From Gift-Shopping to Tree-Lighting, Here’s the Ultimate Holiday Itinerary for New Englanders

Looking for a family-friendly excursion for the holiday season this year? Well, look no further than Salem, New Hampshire’s Tuscan Village, just 25 miles from Boston and the go-to destination for anyone hoping to shop, dine, and enjoy holiday events with the whole family! 

Tuscan Village provides the perfect setting for an idyllic and complete holiday season experience, with food, shopping, and festive events all centralized in one community-based location and within walking distance of one another. Whether you’re looking to check it out for the day or spend a long weekend, read on to find the ultimate holiday itinerary for this classic New England holiday destination.

Shop ‘til you Drop

Home to over 33 businesses, ranging from local to regional retail leaders, Tuscan Village offers unparalleled holiday shopping opportunities. From West Elm to Nike, you’ll be sure to find something for everyone on your gift list. Browse homewares at Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma while you prep your home for holiday season hosting, swing by Buff City Soap to pick up some handmade soap for the perfect Secret Santa gift, or fulfill your yoga-obsessed daughter’s wishlist by heading over to Athleta. 

Be sure not to miss Tuscan Market, a one-of-a-kind Italian grocer selling handmade pastas, imported meats and cheeses, and curated wines. It’s the ultimate destination for all your charcuterie board needs heading into the holiday party season. And the best part–because Tuscan Village is located in New Hampshire, the shopping is all tax-free! Cross holiday shopping off your to-do list and do it at a discount, all while having a blast.

Eat Up!

The dining experience at Tuscan Village is the place to go when you’re tired of cooking over the holidays. Beyond a wide selection of popular mainstays, new openings this winter include The Capital Grille and Tavern in the Square. Tuscan Village also features its very own Tuscan Kitchen, an authentic artisan Italian restaurant and the first of its kind when it originally opened (its current location opened in 2023). 

From branzino to burrata, this restaurant has a dish to satisfy everyone and always delivers on the promise of a high-end and delicious culinary experience. For all the truffle lovers out there, you won’t find a better dish than Tuscan Kitchen’s tagliatelle al tartufo, made for you tableside with 24 month aged parmigiano reggiano, brandy, and shaved black truffle. If seafood is more your speed, Tuscan Kitchen has a wide selection of dishes for you, from seared scallops served on lobster saffron risotto to a spectacular octopus dish prepared with Calabrian aioli and pancetta. 

You can make the most of your meal by pairing it with one of the restaurant’s signature handcrafted cocktails, like Sicilian Sangria or the Tuscan-tini (a limoncello martini), or you can select a bottle of a sommelier-approved wine imported straight from Italy. Either way, Tuscan Kitchen will make you feel at home while serving you dishes of unparalleled, top-tier quality, creating the perfect environment to gather with family for an authentic and fulfilling holiday meal. 

If you’re looking for something a little more hands-on (or the perfect gift-car stocking stuffer), Tuscan Market is also home to the Cooking School, where expert chefs and sommeliers host masterclasses on every aspect of Italian cuisine. Treat your parents to a handmade pasta class, or give your siblings the day off by taking your nieces and nephews to a holiday cannoli and biscotti making session. Or leave the kids at home and sign up for a mixology class with your friends for a fun night out where you’ll learn to make the perfect festive cocktail! Whether you’re looking for an evening of wine tasting, pasta making, or pastry baking, Tuscan Market has the class for you.

Festive Fun

At Tuscan Village, the fun doesn’t stop at feasting and shopping. One of the most unique features on premises is the endless slate of fun community activities for everyone to enjoy. Celebrate the holiday season by heading over on December 7th for the official lighting of their 55-foot Christmas tree! Over 50 holiday vendors will set up shop outside, and from festive games to delicious food trucks, the evening is sure to feature fun for the whole family. 

If you won’t be able to make it on December 7th, fear not! Starting November 8th and running through Christmas Eve, more than 60 small businesses will arrive for the Holiday Shoppes at Tuscan Villages. Visitors can grab warm cocktails and delicious bites. And starting November 15th, you can up the magic by strolling the Festival of Trees in The Artisan Hotel’s Veranda (an outdoor venue), and taking in a huge display of uniquely decorated Christmas trees. 

Make It a Weekend Getaway

While Tuscan Village is a great place to take a day trip, it’s also the perfect location to meet and spend the whole weekend with friends and family from out of town, thanks to The Artisan Hotel. A perfect blend of elegance and luxury, The Artisan Hotel is the ideal place to take a weekend getaway so you can take full advantage of its upscale amenities. 

Rooms are spacious and luxurious, striking the perfect balance between modern and comfortable. It’s a lovely place for a solo getaway or a long-awaited holiday season family reunion, with accommodations ranging from deluxe Queen and King guestrooms to expansive multi-room suites. State-of-the art fitness facilities feature cutting edge weightlifting equipment, Pelotons, and complimentary towels and water. 

Whether you’re hoping to escape to an afternoon of serene relaxation on your own or join your friends and family in a tranquil activity for everyone to enjoy, The Artisan Hotel’s on-site spa and salon, Bella Viaggio, is poised to meet all your needs. The spa offers facials, LED light therapy, massages, and a whole slate of indulgent rituals, in addition to the hair and nail services offered at the salon.

It’s the perfect place to head for some pre-holiday beauty prep in the first weeks of December, or the ideal spot to unwind and reflect during the last week of the year when the hosting is done and the holidays are over. Which is just what you’ll need–because with all the holiday things there are to do at Tuscan Village this year, it’s going to be an eventful holiday season.

 

This is a paid partnership between Tuscan Brands and Boston Magazine