Salem with kids, by age

The best things to do in Salem NH with kids depend on how tall they are. Canobie Lake Park sorts its rides by height, the library sorts its programs by age, and the parks have something for every stage. Below, the town broken down by age, then the details on Canobie, the parks and where to eat. Hours change with the seasons; check before you go.

Things to do in Salem NH with kids under 5

• Kelley Library, 234 Main St.: Play Group on Mondays, 9:30–11:30 a.m., for ages 3 months to 3 years; Baby & Me on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. for ages 0–2; and Story Explorers on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. for ages 3–5. None of the little-kid programs need registration. A new take-home craft comes out every Wednesday while supplies last.
• Field of Dreams Park, 48 Geremonty Dr.: a playground with a dedicated toddler area, plus picnic spots.
• Tuscan Village: a playground, a pond to walk around at Lake Park and plenty of room for a stroller. Lawn games at the Sam Adams Pavilion include giant Jenga and Connect Four.
• Canobie Lake Park: kids 3 and under get in free. Many kiddie rides, such as Kiddie Canoes, Mini-Skooter, Sea/Land Rescue and Alpine Swing, have a 48-inch maximum and no minimum. Flower Power is for ages 3 and up, and Mini-Dinos takes riders from 36 to 48 inches.

Ages 5 to 12

• Canobie’s middle rides: Jungle Bounce needs 36 inches. The Dragon Coaster and Wipeout need 42 inches, or a supervising companion for the Dragon. At 48 inches, kids graduate to the Yankee Cannonball, the park’s wooden coaster.
• America’s Stonehenge, 105 Haverhill Rd.: walk the half-mile loop through stone chambers, then let kids 12 and under try the gemstone dig. Admission is $12 for ages 4–12 and free under 4. The loop takes about an hour, there’s a free audio tour on your phone, and the trail has uneven ground and steps, so leave the stroller in the car.
• The rail trail: the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor is paved from North Broadway to Main Street, good for training wheels. See our rail trail guide.
• Castaway Island: in summer, the Tidal River lazy river takes kids 42 inches and up without a life jacket, and the tall slides at Rain Fortress need 40 inches.
• Canobie classics: the Antique Carousel was carved in 1903, the Venetian Carousel has two levels, and in summer the Canobie Express steam train and the 20-minute Blue Heron Lake Cruise run along the shore of Canobie Lake.
• Hedgehog Park: summer swimming at Hedgehog Pond (more below).

Teens

• Untamed at Canobie: a 72-foot lift and a 97-degree drop. 48 inches minimum. Xtreme Frisbee, a giant swinging disk, needs 54 inches.
• Screeemfest: Canobie’s fall event, with six haunted houses on weekend nights through Oct. 31, 2026. Costumes aren’t allowed.
• After School D&D at Kelley Library: Thursdays, 2:30–4:30 p.m., for grades 6 and up.
• The mall: DICK’S House of Sport, POP MART and a movie at Cinemark, with heated recliners and an XD screen. See our indoor things to do for bad-weather days.

Canobie Lake Park with kids

Canobie’s 2026 list runs to more than 50 rides, and height rules are posted at each ride’s entrance. A few things make a family day easier:

• Buy tickets online. Canobie sells tickets online only, and prices vary by day.
• Use Parent Swap. One adult waits with a child who is too small while the others ride, then you switch.
• Plan meals. Outside food and drinks are not allowed, and there are no picnic tables in the lot.
• Bring or rent a stroller. Both are allowed. Lockers near the Ferris wheel sell out on busy days.
• Parking is free. In summer, Castaway Island’s Lil’ Squirts Lagoon is the water area for small kids, and infants need swim diapers.

The 2026 season ends Oct. 31. Our Canobie Lake Park tips and ride-by-ride guide go deeper. Official site: canobie.com.

Parks, Hedgehog Pond and seasonal events

Hedgehog Park, at 53 Lowell Rd., is Salem’s town swimming spot. Swimming runs Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the park is staffed 9 a.m.–7 p.m. There are no lifeguards; the town says swim at your own risk. It also has a small playground, picnic tables, bathrooms, a basketball court and an accessible walking path around Hedgehog Pond. In-season parking is $10 a day for residents and $20 for non-residents.

Field of Dreams Park adds a fitness trail, hiking trails and free summer concerts and movie nights. For more, see our guide to Salem parks.

Seasonal family events

• Halloween: the Town’s Recreation Division runs a Trunk or Treat each fall; in 2025 it was Oct. 23 at the Ingram Senior Center, with decorated trunks, a costume contest and a DJ. Check salemnh.myrec.com for 2026.
• Thanksgiving weekend: the 55th Salem Holiday Parade comes down Main Street on Sunday, Nov. 29, at 1 p.m.
• December: browse the Holiday Shoppes at Tuscan Village for hot chocolate and kettle corn, and see the 50-foot tree, lit Nov. 21.

Kid-friendly food

• MaryAnn’s Diner, 3 Veterans Memorial Pkwy.: a 1950s diner with big breakfasts and milkshakes, open from 6 a.m.
• The Friendly Toast, Tuscan Village: retro, all-day breakfast.
• Tuscan Market, 9 Via Toscana: Neapolitan pizza and fresh pasta, plus pastry.
• Quick stops at Tuscan Village: Shake Shack, Chick-fil-A, Playa Bowls, Crumbl and Salt & Straw ice cream.

More sit-down choices are in our family restaurants guide.