We recently bought a house in Amesbury where we both grew up. Amesbury has a lot of fun things happening in the fall time and is known for its nationally recognized farm (Cider Hill Farm) only a few minutes down the road from our home. There are also some cool new breweries and the best pizza around (Flatbread pizza)
Salem, aka "Witch City" is only a short distance away from our wedding venue in Topsfield. Salem is best known for the witch trials of 1692 and there's a lot of cool history to explore here. With Halloween being just around the corner, it could be a fun time to explore the area. We suggest planning your trip to Salem sooner than later as October is Salem's busiest tourist season.
We lived in Newburyport for a few years before moving back to Amesbury. Newburyport is a small coastal city best known for its waterfront boardwalk and quaint downtown with lots of restaurants and shops. The beach is only a few miles from downtown and there's always something fun happening throughout the area during the fall time.