Lake Winnipesaukee Reviews

My wife and I just returned from an extended weekend on Lake Winnipesaukee. We hadn't been there in several years and overall not much has changed - that isn't a bad thing. It has a nice New England charm to it with friendly and helpful people. A large boating community needless to say, but there is plenty to do outside of that. There are abundant restaurants, coffee shops, ice creams vendors and shopping to explore. Many hiking opportunities exist with bike trails also. If you are fortunate enough to have a boat the lake itself is very big with many opportunities for both water sports and exploring at the different "ports" of call along the lake. Very relaxing if you want it to be or very dynamic and ambitious if that is what you want. Rentals are plentiful from sailboats, to boats, to kayaks and all in between. Nice adventure for sure.

We have been around Lake Winnipesaukee when we visit New Hampshire each year. We are always taken with its beauty and size. On this trip, we drove around the whole lake – a total of 63 miles. Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire. It is approximately 21 miles long (northwest-southeast) and from 1 to 9 miles wide (northeast-southwest), covering 69 square miles with a maximum depth of 212 feet. The lake contains at least 258 islands. Even as the summer was coming to an end, you could still see people enjoying the lake. You can sail, waterski, tube, swim, boat and so much more. The views from in the lakes region are absolutely stunning. There are no shortages of restaurants surrounding the lake.

I could spend a lifetime on this lake. Plenty of room for all the getaways for all of NH on the weekends. It sprawls for miles of fun boating and water activities. So many stops along the ways...Meredith, Wolfeboro, Naswa Beach bar, Akwa Club. Family fun galore and a beautiful setting! Love the sunsets and the moutains.

We have been traveling throughout New England with the coach. One of our must see stops was Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. Miles of coastline around this beautiful lake with the majestic mountains in the background.
We loved the beautiful homes that lined the banks and islands. Large boats were plentiful on a lovely day that we spent there.

We have been coming to Lake Winnipesaukee every summer since 2004. If you love boating, it is a fabulous place to spend a week or two with the family. Whether you trailer your boat or rent (there are plenty of marinas on the lake- I recommend Goodhue & Hawkins in Wolfeboro) the lake is breathtaking with plenty to see and do, and places to visit and explore. It is a wonderful and peaceful break from the day to day hectic pace. Beautiful mornings, brilliant sunsets, and evening sky with thousands of stars await all who spend time on the lake. There are plenty of vacation cottages and homes to rent with prices to fit just about anyone's budget ( We use Yankee Pedlar) with realtors around most towns on the lake.
Spend a day on the lake cruising, waterskiing, tubing or take a paddleboard around the many coves and islands on the lake. Or just sit on the dock and take in the sights and sounds.
I can't say enough about Lake Winnipesaukee except to add that my wife calls this "our happy place". We are sad when we leave but e know we will be back next summer.

At this time of year most of the shops and even restaurants are closed for the season and with COVID still around check individual websites before taking the chance something you want to see or do is closed. However, it's a beautiful area and a nice area to walk around

Is the most beautifull lake I have seen. It has more than three hundred islands and many coves to explore. Is great for boating and sailing

Absolutely beautiful! I'm from the Midwest and I wish I had a view like this every day! This was definitely worth the drive from my visiting place of Enfield, CT and I wish I could have stayed longer. The only downside is that finding parking is horrendous, it was an absolute nightmare. I'm surprised there isn't a free parking lot for visitors to at least stop and stretch their legs and take in the sights.

Clean, calm, not a huge party scene, lots of amazing things to do with elementary age children. New Hampshire also no income or sales tax which is a huge incentive to keep coming back.

Fun things to do with kids in the area.

1. Fun spot ( 1950s arcade with the machine that broke the pac man record in the mid 80's)

2. Harts Turkey Farm - restaurant that serves all things turkey.

3. Nature conservancy. Amazing outdoor nature fun with a huge tree fort.

4. Storyland is about a hour away.

5 Moulton Farm - amazing Maine fish market from Thursday to Sunday. They also have fresh strawberry flavored Sherman's Milk from glass bottles.

Lots of other amazing activities.

Every summer we come to Winnipesaukee, last year we stayed in Wolfeboro.
The views of the lake from there where amazing. One afternoon we had a picnic from the park
at the Wolfeboro town docks and it was great! My husband and I even went out on paddle boards, it was a delightful day. The boards we rented are from SUPNH.com a local shop.
I think we will be back this summer, we just love it. As Arizona people, I enjoy the change in scenery.

The two and half hour cruise was absolutely worth the time! We even got an AAA discount for our tickets. Sights were beautiful with million dollar mansions lining the shore. I would highly recommend this boat trip.

This is a spectacular lake that is a 'must see' if you're in NH-a huge lake with several towns bordering it, with each town a bit different than the next. Eating in any restaurant with this view will make your meal extra special.

Perfect place to come with younger kids. We have a 12 year old daughter and her 3 friends that had a spectacular time! Drive in movies, boats, trains, ice cream, arcades and little shops and pizza joints. We allowed the girls to go around on their own and felt very comfortable doing so.
Our 23 year old enjoyed it all for a day with the family for the Hobo train ride then he headed back to Boston with friends.
We loved it. Beautiful scenery, quiet, safe and plenty do to for several days.
We'll be back

We took end boat trip on the Mount Washington. The weather was chilly and a bit blowy but bright sunshine. The scenery was terrific the the trees in great colour. A really pleasant trip and I would recommend it. The boat fine and stable. The only annoying part was when the pier hand insisted on searching bags. I don't think he was looking for terrorists, he was looking for food and drink that would take revenue away from the ship snack bar.

The lake is beautiful. It is perfect for camping, swimming, picknicking, boating and relaxing. It is peaceful and there are many nearby attractions to visit.

The Big Lake is that -- big, and also classically beautiful in that rocky New England way.

Of the various bays that dot the coast of the Lake, Meredith Bay is the nicest, IMO.

Having traveled a lot I have to respect what Lake Winnie is doing for families. No place I know can you still enjoy a family setting and feel safe.

We went to New England in hopes of doing a lot of leaf peeping. Unfortunately however, because of a warm September the trees didn't cooperate so the foliage change was spotty at best. We took the train ride along the lake and were lucky enough to get the cupola in the caboose so it gave us a better view as we meandered along the lake. Most of the stores were closed for the season so we just walked around a little bit since we'd never been here before.

Great place to stay , dont miss an awesome shopping experience at Kellerhaus, wonderful, wonderful shopping experience.....

We were stopping with friends in New Hampshire who took us out for the day on the lake. A really lovely day, the lake was very calm with beaches and many upmarket properties on the shores. We were taken to Wolfsborough where we enjoyed a snack and a cocktail before the journey back to Laconia. Quite a bit of water traffic which made the day more interesting, a beautiful peaceful day on the lake and also enjoyed the swimming in the calm waters

Always look forward to our visits. Places like Squam Lake make it laid-back and Wiers Beach is local if u don't want to stray far and tired from other activities.

We stayed at the Modern Lakefront Siena hosted by Vacanza in Alton Bay, NH. It was perfect! Walking distance to restaurants, ice cream shops, the boat marina, and the dock for the Mt Washington Cruise. Three steps from the water and dock. The owner was super attentive. It was new and clean. Check out Vacanzanh.com. Its perfect for a couple getaway!

The cruise on the lake was very relaxing. This is a very large lake and the boat (ship) was large with lots of room to roam around on all three levels. There was plenty of parking on the day we went. It was definitely worth the money we paid. I think our cruise started around 10:30 am

Loved the town and all the little shops and cafes. We took a boat ride on the lake that was a lot of fun. We were able to see many of the islands and some of the wealthy estates on those islands. The lake is the largest in New Hampshire and you could spend weeks exploring the whole area!

I've been blessed to have a family house on Lake Winnipesaukee for over 50 years. The number of attractions and things to do are endless. Have a boat hike the three islands that are open to the public, visit the quaint towns of Wolfeboro, Alton, Meredith, or commercially developed Weirs Beach, train rides, hang out at Braun Bay, see water ski tournaments in Back Bay of Wolfeboro, go to fairs, Castle in the Clouds, climb Abenaki Tower or Bald Knob, antique, Gunstoke Mountain alpine ride or zip cord, fish, sail, swim, etc. To me Lake Winnipesaukee offers more than the beach or straight mountains or farms. I highly recommend a visit if you have not been as fortunate as I have to experience.

We were disappointed we added this to our tour of New England as the lakeside mostly belongs to residential housing and we couldn’t even have a walk along it. We asked where we could get a walk and were directed to the Cotton Vally Trail along a different lake, which was just ok and it has noise pollution from a nearby highway. It is such a pity when lakes are lost to residents. I feel that to enjoy here you would need to rent a villa directly on the lake. We would not return as the lake wasn’t anything spectacular over any other lake and not worth the detour. I've seen the excellent reviews on this site and was expecting more.

Lots to do and see in the area. My husband and I are in our early sixties and went for a long weekend. Enjoyed several visits to different areas and walking around. Dont miss a boat ride or two. We went on the Mt. Washington. Lovely lake.

If big water bodies with good scenic views is your kind of thing for relaxing holiday then you cannot go wrong with Lake Winnipesaukee which is the biggest lake in New Hampshire. One could get jealous about the rich guys who owns beautiful vacation homes along the lake . There are also numerous options for the more active. We did a 21/2 hour cruise in Mt. Washington- a good way to take in the huge size of the lake and the scenic beauty.

In the fall you can experience the colorful mountain sides from Castle in the Clouds.In the winter you can ski at Gunstock and ride your Skidoos on the icy Lake. During the spring you can climb Mt. Major a free walking trail to observe the Lake and its islands. Finally during the summer you can swim and boat in this large beautiful lake. You can take a wonderful cruise on the Mt Washington and view the beautiful mountain views from the Lake. This is truly a great place to visit or live!

The Lake Winnipesaukee area has something for everyone. In June, the roar of motorcycles can be heard everywhere as Laconia is the home of the oldest motorcycle rally in the world. There is too much to do to list here. I suggest you go online and see for yourself whet the area has to offer.

Lots of places to shop, eat and beautiful views from all cities around the lake. There are places to stay for all budgets but make your reservations far in advance. Plenty of water sport rentals and you can go to most places by boat, everyone has a dock.

Gorgeous and quiet with warm days and cool nights. Kayaking, boating, good eats and shopping. Nothing better.

overall...I really enjoyed my time traveling through New Hampshire...I was able to hitchhike...people gave me rides. lots of natural scenery and of course Lake Winnipesaukee was beautiful.

We go to this area every September. It is a beautiful time of the year and not many tourists. Most of the restaurants are open and all the shops! If you've never visited New Hampshire, it's a great place. Weirs Beach and its shops/restaurants are still opened as well! Awesome!

Best time to go to Lake Winnipesaukee. NH around this time. Took the boat tour around the lake. If you have time do the lake tour, It's a 2 hours tour and one can buy brunch or dinner on the cruise tour. The meals are just buffet style, nothing extra ordinary. I say go to other restaurant along the beach is a lot nicer.

It is a beautiful lake with plenty of activities. Cute little town. Great place to rent a boat just be careful of the rocks.

Lake Winnipesaukee has it all . Fishing camping, Boating, Hunting, Motorcycle Rallies, Wildlife, Shopping ,History
,Arcades , Night life and a Life time of memories..Been there 12 times and every time was different. Hotels ,motels RVs and Campsites never regretted one minute. . We all. Love NH

We went to a place called Oliver Lodge for Memorial weekend. It is multiple houses grouped together, however, you choose and rent just one of them to stay there. The lake was beautiful, however was cold but the kids didn't care. It's one of the largest lakes in the area and is crystal clear to the bottom, so hard to tell how deep it is. Where we were had beautiful sunsets and were able to sit on top of the boat deck to see the views. The lake is surrounded by mountains and was gorgeous and relaxing.

This is a beautiful lake. We took the mail boat, the Sopie C, which is a 2.5 hour tour to the islands around the lake delivering mail. It was a wonderful and informative trip. We also took the scenic railroad for the 2 hour trip along the lake from Mereidith station to Weirs Beach and back. It was fun, but I wouldn't need to do it again.

Do not use your GPS but grab a map and drive along the smaller roads. When arriving in Moultonborough drive to Sandwich and see the beautiful Squam lake. After Meredith drive to Ellacoya. After Alton Bay turn to Wolfboro, Ossipee then Effingham Falls. Go back to Conway through Eaton. Drive slowly to admire the beautiful landscape and stop wherever you want on the lakeshore to look at the wonderful scenery. It must be yet still more beautiful in Fall.

We stayed at the Naswa Resort at the Weirs beach. We took the Boat tour of the Lake which was fantastic. This area is heaven during the fall. There is a train ride also along the lake.

This is an exceptionally beautiful lake definitely worth visiting. Stay at either Wolfeborough - historical, upmarket, pretty town at one end or Weirs Beach at the other, more touristy and with the largest beach. We went on the Winnipesauke Belle for a tour around part of the lake, viewing the areas where the movie "On Golden Pond" was shot, houses of the rich and famous as well as the local wildlife on a serene and sunny day.
We swam in the lake and went on a great little cycle ride from Wolfeborough (hired bikes from Nordic Skier).

Hiked to the top of Mt.Major to get better views of the lake. Hike was totally worth the scene. It gets windy at the top so carry a jacket.

Fall colors are amazing, a must see in Autumn. Definitely worth a stay overnight here. A little rainy but still beautiful. If you like snapping photos, this is a great place.

I am a lifelong enthusiast of the Lakes Region. Lake Winnipesaukee is absolutely breathtaking. My best inspirations and ideas come when I am looking out over the lake.

You can bike around the 65 mile lake, or boat from town to town. The lake is excellent for swimming in July, so warm and clear! Very relaxing area.

Luckily, we were with friends who had lakeshore property.. Our piece of lake heaven had crystal water, beautiful scenery from every angle. I love the ocean, but for this lake, I would definitely return.

Beauty is only the beginning of this little bit of heaven here on earth. Wonderful people, wonderful places to visit, if you haven't seen it and been here, you must.

We loved the crystal blue waters of Lake Winnipesaukee. So many islands and coves along the shore to explore by boat. Beautiful mountain views encompass this gorgeous lake. With so much to see, time seems to slip away. We loved our trip to the quaint, beautiful town of Meredith. If you don't have friends or family near Lake Winni, rent a boat and cruise the lake for a day. So enjoyable, we are planning our next visit to this area.

I visited Lake Winnepesaukee for a wedding and could not have been more impressed with the beauty and size of the lake. The mountains surrounding the outskirts of the lake made for incredible scenery while boating or even just walking along the side of the lake. Wolfeboro and their affinity for supporting local businesses also adds to the charm of the vacation experience because it provides tons and tons of opportunities to indulge in homemade/small town creations. There is PLENTY to do for people of all ages and I would recommend this to anyone as a summer weekend getaway.

Just perfection for anything. Bored walk check. Clear water check. Smooth water check. Attractions check. Just amazed at how awesome it was.

Did some boating, camping, hiking. Entire area is beautiful. Lake is big and so clear. Didn't fish but saw many bass while swimming.

The Lakes Region offers everything that anyone would want on a vacation. Stunning views from any location on the lake. Outstanding accomadations in every price range. Lovely small town shopping, dining, and just relaxing.

Beautiful Lake! Great camping and friendly rangers at Ellacoya State Park! Clean campround and unbelievable sunsets!

We set off on our cruise in appalling weather and very quickly the boat was shipping water through many "orifices". We were soon moved to a drier part of the boat!! Didn't really see anything of the lake as it poured down all the time. So perhaps my 3* rating may be a bit harsh!

Each year I begin my Farewell-to-Summer Tour about mid-August, visiting new or favorite summer places that are either closed or miserable in the winter. Lake Winnipesaukee is a longstanding favorite place. It’s a great place for relaxing, casual entertaining, and water sports.

It’s a clear, clean glacial lake that is 21 miles long and up to 9 miles wide. It has 258 islands and nearly 290 miles of shoreline. It’s the largest lake in NH and third largest lake in New England after Maine’s Moosehead Lake and Vermont/New York’s Lake Champlain.

On this year’s near-end-of-season visit, I attended an afternoon party at the lakefront year-round home of friends in the Winter Harbor section of Wolfeboro.

It was a bright, sunny, picture perfect day with temps in the mid-80’s, making the terrace, decks, and dock nice perches for enjoying the sun, the outdoors, and the lake with its crystal clear water. Late in afternoon, it was so peaceful to watch the sun dance on the tiny ripples in the lake’s surface.

Lake Winnipesaukee is noted for boating, and we partook of that activity with the owner’s restored classic 1950’s antique mahogany Chris Craft boat. Neighboring homes were also entertaining with guests also enjoying rides in similar antique mahogany Chris Craft.

Many enjoyed swimming in the lake. There were some paddle-boarders.

But, one doesn’t have to wait for an invitation to a private lakefront home to enjoy these activities. One can find rentals, inns, hotels, and motels in any of the towns along Lake Winnipesaukee’s shores that include the most popular towns such as Wolfeboro, America’s First Resort, which is on the eastern shore and Laconia/The Weirs on the western shore which is popular with motorcycle enthusiasts and the site of the annual Laconia Motorcycle Week held in June. Other popular tourist towns on the northern shores include Moultonborough on the northeast corner, adjacent Center Harbor, Meredith, and Tuftonboro, plus Alton and Alton Bay at the southern tip and on the western shore along with West Alton and Gilford.

For those without their own boats, there are several opportunities to get out on the lake with cruises on the 230-foot M/S Mount Washington, M/V Doris E, and US Mail Boat M/V Sophie C. based in Weirs Beach, plus the Wolfeboro-based 65-foot paddlewheeler Winnipesaukee Belle and the Millie B., a 28-foot, triple-cockpit replica of the antique mahogany 1928 HackerCraft which is similar to the antique mahogany Chris Craft that my friends own. The Millie B. is affiliated with the New Hampshire Boat Museum in Wolfeboro. The Wolfeboro boats leave from the Town Docks of Main Street.

For those with boats, there are numerous free public boat launches and marinas on all sides of the lake. One of the most popular is at the Alton Public Docks on Mount Major Hwy/NH State Route 11 in Alton Bay on the west side of the lake near Shibley’s at the Pier; another is the Wolfeboro Public Boat Launch at the Town Dock on the east side. Both are free.

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while visiting family in the area I like to ride over to sit by the lake and watch the boats its just a beautiful place to go and sit and enjoy the scenery of NH.

Went to this lake while on vacation in Sept 2008. Weirs Beach is a rather "tourist" place, but at this time was practically deserted of tourists. Took the 2 hour lake cruise on the M/V Mt Washington. The narrator was excellent, and the food bar was super. As the day was chilly, I chose to sit below deck, which was empty as all the brave souls were top-deck. Endless photo opportunities of the lake and towns dotting the shoreline.. I highly recommend this cruise for everyone; its a perfect way to spend a day in this wonderful state.

We stayed at Mills Falls at Church Landing in beautiful renovated room that face the lake. Gorgeous lawns and Adirondack chairs to relax and enjoy the beauty of Lake Winnipesaukee. We rented stand up boards from the EKAL which is right around the corner from the hotel. Also enjoyed drinks and apps at the town docks, with live music one night.
Highly recommend staying at Church Landing and all the nearby activities. Rooms 356 and 357 are very nice and the balconies have unobstructed lake views.

Lake Winnipesaukee is a fantastic lake to visit any time of the year. There are many places to go in the summer, as well as in the winter. My family goes up all the time and are always finding new things to do and places to visit.

This is a beautiful, picturesque lake with some great towns and antique shopping. My favorite town, Wolfeborough. Swimming, boating, relaxing, clear water, fishing - you have it all.

Lake winnipesaukee is a famous tourist attraction and we went to visit as a group of 3 families with young children. The lake itself is huge and so much beautiful to visit with. My daughter enjoyed it thoroughly and the public beaches are so much fun and clean. We spent time on Carry beach which is closer to downtown and the same time not crowded. Very much safe to family with kids and also to adults obviously.

We rented a beginners boat from Goodhue&Hawkins navy yard for a half day fun. At first glance I was hesitant but later the college kids who worked there gave me a quick session that helped a lot. The kids had life jackets which was very much needed and gave confidence to start with. Once we hit the water we knew where to go and navigate with. If you have doubts you may call them as well as how to navigate. As a beginner of boat riding to start and finish time we were kinda pros.

Talking about lake, it has beautiful tides and so much vast lake. Very beautiful to enjoy the scenery and relaxing.

Will visit again before the end of fall season. I highly encourage NH residents to visit the lake more than a beach.

The lake is a beautiful clean lake fed by springs and snow melt from surrounding mountains. Ha excellent museums and great restaurants, as well as water sports, skiing, A great place to visit year round

I definitely recommend anyone visiting New Hampshire visit Lake Winnipesaukee for a few days at some point. Our whole family really enjoyed it

My happy place is on my boat on this lake. It is wonderful! The West Alton sand bar is where we spend most of our time, lounging and grilling and playing in the water.

The views on the tour are incredible. The lake is huge. There are many islands in the lake that people live on. There is a cool beach and neat shops along a board walk. You can take a cruise on a ship or a train ride around the lake.

So many cool little towns to wander thru around this lake. The lake has some fantastic views is a nice drive. We stopped at Weirs Beach and there was plenty to do here from the scenic railroad to arcades.

Beautiful boat cruise at Weir Beach. Gorgeous scenery. Comfortable boat. Fantail Grill was very accommodating. Great gift shop. A very enjoyable excursion..

A popular summer vacation place, this lake had everything including cute shops, good cafes and a view to die for. While we were there on an inclement day, it didn't matter / we shopped, and the sun came out to play eventually!

Where do I start? Well, this is not your "ordinary" lake. This is by far the dreamiest lake I have ever been to!! My husband and children had been before and it was my first time. I have always been anti swim in any lake. I didn't even bring my bathing suit which was a BIg mistake! We went to play in the arcades there which are uniquely amazing and the prizes are not your "typical" cheesy prizes. There were so many great options to choose from and even for adults! My favorite was a rose pen with feathers...well, it was cute and I liked it. ;-0) We also went to Funspot, the Largest Arcade in the World according to Guiness. I will do a separate review on that. But Weir's Beach at Lake Winnipesaukee is a destination NOT to miss if you are anywhere near the area or can side road to it. The lake is clean, just like a beach in New England. There was even a guy in one of those air packs, flying in the air and diving into the water. There are also cruises for 2 hours on the lake on large boats. I LOVE this place and cannot wait to go back. Bring lots of quarters for the games and have fun!!!!!!!!! We didn't bring the camera (my mistake!!) so sorry no pictures but please visit the website for more information.

We have rented many places on Lake Winnipesaukee over the last 30 yrs. Long Island Cottages has been the best by far, Very family friendley or perfect for older couples looking to get away. Three cottages to rent and one house. 90 foot dock for your boat with great views to sit and relax on. Two firepits, swings for the kids, kayaks and canoes to use also. The owners are very friendly and stop to talk to you. Sun all day on the beach

A great lake in a part of the country deprived of Great Lakes. Not that New England -- and particularly the White Mountains region of New Hampshire -- has anything to complain about regarding drawing the short straw when nature's beauty was being divvied up, but massive signature lakes are not a conspicuous characteristic of the region.

But Lake Winnipesaukee is the very happy exception. Like any large tourism magnet, it has its share of kitsch, but the lake is largely resistant to being subsumed by ice cream shops, miniature golf courses and roadside motels, though, you won't have to look very hard to find shining examples of each.

Nonetheless, this is a beautiful area to explore in any number of ways -- four wheels, two wheels, outboard motor, sail, ice skates, and even skis, in the case of Gunstock Ski Resort, whose trails tower above the southern shores of the lake.

Though there's nothing equivalent to Crater Lake's rim drive in Oregon, the network of highways and country roads encircling the lake afford frequent and fantastic peeks at the sparkling waters and verdant hills surrounding it. And due to the highly irregular shape of the lake -- it sits on a diagonal axis running from northwest to southeast, with opportunities to cross it at some of its chokepoints -- the roads girdling the shoreline never grow predictable or monotonous. Laconia, Alton Bay, Wolfeboro, Meredith, Center Harbor . . . these are all good-sized towns on the banks of the lake, which, nonetheless amount to isthmuses, with significant water to be found in multiple directions within each town.

The real magnificence of Lake Winnipesaukee resides, however, on the lake itself. These fresh, clean waters are nestled within some of New England's most lovely natural terrain. And the lake does a fair amount of encircling in its own right, with countless islands ensuring that the views don't carry on uninterrupted for very long. Additionally, there are as many coves and bays as there are necks of land jutting away from the settled areas for a dip in these cool, but not inhospitably so, waters. In other words -- a boater's paradise, particularly if your orientation in the captain's chair is toward exploration.

Chances are, you'll discover opportunity after opportunity to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities at or on Lake Winnipesaukee. And the lake has so many different pockets to it that it might just take a lifetime of summers there to feel like you've found them all.

It was raining so we didn't go out on the lake, but the drive around was fun. Charming lakeside towns and beautiful Fall foliage.

We were in the Weirs Beach area on a three-day getaway in mid October when pretty much was closed down. We picked the brochure at the Weirs Beach pier about the lake cruise. It was a spectacular day, sunny, clean and warm and the lake was as smooth as glass. The MS Mount Washington was huge, by lake standards, and had all the amenities you needed, including clean restrooms, food, and beverages. There was a description of the interesting points of interest coming over the PA system, just often enough to keep interest. Definitely worth the time and price.

We have vacationed on beautiful Lake Winnipesauke multiple times over the past 30 years, most recently from Saturday, September 23rd until Saturday, September 30th. Each time we have stayed in Wolfeboro while at the lake, most recently in Winter Harbor.

The lake has very impressive scenery. It is nice to drive a car around it as well as take a boat on it, seeing the many islands, inlets and visiting multiple towns by boat. This year the weather was sunny, quite warm and the lake was extremely calm when we were there. We were able to drive our boat to multiple towns around the lake, including, Wolfeboro, Meredith, Alton Bay and Weirs Beach following our map to navigate as well as the markers on the lake. On, one of the calm days we ventured to the Suissevale area of Moultonborough. Although we did not see them on our map or by markers, we hit rocks. An individual named Dan, came out with his boat and asked if we were okay and offered to tow us. We can’t thank Dan enough for helping us, towing us all the way back to Winter Harbor. The lake is not only beautiful but has great people on it!! This helped make our vacation a real good one.

Found it one of the cleanest and pristine lake shores. When I went there with friends, I found it totally peaceful with only few people around.

I was amazed by the crystal clear fresh water, making short waves on the beach. It was wonderful to step in a freshwater beach.

We could not do boating because we did not had motorboat license. Wish we could do that as well, must be real fun.

Also, there runs a small train, I bet it must be a very beautiful and scenic ride, but we were late for the last train as well.

Overall a very calm peaceful and scenic place.

Lake Winnipesaukee should belong in the top 10 NH attractions. It is NH's largest lake covering 72 square miles of crystal clear water and surrounded by mountain ranges. The scenery is spectacular and the lake is perfect for all kinds of water sports. There are quiet coves for swimming, canoeing and kayaking and open water for jet skis and fast boats. It is dotted with islands of all sizes with large mansions to small cottages. It is truly one of the best vacation spots in the country and a wonderful place to live as well. There are lots of things to do in the area and several boat trips available for those who don't have their own. We have spent our summers in NH's Lakes Region for years and now we are lucky enough to live here!

What a nice lake, just a good size learning curve with all the rocks and a new boat. Have hit ground, hit a rock and drifted into some rocks when we ran out of gas. I do have a map, I did buy an extra 12 gallon gas tank and I will never leave the motor in gear when we run out of gas. All on the learning curve. Last fall and this spring we have left our marina in Alton Bay and have traveled to Roberts Cove, Wolfsboro, Christmas Harbor, Center Harbor, Meredith, Weirs, Paugus Bay, Sandbar at West Marine, Mingo Cove. We love being out there, mostly just my wife, our dog and me. So glad we bought a boat last year to enjoy this beautiful area.

NH is a funny state- very free and independent. Has some "interesting" areas with bikers and rednecks, but also some beautiful parts. I spent many childhood summers in Moultonborough along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. We stayed in Suissvale, which is now a private community. Love love love the lake, perfect for swimming, canoing, kayaking, boating, waterskiing, or just sunning yourself along the beaches. This is a fabulous place to visit for a day, the weekend, or a week.

I have completed only one day of a three day visit and recall reading reviews before we came here looking for an overview/introduction. First, I would decide on where you will stay around the lake (we picked Holderness on Lake Squam) which really is like a section of the overall Winni Lake Area. We drove from Maine to NH and Holderness is about 5 miles from Meredith which is a quaint town right on Lake Winni with a nice town dock area and pier. I would also stay in Meredith next time as it is lovely. Do not stay in Weirs beach. In my opinion, that being the busiest area on the lake is a place to drive through once (about 4 miles from Meredith on the same rd) unless you have kids and want honky tonk/ gocarts/ arcades/ crowds / drive in theatres.) No offense.
We arrived at the lake winni area in Holderness midday on a saturday in August and by the time we checked in and headed out to dinner, most places on the lake surround road were mobbed so we ended up in a joint in Weirs Beach which will never happen again. But every restaurant for about 16 miles on the lake surround road looked packed. So, my advice so far is get a map in advance and see where you are coming from north/south/east/west, and read about the towns you are heading to/ find a hotel or place to stay that makes sense geographically because you can be 1-2hours away from other towns on Lake Winni.. It's a really big lake with lots of geography/.

With that as a backdrop, you will be able to take the lake Winni boat tours that are all offered by the Mt Washington Cruise Co, from Meredith as well as Weirs Beach (4-5 miles apart) so you do not need to go to Weirs to get on one of the three boats they run. Schedules available online.We took the 2 hour DORIS cruise on a Sunday AM in August and recommend it as a good way to spend your first day to orient to the lake. We packed a lunch. Good idea from 11-1 PM. This is a large area to get familiar with and for first timers it is a challenge when crowded.. BTW, the lake with 300 plus islands and most of them habitable is exquisite naturally and architecturally.. Maybe I should have said that first. Pls forgive me. I was just trying to be helpful to newcomers like ourselves.

While you can drive around the lake and see some beautiful views, we found it best to experience Lake Winnipesaukee in a kayak.
We reserved 3 2-man kayaks from Wild Meadow Canoe and Kayak in Center Harbor. We arrived at 9 am and everything was set out and ready for us. After some instructions we set out.
It was a Monday morning and we had most of the lake to ourselves. It was a sunny day in the 70's with very little wind. It was great for kayaking along the coast..
We paddled away from Center Harbor by some homes, but mostly it was wooded area.
Since there were very few speed boats we paddled across the lake going east by Three Mile Island. We were barked at by a dog guarding a dock and house on one of the small islands.
Then we turned around and took our time paddling back to Center Harbor. On this side there were many more houses to look at along the way.
Lake Winnipesaukee will take you away from all of the stress of the modern world if you let it. Kayaking in its waters did it for me.

My wife and I spent a few days by Lake Winnipesaukee over the 4th of July weekend and enjoyed it a lot. We're stayed in a cabin with Beach access. The weather was good and the boat life on the lake was very enjoyable. There is several nice spots/towns you can visit by boat and they Carter week for tourist like us.
We stayed in Centre Harbor and they had really nice fireworks on the 4th.

This lake is one of my favorites in the U.S., and it still took me forever to spell it correctly (it's a tough one, you have to admit). I've been in just about every town that borders the lake, I've boated on it, I've swum in it. This time around I saw it from Wolfboro on a late October day and took some great shots. Here's an interesting fact: Jimmy Fallon summers in the area and named one of his daughters Winnie after the lake.

We made a day trip here when staying in NH one day this summer and we had fun. We lucked out with someone leaving a parking spot right across from Weir's beach, otherwise, it was pretty full along the street. We walked along the boardwalk which was pretty average, but nice lake views. There were a few shops and a couple restaurants in walking distance but not too much else, other than houses. We ended up eating at the Pier at Weirs because we wanted to be on the water, but that was a disappointment. We then went to the bath house and changed into bathing suits and spent a few hours at Weir's beach. It was pretty busy but not overly packed. I liked how the water is roped off and the swimmable area is nice soft rippled sand, no seaweed. The water was warm and we played frisbee in the water while the kids swam. We stayed in the water for at least an hour. The view of the mountains while in the water is very nice. A snack bar would have been nice. And we brought a cooler but were disappointed that you couldn't have drinks on the beach just to have a few cold cocktails. The train ride around the lake sounded nice but my kids were antsy. I would come back for the beach but not necessarily the area.

Grew up spending summers here. It does not get old. If you are looking for a simple trip to the k ake this lake has all you need. Peace when you want it, activities when you are looking.

We visited Lake Winnipesaukee in the beg of May, before everything opened for tourist season. We drove around the lake and visited the Castle in the Clouds area and also the White Mountains area. We stopped to see a number of covered bridges and went on a couple of hikes. The area is quite beautiful and I imagine in the summer with the boat/canoe/etc rentals, it is even nicer.

The view was spectacular from just about any place on the boat. The staff is friendly. There is food and beverages available. The trip takes you on a guided tour around some of the islands in the lake. Over 200 of them are inhabited we learned from a brochure. Unfortunately, it was hard to hear a lot of the commentary as the speaker system wasn't working very well. All in all a very enjoyable trip.

We had a lovely ride around the lake. We were with a touring group so also had the buffet, which was very good.

The tour was perfect, however be sure to use the bathroom during the trip. I used the bathroom at the end and was told by a dock hand, aggressively and unprofessionally, that we were trespassing. Mind blown. Be sure not to inconvenience them!

Big lake with ability to boat from town to town to different restaurants and points of interest. Great skiing and boating. Scenic views from everywhere. NH beauty at it's finest!

I was visiting my boyfriend and he took me for a scenic tour of Lake Winnipesaukee. Wherever we went, whatever road we drove on, the view was absolutely STUNNING! The colors are beautiful, the houses on the banks were nice...I can only imagine how busy this place is during the summer. Looks like I will be back to check that out!!

Staying at a rental on the shores of this lake was ethereal, with the sounds of water lapping on the shore and overnight hearing the loons calling.
Boating was equivalent to exploring, with all the coves and vistas. Found a couple of perfect coves to drop anchor and jump in for a swim.
Spent a lovely afternoon boating over to Wolfboro for an ice cream treat and a bit of shopping. Overall a great vacation!

This was our first time at Lake Winnipesaukee and we loved it. The lake is huge and there were fun towns to visit on the lake. Our favorite town was Meredith.. And, the castle in the clouds tour was great too.

I've taken the train ride twice and loved every minute of it as well as taking the boat ride three diffe-rent times which lets people know how the people on the islands in the lake during the warmer months live and how they get their supplies as well as mail and getting to/from their destinations inland! I vacat-ioned here with my parents and two sisters when growing up and it really made a lasting memory of being in such a grand open area! I love that state more than most here in the northeast and it's state next door to the east is my other attraction as I love the mountains, lakes and ocean as well as covered bridges, lighthouses, waterfalls, historic sites and old train-trolley rides which my son and I have been on all trolley rides in new england and half of the train rides and will continue to do so and the beauty of the state will keep luring me back each year!

I grew up vacationing here and so it is magical to me! Understated and sort of like a hidden treasure, being from NY this is a much more relaxed way of life and it is great to get to experience even if just for a vacation!

Every time we visit friends in New Durham and take a drive around, we are in awe of Lake Winnipesaukee. It is so beautiful and serene. It is the largest lake in New Hampshire. There is something here for everyone – boating, fishing, canoeing, and swimming, just to name a few. In addition, there are plenty of hiking trails around the lake. There is also no shortage of restaurants to enjoy.
It was interesting to learn on the NH Chronicle of the remains of a secret military lab at the bottom of Lake Winnipesaukee. Who knew?

If you love to swim, boat, fish, shop, eat fabulous food, catch the local farmers markets, fairs, parades, and much more you will find it here. Animal lovers will watch bald eagles fly and loons swim by. I recommend Wolfeboro for the family and Meredith for shopping.

This community has a special quality about it. We joined friends that have a summer home off a canal to the Lake in Moultonborough. What close knit community, the lake joins all it is beautiful out there, many little islands to discover. Kids are playing, no IPads to be found. Families really go on vacation together and enjoy the community and Lake. I really loved the Lake even though we actually have a summer home on the beach, it was really a refreshing change to be on a lake. It reminded me of days gone by.

The Lake is no where close to freezing. No Bob houses yet. No long term freeze in the forecast. Hoping it will freeze for the pond skate in Merideth the first weekend in February.
There is snow on the ground,streets clear with easy access to Gunstock.

Absolutely beautiful! No matter where you go everyone is so friendly and there’s so much to do, whether it’s beaches, parks, boating, fishing, hiking shopping there’s something for everyone. Looking forward to our next trip back!

Absolutely the most beautiful lake in New Hampshire. Did not realize just how big this lake was. Plenty of boats out on the water on this beautiful spring day.

Classic old town....the largest lake in NH. Plenty of old mon & pop shops. Can get very busy and hard to find a parking spot at times. RR ride worth it !

The is a huge lake that is totally awesome! It's great for swimming and boating and just watching so many people enjoying themselves on the lake! Very clear water and something not to be missed!

Situated amongst rolling hills and homes, this is a beautiful New Hampshire lake. Take a boat ride or just do the ride around it. Most scenic when their is the fall foliage. Golden Pond is adjacent to it and at sunset it takes on a nice glow.

I traveled to New Hampshire from Virginia for a wedding. We stayed at an upscale camp near this lake. The water was perfect for swimming - clear, cool, and refreshing.

I traveled to Lake Winnipesaukee for a Summer weekend during my time in Boston. I recommend this place for anyone looking to escape the crowds of Cape Cod. It's a huge, beautiful lake with a family atmosphere. The prices should be a bit more affordable than the Cape as well.

I've been vacationing at Lake Winnepesaukee since I was three. So sixty years later, it is still the high point of my year when I can float on my back and stare up at the pine trees against the blue sky. There are very populated sides of the lake, from center harbor to Meredith and then on to the weirs. Less so on the Alton Bay - Tuftonboro side. But if you can find a way to get out on the water and see the islands, it's worth it. The water is cold but crystal clear and there are many public beaches which will give you that lake experience. I ve done the mt Washington and ridden the mail boat, which is more intimate but with less amenities and you actually stop at the island Post Offices. If you're brave rent a sea doo and buy a bizer's lake map and go out in search of a beach or small reef to dive off of. you can attend St john's church at the top of Bear Island - a small stone church built around an observation tower In 1927 - it's run by islanders and dogs are welcome!

In July, We drove around the lake and took in all the scenic vistas. We especially enjoyed the North Eastern views across the lake with mountains as a back drop. There were many activities, restaurants and shopping experiences. Too many to list, can't wait to return.

A great location to chill and relax. You can plan the trip with friends or with family/kids, everyone will enjoy to scenic location.

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire and the third largest lake in New England after Lake Champlain and Moosehead Lake. Surrounded by several towns in the Lakes Region, including Alton, Laconia and Wolfeboro, which bills itself as the "Oldest Summer Resort in America," it has been a popular tourist destination for more than a century, particularly among residents seeing a safe haven from the summer heat of Boston and New York City. The lake is about 21 miles long and from one to nine miles wide, covering 71 square miles, with a maximum depth of 212 feet. Interestingly, the lake contains at least 258 islands, half of which are less than a quarter-acre in size, and is defined by several peninsulas which yield a total shoreline of 288 miles. The driving distance around the lake is 63 miles. Historically, Center Harbor, one of the small towns that surround the lake, witnessed the first intercollegiate sporting event in the United States as Harvard defeated Yale by two lengths in the first Harvard/Yale Regatta on August 3, 1852. One of the lake's most interesting features is The Broads, a wide, relatively open central region that is surrounded by several bays and many small inlets. Another interesting feature is the steamship Mount Washington, which made her maiden voyage in 1940 and makes one or two round trips on the lake per day during the summer season as well as numerous dinner dance cruises in the evenings. The original Mount Washington, a paddlesteamer, was launched in 1872 to carry mail, goods and passengers on the lake. In 1939, it was destroyed by fire. Curiously, the water temperature typically reaches the upper 70s in late July, warmer than Lake Michigan. Lake Winnipesaukee is known for its annual Ice-Out Contest in which people try to guess the earliest date that the Mount Washington can safely leave her port in Center Harbor and motor to other ports. Since records began in 1851, ice-out has happened as early as March 18 and as late as May 12.

This area of new Hampshire is beautiful, as is the lake. Virtually all of the shoreline is taken by private homes (not unusual in the NE, but there are boat ramps and some beaches. A tour of the lake reveals how the rich live as there are some spectacular homes and estates on the water. The is also an antique boat museum.

I grew up on the East Coast but this was my first time at the lake. We rented a house on the lake and visited several attractions one of which was the Washington Boat Tour. This was a great way to see just how big the lake is. There is food on board, along with beverages. A nice narration was given through the trip to tell you the history of the lake. Highly recommend taking the time to do this. It wasn't busy during the week, but we noticed the weekend boat trips were already sold out.

This is a big, beautiful lake located in New Hampshire. We drove down there to take a cruise on the MSN Mt. Washington......was an enjoyable day and we made an hour or two stop at Wolfeboro.

My brother invited me over for a boat ride on some lake close to his house, wanted to check out what exactly was it so joined him, we drove to docking place of the boats, Found that he had a kool nice jet speed boat, but was wondering where we were going to speed on this kind of boat, we fuelled it and boarded it and started our journey, went under a small bridge and wow there it was, an unimaginable huge lake with the sun hitting it and it reflecting various colors due to the angle of light. He explained that this large lake (larger than any lake I have seen except the Chilka lake in India) completely freezes in winter and they take the snowmobile across the whole lake!!! there are beautiful spots on the lake side where you can park your jet boat and have a small sightseeing train ride , enjoy some ice cream, food , shopping, it was a new kind of experience.The lake shores had lovely houses owned by various Governers, Hollywood stars etc., I would have missed all this if I had opted out of this.

Spent a lovely day at Brewster Beach in Wolfeboro - nice, quiet beach away from the crowds. Beautiful views of the lake against the mountains. Very tranquil and relaxing.

never heard of this lake before, but while visiting cousins, we rented a power boat and it was the best part of our trip! Scenic, clean...just beautiful! Wish I remembered where we rented the boat, but it was affordable and fun! can't wait to return!!

The lake is beautiful and clear. So nice to see the bottom of the lake even when it's fairly deep. Chilly though! We stayed at Church Landing at Mill Falls in Meredith which was terrifc. We took the scenic 2 hour boat ride on the Doris which is a sister to the large Mt. Washington boat trip. Very nice tour and saw amazing homes and views. Driving around the lake takes almost 2 hours without stops. Cute stops in Meredith, Wolfeboro, other towns too. Bring a map!!!! The roads switch and change a lot while driving around the lake. Alton Bay is very nice. Wiers beach is a beautiful sandy beach and there are many arcades there. It's the main hub for the Mt. Washington scenic cruises. We rented a kayak too which was awesome along the shoreline with the clear water.

There is something about this lake that draws everyone to it. First of all, it is huge. It covers a lot of ground – 72 square miles and sits at the foot of the White Mountains. Here you can enjoy the clear shimmering waters of the largest lake in New Hampshire! It has something for everyone from boating, fishing, canoeing, swimming, and dining just name a few. Forty different communities surround the lake.

We honeymooned here 54 years ago and thought it would be fun to go back. Well, the boats don't run until July, the restaurants are closed mid-week and not much going on until July 1. We found plenty to do but were disappointed with some of our choices.