Living the Lake – Part 1 of 2
I love where I live and I want to tell you all about it! The Lakes Region in New Hampshire is the best! We have everything, of course, we have the lakes, but we also have the mountains, fishing, hiking, skiing, biking, restaurants, art, music venues, theater, and so much more. It is like being on vacation every day! Now that you all know how I feel about the Lakes Region, I would like to familiarize you with the different lakes. When I began this blog, I didn’t plan on it being a two-part series, however, I found myself unable to stop. Thus, two parts. I would love to hear from you if you would like me to expand on any of the lakes discussed here or if you would like some information regarding another lake. In Part 1 I will go over things to think about prior to your search for a place on the lake. I will also discuss Lake Winnipesaukee. In Part 2 I will discuss a few other lakes in the region. Enjoy!
Let’s begin!
You have decided that you need a place at the lake. The Lakes Region of New Hampshire encompasses not only a large geographical area but also many different lakes with many different lifestyles. Where to begin? This could be a daunting task, however, I will try to narrow it all down and help you come up with a plan.
First, let’s look at the lakes. There are 273 lakes and ponds in the Lakes Region. Don’t worry, I am not going to go over everyone. I will focus on a few to get you acquainted with what each has to offer. As we go through the lakes, I will familiarize you with the towns that are bordering them and what they have to offer.
Before we begin, you have some work to do. You should decide what you want for you and your family on the lake. Is your family active? Do you want to be busy all the time or do you want a slower pace with some downtime? Do you enjoy power boating, water skiing, and jet skiing? In other words, do you like to go fast? Or on the other hand, does your family like to be outside and on the lake in maybe a sailboat? Do you want to be on a lake that is quiet and has no powerboats? Do you want to stick with canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards? Briefly, I would like to say that Nordic and Alpine skiing is accessible from anywhere in the Lakes Region. Gunstock Mountain in Gilford is closest however, New Hampshire has many ski resorts, most within a short drive. Whatever your preference, the Lakes Region has something for you.
Lake Winnipesaukee
Let’s dive right in (lake joke). We will start with the largest lake, Lake Winnipesaukee. When people think of the Lakes Region in New Hampshire, this is the first lake that comes to mind. Lake Winni is approximately 21 miles long, and from 1 to 9 miles wide, covering 69 square miles, and 44,586 acres, including Paugus Bay. The lake is 213 feet deep at its deepest point. Winnipesaukee has 258 islands and has about 178 miles of shoreline and a driving distance around the lake of about 63 miles.It is the largest lake but it is not the deepest!
Because is the largest lake in New Hampshire, it has everything. Lake Winni has boating, sandbars for hanging out with friends and family. On the weekends you will see a busy lake with not only powerboats but also sailboats, jet skis, wakeboarding and tubing, water skiing, paddleboards, kayaking, canoes, and fishing. There are many restaurants that you can boat to. Don’t forget the ice-cream shops you can also dock at.
What happens in the winter? You may be wondering, “what can I do in the winter?” There is no lack of activities in the winter. Lake Winnipesaukee is home to The Ice Fishing Derby and The Pond Hockey Tournament. Both are held in Meredith which has many great restaurants and plenty of shopping. Don’t forget snowmobiling and ice fishing when the lake freezes over.
As you can see “the big lake” has it all. Some towns are busier than others and most towns on the lake have their own town beaches for their residents. There are also many communities with condos/homes around the lake that also have their own private beaches and marinas. South Down Shores/Long Bay in Laconia, Samoset in Gilford, and Meredith Bay in Meredith are a few examples. There are eight towns that border Lake Winnipesaukee. They are clockwise around the lake: Wolfeboro in the southeast corner, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough, Center Harbor, Meredith, Laconia, Gilford, and Alton.
I hope you have enjoyed Part 1 of “Living the Lake”, in Part 2 I will discuss, five more lakes in the Lakes Region.