Happy Thursday, friends!
Today is the third and final recap from 16th Kensington’s birthday trip!
To say that Andrew and I enjoyed our time with Kensington and Ebby Lee would be an understatement. We had such an amazing time, and I just know that I will carry these memories with me forever. It was just a very, very sweet trip. For those of you who have littles at home and feel like you’re in the trenches, you are! You certainly are but trust me when I say that you’re going to blink and…
…this will turn into…
…this. It’s going by way too fast!
Agh!
Okay, if you missed the first two recaps of this trip, make sure you check out:
PART ONE: NEWPORT, RI
PART TWO: THE CONJURING HOUSE & MORE LEAVES!
Here we go…
We woke up in Newport on this cold and drizzly day and left our super cute hotel with Starbucks in hand to make the two hour drive to…
…Salem, Massachusetts 🙂 .
We had one last thing to check off Kensington’s birthday bucket list and that was to see the home of Hocus Pocus.
(We were clearly on a fall movie tour!)
Andrew and I had done Salem before so we knew it was less Hocus Pocus and more historical witch trials, but she wanted to see it, so we headed that direction for some October fun.
Salem, you are oh so cute and here are a bunch of pics to prove it…
We arrived at 10:00 for a two hour walking tour of the city. We selected a tour that gave us both the history of town, the history of the Salem Witch Trials, and we also wanted to know about the Hocus Pocus movies (what was filmed specifically there, locations, fun facts, etc).
Anyone recognize this house…
All of you Hocus Pocus fans might know this as Allison’s house from the movie. The front was oh so cute but the backyard…
…was extra fabulous!
I’ve only been to Salem in the fall…
…but I cannot imagine it being cuter any other time of the year.
These two 🙂 .
They thought Salem was boo-tiful too 😉 .
We ended our time in Salem with lunch at Rockafellas…and now, I want a skeleton on my roof too.
We drove about 50 minutes from Salem to…
…my beloved Boston to spend the rest of the afternoon. The girls wanted to shop before…
…heading to the MOST amazing dinner spot in Boston! You guys, it was FABULOUS!
Look at the views at Contessa!
This rooftop restaurant was the perfect spot to officially wrap up Kensington’s 16th birthday.
Happy birthday to our sweet sixteen year old!
I’ll see you all tomorrow. xx
Jami Romano says
Gorgeous girls! I never realized how adorable Salem was! I always thought I would find it creepy but it was beautiful. What a special time for you all.
Sarah says
Happy birthday to Kensington! Love that yall did this trip for her and her bestie. What a fun birthday idea!
Elspeth says
What a fun way to end the trip! Thanks so much for sharing!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Susan Jeffries says
What a happy bday! Our daughter has always wanted to go to Salem! She is a Halloween buff(: Hopefully next year! Thanks for the tips!
Jordan says
Looks like an amazing trip!
Kelly Davis says
Such fun memories ! Do you think she looks exactly like your Mom in the last photo at dinner ? So pretty and so grown up!
Sixteen is a fun age- enjoy !
Jennifer P says
What a fun, memorable trip for each of you!! How special to celebrate a milestone birthday for your oldest! And to bring along her best friend! Loved this!!
Kathleen McLeof says
I spent yesterday in Salem with my three daughters and we are heading to Newport tonight then to Boston. It is such a great fall trip.
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh my gosh, I hope you guys have THE BEST time!!
Rachel K. says
Their friendship is just amazing. Do they plan to go to same college? If so they will have the best college moments together. I’m sure all the college talk has started or will be soon. Happy 16th Kensington!
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t know that they do plan on going to the same college, but I imagine even if they’re in different directions, these two will be friends for life.
Katie Compton says
They will be. My three besties from my childhood, my sister friends, and I all went to four different colleges and we are still just as close as ever. College was fun b/c instead of just experiencing our own schools we got a glimpse of others!!
Martha Marino says
I enjoy all your posts and great ideas. I especially love the posts from New England!!
Thank you!!
Eliza Baer says
Where did you stay in Salem? We love Contessa, so glad you enjoyed it!
Mix and Match Mama says
We didn’t stay. We just went for the day and then stayed in Boston that last night before flying home the next morning.
Kacey says
The skeletons at Rockafellas remind me of a house on Main St. in my town that has skeletons climbing up the whole outside. Every time I pass it I think “Shay has to do this!” They’d go great with your skeleton/skeleton dog family! I’ll send you a pic on IG today =)
Mix and Match Mama says
My mind was going 90 mph at the possibilities. Bahaha!
Grace says
I think this was my favorite day of the whole trip. The dinner with an amazing view and the hocus pocus house! It looks like a wonderful time and yes, I too would like a skeleton on my roof as well :)LOL. Happy Sweet Sixteen to Kensington.
Julie says
So fun but bless you for going anywhere near Salem in October!
Debbie says
So much fun, and the girls look like they were having the time of their lives!
Sheaffer says
That last pic of the girls…they are gorgeous!!!!
Penny Giesecke says
Honestly, when I visualize or think about Boston, Salem, etc., in my mind it is the Fall season! What fun!
Andrea says
So fun! Our daughter did a trip with her bestie too for her sixteenth. They’re still super close, both married now with littles. On a different note, we just got back from Paris/England, and I am now completely obsessed with French women. I know you have recommended books about French women in the past. Where should I start because I need all those tips!😂
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh you need to read this blog post here!! You are about to become obsessed 😉 .
https://mixandmatchmama.com/2024/02/francophile-books/
Kara says
I can imagine how fun it is for you and Erika to watch these girls grow up together and be such good friends, I just love that 🙂
Kristen says
Fabulous trip! What hotel did you stay at in Boston? I need to log on now to get myself a Contessa rez! What did you guys eat? 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
We stayed at the Four Seasons in Boston. Andrew had a steak and I had a pasta and we shared a bit.
D Jackson says
Such a fun bday trip for the girls and parents!! We also did a 16th birthday trip for my daughter and the memories will last forever…so much fun!!
Sarah Pond says
I have loved reading all of your posts about Kensington’s birthday trip! It sounds like you guys had a great time! Also, the first picture of them in their costumes is too cute – can’t get over the cuteness of how their faces have the exact same expression!! Happy Thursday!
Jennifer says
This would be such a good girls’ trip! We did a tour in Savannah that talked about some of the witch trial stuff. Fascinating and sad at the same time.
Also, there is a house in my town with the giant skeletons out front but now they’ve added an enormous skeleton head/arms that looks like its coming out of their roof! So there’s another possibility for you:)
Anneka says
Looks like a fun trip! I’ve never actually seen Hocus Pocus, but I’m all about NE in the fall. Boston is one of my favorite towns. I’d love to spend an afternoon there too!
K.K. says
Oh how fun! Happy birthday, Kensington!!!
Arika says
My BFF went to Salem State College. She loved it – we grew up in Kansas, but she quickly became a MA girl!
~B~ says
You have so inspired me to work on a trip next fall with my daughters! Seeing that you did it in four days, I feel reassured we could plan a wonderful trip too. How funny is that one pic in Salem with Michael Myers head popping out! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Shay!
Julia Krowiak says
Could you link to Kensington’s jeans and sweater? So cute!
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t have the link from Shein and her jeans are from the beginning of the school year but it’s this style: https://www.abercrombie.com/shop/us/p/high-rise-loose-jean-57178826?categoryId=613943554&faceout=model&seq=76&afsource=social+proofing
Melissa says
This looks like the perfect fall trip. Adding all of this to my list. So glad you all were able to do this! Memories for those girls and you to last a lifetime!
Jennifer Mendiola says
Love this!! We were just there Sept 26-29 for a girls trip! 👻🎃
Becky Carl says
Happy Birthday sweet Kensington! That picture of her and Ebby Lee small, then today is epic. BFF’s are so special!
Marisa Patel says
What an amazing birthday trip! I hope to make that trip soon!
Lisa says
Looks like such a fun trip