Misery Islands
Misery Islands
5
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Take a boat to Great Misery and enjoy memorable views of Salem Sound and the North Shore.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
57 reviews
Excellent
49
Very good
7
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
My2centsBoston
Boston22 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
My daughter and I visit Salem every summer, but this is the first time we tried the trip to Misery. What a pleasure! My daughter is 12 and I thought might be bored (parents of tweens, you know what I'm talking about) but she ended up loving it. The ride out on the water with our Ferry guide was lovely, relaxing and informative. And the stop at Misery was so cool! (Well, actually, very hot. Bring water!) Gorgeous views, fun trails and old hotel remains to explore. Small enough not to be overwhelming but large enough to keep you busy for the 90 minutes or so we stayed before the ferry came back to get us. Amazing, beautiful rocks to scramble over and we found a handful of sea glass. Folks who obviously have done this before brought beach chairs and coolers, and sat relaxing on the shore while the kids explored the island. There are also bathrooms here, which can be important to know. We will definitively make this part of our yearly Salem tradition!
Written 25 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mmisluv
13 contributions
Aug 2014
Took the Sea Shuttle tour from The Willows and opted for the Misery Island drop-off for the additional $5. This was truly a highlight of our trip to Salem. On the way out the views are amazing and the island itself is a little piece heaven. From amazing views from various vantage points along the shoreline, to the walking trails and stumbling upon various ruins while exploring, this is worth the small fee to get here. My 9-yr old ,daughter who went strictly for the sea glass, was not disappointed. She came back with a ridiculous amount of loot collected. We even found a small secluded cove of our own to explore on the north side. Small
Misery Island is very close and probably a short swim
depending on the tide. After our pick up we enjoyed an hour tour of Salem Sound/Harbor. The staff is very informative of all the surrounding islands. My daughter even got to play Captain of the shuttle for a short while! Certainly can't beat that experience!!
If you are looking for something away from all the busy and usual attractions of Salem then is something not to miss. We can hardly wait to go back and when we do this will definitely be
on our list!
Misery Island is very close and probably a short swim
depending on the tide. After our pick up we enjoyed an hour tour of Salem Sound/Harbor. The staff is very informative of all the surrounding islands. My daughter even got to play Captain of the shuttle for a short while! Certainly can't beat that experience!!
If you are looking for something away from all the busy and usual attractions of Salem then is something not to miss. We can hardly wait to go back and when we do this will definitely be
on our list!
Written 16 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bcnett
Stoneham, MA440 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
We saw this tour on Groupon a few weeks ago. Since my husband loves boat rides, I suggested we take it. Regular price is $25.00 ($20.00 for seniors). We didn't know about Misery Island until we got on the boat. It is now an uninhabited island. For an extra $5.00 the boat will drop you off at the island and then pick you up. Our boat let off passengers at the island a little after 1 o'clock and they could have been picked up at either 2:30 or 4:30. If you opt to visit the island, you will be on the the boat about another hour after you are picked up from the island. I believe that there is nothing to do on the island except walk and see a few ruins. There is a bathroom both on the island and on the boat. They also sell drinks and snacks on the boat.
Since I can not swim, I do not usually like to go on boats. This was a decent size boat and I felt quite safe and enjoyed this very relaxing tour. I suggest that you sit close to the captain. If was much easier to understand his commentary once we moved from the rear of the boat to the front of the boat.
You get the boat at the dock at very end of Salem Willows (down past all the stores). We got there early and sat on a bench watching the harbor. When we saw the boat coming, we walked down to the end of the dock. They put up a plank right over the water that you walk down on in order to board the boat. If I could survive this, anybody can!!!!
Since I can not swim, I do not usually like to go on boats. This was a decent size boat and I felt quite safe and enjoyed this very relaxing tour. I suggest that you sit close to the captain. If was much easier to understand his commentary once we moved from the rear of the boat to the front of the boat.
You get the boat at the dock at very end of Salem Willows (down past all the stores). We got there early and sat on a bench watching the harbor. When we saw the boat coming, we walked down to the end of the dock. They put up a plank right over the water that you walk down on in order to board the boat. If I could survive this, anybody can!!!!
Written 20 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
greatgazzu
Melville, NY7 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
Misery Island was great place to visit and relax. Trails are nice and easy to follow but not always well marked. The island's varied terrain provides great views of the water and also offers inland views of the fields, forests and even a few ruins. Our Captain on the Sea Shuttle provided a bit of the history which added to our visit. A good place for teenage children may be a bit much for younger ones.
Written 6 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melichloh
Waterford, CT3 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
We took the Sea-Shuttle to Misery Islands. It was an additional $5.00 each to be dropped off on the island. It was so worth it. What a beautiful peaceful place. I highly recommend it and recommend bringing a lunch and having a picnic. On the opposite side of the island there is a great cove for swimming with beautiful old ruins.
Written 31 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
47jill
Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA22 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
Went with a couple of people and had a great time on a hot 4th of July day exploring Misery Island, which is a small island off Salem Harbor. There are trails around the island and picturesque places to stop and have a picnic (no food is sold on the island, so bring your own and make sure to pack water). We took the Sea Shuttle from Marblehead, and although it was a little steep ($30 each) the price includes the admission to the island. Also, it was great to be on the water on such a hot and humid day. The guys that run the shuttle are great and very knowledgeable about the area. The Sea Shuttle has another life as an oceanic educational enterprise (part of the admission cost funds education) and is equipped with a saltwater tank in the center of it. On our way back the crew stopped to check one of their lobster pots and discovered 3 lobsters in it for the tank. A couple of the passengers were able to try lobster banding first hand. All in all, it was a fabulous time!
Written 7 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason C
3 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
I was visiting the area and looking for something different to try. We booked the trip and went to go to the boat where we met the two person crew. There were four of us on the tour and the two crew members introduced themselves to us and made us feel like family. The boat was amazing, the tour was amazing, the views were amazing. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this trip. It was inexpensive and Captain Mike made us all feel like we were just friends on a boat. His first made gave us knowledge of their onboard aquarium. I was sending pictures to my friends the whole trip!! If Im back in Salem, im coming back to this boat!
Written 5 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helen S
Massachusetts10 contributions
Jul 2016
I love Misery Island! We travel there by boat and my only complaint is the number of large boats rafting up together in the middle of Cocktail Cove. When the tide turns, they are bumping into other boats, limiting any kind of privacy and make the island more of a party scene and not what it really is - a beautiful island full of nature trails, trees, birds, etc.
Written 12 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John O
Peabody, MA586 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
So we used the Sea Shuttle to get to this island. There was a pond, a site of an old hotel, casino, and where the water tower used to be. It was a lot of fun walking all around the island. It was cool to see how nature just kind of wipes away man's work, but the footprints are left intact. The foundations are all that's left. It's amazing to think that people would come out to these islands and stay in a hotel on the water! Now people come out to picnic in the fields and paths going around the island.
There isn't much out there. And the facilities, well they were locked when we went out in May. I don't know if they were locked all summer. The only downside of the island is, well, it's covered in poop. I think there are deer out there. Otherwise, it's geese, and they can be very territorial with their chicks! But the poop is dried, and doesn't really smell. It can get cool out on the water, then warm on the island. So bring layers!
There isn't much out there. And the facilities, well they were locked when we went out in May. I don't know if they were locked all summer. The only downside of the island is, well, it's covered in poop. I think there are deer out there. Otherwise, it's geese, and they can be very territorial with their chicks! But the poop is dried, and doesn't really smell. It can get cool out on the water, then warm on the island. So bring layers!
Written 11 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tammy S
Pittsburgh, PA285 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
we wanted to go here in the worse way. first we asked some shop workers how to get here and half of them didn't even know what it was. we were told that we had to take the ferry out to it and when we got to the ferry they said we needed our own boat or to know someone with one.. so it is impossible to get here.
Written 29 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Which beach on the island do you recommend for finding sea-glass? And how far is from where the ferry drops you off? Thank you in advance!
Written 5 August 2018
hi what did the shuttle cost to take to misery island?
Written 22 August 2016
$30 for two using a groupon coupon. It's still active I checked. Type in boat cruise. You have to take the earlier cruise, since thy pick you up on the later cruise.
Written 31 August 2016
So does the Haunted Harbor Boat dock at this island? Or do you need to schedule a regular ferry from Salem?
Written 28 July 2015
ER28Dec2015a
Boston, Massachusetts
The only way to access Misery Island is by taking the "Sea Shuttle" from Salem Willows.
They run 1 to 3 shuttles per day. Have a great trip.
Written 29 July 2015
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