This weekend — and honestly, the entire week — left me buzzing with ideas. Do you ever have those moments where your brain fires off faster than your thumbs can text your own number just to remember things later? (Yes, I do that too — my own personal version of Post-It notes.) And just as quickly as inspiration arrives, poof, it can disappear.

In one ear and out the other doesn’t just apply to kids being told to clean their rooms — it applies to adults with big ideas and full plates. But this week, I refused to let the feeling pass without acknowledging it, because something special is happening close to home — right in Salem.

I’m not sure how many people have noticed, but Salem has been transforming in quiet, intentional and absolutely delightful ways.

It isn’t loud. It isn’t flashy. But it is real. The kind of change that reflects people deeply loving where they live and choosing to bet on it. I had the chance to spend some time in downtown Salem last week, and what I experienced honestly stayed with me. It energized me.

My week started with a meeting at nature + nurture, a locally owned indie bookstore that already feels like one of those places people talk about for years — like an anchor, a heartbeat. It’s curated, but not pretentious. Thoughtful, peaceful, and deeply connected to the land and the people who care about it. Inside, you’ll find shelves dedicated to everything from fly fishing to foraging, from herbal medicine to mushroom hunting, from wildlife to local ecology. And it isn’t just books — it’s a vibe. It’s a space that invites curiosity, welcomes every age, and reminds us to slow down, breathe in and pay attention to the natural world around us.

Before heading to the shop, the owner and I grabbed chai tea from Lib’s Market just across the way. Yes, we walked. Outside. From one beautiful small business to another. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was. People passing by, holding real conversations — not scrolling, not rushing, just present. There was friendliness without awkwardness. Smiles without suspicion. It was like being part of a community that still values connection.

That day stuck with me. It filled my tank.

Then came dinner.

Later in the week, I had the pleasure of visiting Rumpled Queen — and I don’t say this lightly — holy hell. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say that in a community newspaper, but I’ll roll the dice because it’s the only phrase that does this place justice.

Everything — from the atmosphere to the intentionality behind every design detail to the service — was dialed in. But the food? Michelin. Star. Worthy. I said what I said.

You know that scene in “Ratatouille” when Remy, the little mouse chef, holds up cheese and fruit and imagines explosions of flavor and color dancing together? I lived that moment when I took a bite of their Key Lime Cake. My eyes closed. Time slowed. Fireworks. And that wasn’t even the main course — that was dessert.

But here’s the deeper truth: Rumpled Queen is proof that world-class dining doesn’t need a big city skyline to back it. It exists in places where people are brave enough to create it — and communities are wise enough to support it.

Salem is doing something right.

From soda shops to bookstores, from coffee conversations to culinary genius, from entrepreneurs investing in place to residents embracing what’s possible — Salem is alive. It’s rising. And perhaps even more inspiring than what it already has is what it clearly believes it can become.

So, if you haven’t taken a day trip to Salem lately — go. Walk. Sip tea. Browse books. Eat boldly. Support the people building something special.

Because communities don’t magically become vibrant — people make them that way. And the people of Salem? They’re showing us how it’s done.

Mother, author, entrepreneur and founder of Dandelion-Inc, Lisa Resnick wants to hear your story. Share memories with her by emailing lisa@dandelion-inc.com.