willows Park. Bring extra cash and coins, and you will have a great time.