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The first three months of the year don’t get enough credit.

They’re the quiet overachievers of travel months — no peak-season chaos, no packed sidewalks, no waiting an hour for brunch. Just slower mornings, open tables, and space to actually enjoy where you are.

If you’ve ever said, “We should plan a little getaway,” this is your sign to stop talking about it and book it.

Here’s why:

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Fewer Crowds, More Experience

Traveling in peak months means competing for reservations, parking, and elbow room. January through March? Not so much.

Downtown Salem feels relaxed this time of year. You can stroll Main Street without weaving through foot traffic, pop into local shops without feeling rushed, and grab a table at your favorite restaurant without strategizing like it’s a sport.

It’s the same charming downtown, just with breathing room.

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A Slower Pace (In the Best Way)

This time of year is perfect for:

• Sleeping in without guilt

• Long coffee shop mornings

• Wandering through the Salem Museum

• Browsing Charlotte’s Web Antique Mall

• Catching a Roanoke College game

• Ending the night at Olde Salem Brewing Co.

No pressure to “do it all.” Just enough to feel refreshed.

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Better Availability = Better Stays

Peak travel months can mean limited options. Shoulder season gives you more flexibility: more room types available, more chances to grab your preferred dates, and more time to plan something thoughtful instead of scrambling.

At The Lofts at Downtown Salem, that means:

• Spacious loft-style layouts

• Full kitchens for cozy nights in

• Separate living areas that don’t feel like a standard hotel box

• A Main Street location that lets you park once and explore on foot

When travel feels less rushed, your stay feels more intentional.

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Winter in Salem Has Its Own Kind of Charm

Salem at the beginning of the year isn’t about big festivals or packed patios — it’s about atmosphere.

Warm lights in storefront windows.

A quiet downtown after a light snowfall.

Bundling up for a walk and coming back to a comfortable space that feels more like a home-away-from-home than a hotel room.

The Lofts were designed for this kind of stay. Open layouts, comfortable furnishings, and a thoughtful setup make winter getaways feel effortless.

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It’s the Reset Months

It’s the perfect month to:

• Take a spontaneous weekend trip

• Visit your student at Roanoke College

• Plan a low-key girls’ weekend

• Sneak in a midweek remote work change of scenery

You don’t need a big occasion. You just need a reason to step away for a couple days.

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Travel Smarter, Not Busier

The best trips aren’t always the loudest ones. Sometimes they’re the ones where you come home feeling rested instead of exhausted.

And traveling during shoulder season gives you more space, more flexibility, more calm, and more room to enjoy where you are.

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to plan a getaway to Downtown Salem, this is it!

Book the quiet month.

You’ll thank yourself later.