There are many areas at the Salem Willows park for recreational activities such as social gatherings or picnics, including gazebos and a small stage. In addition, those wanting to be active can jog along the park's trails and walkways or play at any of the basketball courts, tennis courts, and a miniature golf course. A miniature amusement park called 'Kiddieland' serves as a striking visual centerpiece for the park, complete with the original carousel from 1880 and several smaller rides meant for young children only - the ideal distraction for anybody who has to bring their younger sibling with them on an outing.

Located prominently along the boardwalk, the arcade is one of the busiest establishments at the Willows, and one of the only ones that sees use all year round as even in the dead of winter you can find teens and young adults chatting over a drink or a slice of pizza. The arcade boasts a multitude of video games, games of chance, air hockey tables, and skeeball machines. Some of the games are a little beat up and less-than-perfectly responsive as the arcade would sooner replace machines than repair them, and does so every few years.

Historically, the Salem Harbor was the site of one of the major international ports in the colonies. During the American Revolutionary War, merchant ships were enlisted as privateers, an important role to augment the ill-prepared Continental Navy. In 1790, Salem Harbor was a world-famous seaport and sixth-largest in the United States of America. Nowadays the harbor is used for commercial and recreational purposes. Recreational features of the harbor include two small beaches, a pier, a yacht club, and a boardwalk.