24 Fun Things To Do In Lake Winnipesaukee NH

Are you making a plan to visit NH’s largest lake? Finding the best thing to do in Lake Winnipesaukee during vacation? There is no need to worry; we will share a list of top activities for everyone at Lake Winnipesaukee. 

Visiting New Hampshire‘s Lake Winnipesaukee is the right choice to make your trip more memorable. It is the best family and adult-friendly destination because there are many things to do.

Tourists can take advantage of museums, jet-ski rentals, breweries, lake cruises, beaches, shopping, and more. Plenty of travelers come from different parts of the world around the year, especially each summer, to enjoy the lake’s beauty. 

Travel to Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

It is the third largest lake in England and the largest lake in NH, between White Mountain and Manchester. The area of the lake covers a total of 69 sq. /mile, approximately 9 miles wide and 21 miles long.

The lake has 200 miles of shoreline with 240 islands. Eight different towns surround the lake. It includes Alton, Meredith, Gilford, Moultonborough, Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro, Center Harbor, and Laconia.

It would be best to stay in Laconia, Meredith, and Wolfeboro towns during the trip because they offer many pleasing opportunities. For example, Laconia’s Weirs Beach is the best tourist spot for families and friends.

Additionally, Meredith is famous for adults because they love its upscale restaurants, wine tasting, and Meredith Bay. Thirdly, Wolfeboro is the oldest summer resort in America. It offers the opportunity to explore the downtown area. 

Things to Do in Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

Let’s take a look at some of our favorites!

Take a Mailboat Cruise on the M/V Sophie C:

The mailboat works to deliver the mail to their residents, and passengers also use the ride for their fun. In the USA, it is the oldest floating post office. The boat starts the journey from Weirs Beach and ends on the Island of Lake Winnipesaukee.

In New Hampshire, riding a mailboat cruise is a great activity. During a cruise visit, passengers write letters or postcards and forward them with a collectible stamp. They also deliver and pick up mail and enjoy the islands’ beauty. The cruise costs $40 per person in the summer, and the journey lasts two hours.

If the mailboat cruise is not working, you can join other cruises. For example, M / S Mount Washington costs $40 for a single person, and the ride consists of a 2-hour tour.

A brunch tour per person costs $60 for a 2.5-hour time. A dinner cruise and a cocktail cruise single person costs $60 and $40 for a 2-hour ride, respectively.

Rent a Boat or Jet Ski and Cruise:

If you are in Lake Winnipesaukee and are not boating and skiing, you miss most of your lake visits. Around Lake Winnipesaukee, there are many boat rental places. After our personal experience, we provide the best boat rental locations. 

Gilford boat rental locations include Fay’s Boatyard, Alton Bay’s, and Lakeside Boat Rentals. Wolfeboro uses Goodhue Boat Company, and Meredith has Melvin Village Marina. Secondly, Laconia’s location includes Irwin Marine, Winnisquam Marine, East Coast Flightcraft, and North Water Marine. Moultonborough has Trexler’s Marina. 

For the ski experience, there are also many jet ski rentals. You can find Weir’s beach jet ski, Wolfeboro Jet Ski rentals, and more.

Related Post: 16 Best Boat Rentals On Lake Winnipesaukee

Visit the Wright Museum of World War II:

The Wright Museum in Wolfeboro focuses on culture instead of the war’s military angle. The museum tells the story of World War II. It explores American life and gives you immense knowledge about war. In a museum collection, more than 14000 items related to WW II are available.

It includes clothes, paper magazines, and advertisements from 1939 to 1945. The whole thing is to exhibit the history of that era. Many special exhibitions and educational programs are organized regularly to express Americans’ role during the war. The museum is open in high season.  

Ticket Price of the Museum:

Adult	$12
Students age 5 to 17	$8
Kids under 5	Free

Visit Castle in the Clouds:

It is one of the most popular areas in Moultonborough on Lake Winnipesaukee. The mansion is from 1913 and is about New England’s arts, Crafts, architecture, and culture. This beautiful big mansion has 16 rooms and many amenities.

The area of the villa is around 5000 acres with gorgeous views of Ossipee Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee. While visiting the historic spot, tourists can also take advantage of on-site restaurants and hiking. Many private functions and weddings have been managed by renting the area.

Ticket Prices for self-guided tours:

Here are the self-guided tours costs for the 1st and 2nd floors of the mansion; 

Adults	$18
Children	$10
With basement	$25

Kitsch of Weirs Beach:

Weirs Beach is a mini family amusement park in Laconia’s town. The Kitsch of Weirs Beach has many fun places, including eating cafes, ice cream shops, go-karts, a drive-in-movie theatre, water sports, a cruise, and an arcade area.

It is a fantastic family-friendly vacation destination with many adventures and games. The place is cozy and has impressive rest areas, a golden stretch, changing rooms, and bathrooms. It is considered the best beach with so many facilities on the lake on Lake Winnipesaukee.

See a Drive-In Movie at the Weirs Drive-In:

It is one of the most iconic tourist attractions for visitors and locals to see drive-in movies. It has worked since 1949. NH has many drive-in movie theatres, but Weirs is the largest Drive-In theatre.

It is open in the summer and spring months. The theatre serves snacks and has four screens. The car costs $30 to watch a movie with 4 people and $5 for an additional person. Kids under the age of 4 are free.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center:

The squam lakes science center is a beautiful visiting place for children and adults. Get fun and knowledge about many scientific things during visits. It is situated at Holderness, which is a 15-minute drive from Meredith. 

Here you can also take advantage of the animal crossing. The walking trail is three-quarters miles, and visitors can walk on track along forests, marsh boardwalks, and meadows. It is recommended to keep an eye on raptors and otters.

If you want to enjoy the science center and the lake cruise, you can use pontoon boats. It took around 90 minutes to cover the water route. There is also a large garden that is free for visitors.

Live Animal Trail Ticket Price 

Below are the ticket prices to walk on the live animal trail.

Adults	$18
Children aged between 3 to 15	$13

Lake Cruise Ticket Price:

Adults	$27
Children aged between 3 to 15	$23

Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad:

In the fall season, the railroad is the best option to enjoy your weekend. Compared to the rail, the railroad trip enhances the dramatic beauty of the tourist spots. The old-fashioned rail journey starts from Meredith and ends in Weirs Beach.

The train is a fantastic facility to see Paugus Bay and Winnipesaukee Lake. It is a two hours train ride from Meredith and one hour from Weirs Beach to see the lake’s panoramic views along the water. Fall is the best time to enjoy the fall foliage around the lake. 

Ticket Prices for Meredith Station:

Adults	$22
Children	$17

Ticket Prices for Weirs Beach Station:

Adults	$20
Children	$14

Shop at the League of NH Craftsmen:

In the US, it is the oldest non-profit craft organization that promotes handmade crafts by different artisans. The art of craft is very famous in recent years as people are more into these things. The NH Craftsmen is a well-known and ancient craft organization.

It is situated in New Hampshire and has many stores around the state. It is the best place to find NH souvenirs, jewelry, woven pieces, knitted pieces, pottery, clay work, metalwork, etc.

The art is for everyone, and visitors learn the craft demonstrations. The Meredith Fine Craft Art Gallery has sold fine art for over 60 years. 

Visit Lake Winnipesaukee’s Breweries:

New Hampshire is famous for their creative and vibrant breweries. Many brewing companies are located all over the state. In Lake Winnipesaukee, there are also many breweries.

They serve a variety of beers and also give you small cafes facility where you can eat and relax. Here are the top breweries in the Winnipesaukee area.

Lone Wolfe Brewery offers beer, indoor seating, live music, and an outdoor beer garden in Wolfeboro. Their menu includes light foods like salads, appetizers, sandwiches, craft beer, and burgers. 

Twin Barns Brewery is located in Meredith that work since the 1850s. An antique barn offers a variety of beers like ales, lagers, IPAs, pilsners, porters, and sours. People also order burgers, appetizers, meals, and sandwiches.

Woodman’s Brewery in Bristol is a brewery from a small family. They have an open area with a fireplace, gaming areas, and various beers like pale ales, IPAs, etc. They also offer crafted beers. The Woodman’s Brewery is a 20-minute drive from Meredith. 

In downtown Bristol, visit the Shacketts Brewing Company. Their favorite beers are a west coast IPA, ales, and a stout. 

In Ashland, White Mountain Brewing offers many crafted beers. Some famous brewers are Porters, IPAS, Lagers, and Ales. In addition, food items are also included, such as tacos, wings, Burritos, quesadillas, and sandwiches.

Gunstock Mountain Resort:

Gunstock Mountain Resort is a family-friendly tourist place filled with many outdoor adventure activities throughout the year. 

In summer, the recreational park offers the opportunity to go skiing, zip lining, aerial obstacle, and roller coaster. You can also ride a chairlift for a beautiful view of Lake Winnipesaukee and other places.

In the winter season, it is the best New Hampshire ski resort to view the iconic frozen views of Lake Winnipesaukee. They have a quality ski area for adults, kids, and families. They also offer different facilities for skiers. 

Moreover, you can enjoy snow slides and races down the mountains. They offer ski lessons and easy slopes for beginners. Tourists also go for snow tubing.

You can even find an indoor cafe, lodging, chair lifts, and restaurants where you can enjoy your taste buds. Gunstock is one for all resort where you can enjoy anything you want.

Cotton Valley Rail Trail:

In New England, the cotton valley route is a good entertainment and active option in Lake Winnipesaukee. The route trail is 12 miles and full of many beautiful views. Enjoy walking, riding, and fresh air during the rail trail. People can also experience nature along the trails.

Visit the Old Country Store in Moultonborough:

The Country Store is one of the oldest stores in the United States that have worked since 1781. Apart from selling goods, the old country store is the central hub for town meetings. There is also a library and a post office.

The old yellow-colored building provides a chance to buy locally made goods, unusual souvenirs, and antiques. The price of goods is reasonable. It is near the castle in the clouds.

Hike Near Lake Winnipesaukee:

Compared to the White Mountains, it is not a famous place for hiking, but there are still many gorgeous hikes. The mountains offer many iconic views while hiking in the Lake Winnipesaukee area.  

West Rattlesnake Mountain offers a magnificent view of Squam Lake. This mountain has 12 hiking trails. It includes a 3.7-mile out, Old Bridle Path, and a back hike.

Alton town has the Mount Major trail, Boulder Loop, Brook Trail, and other hiking trails. The hikers love the excellent views from the mountain’s summit.

Mount Morgan is only suitable for experienced hikers because the mountain has many challenging trails. The overall length of the track is 3.9 miles.

Mount Percival trail’s length is 5 miles. The final portion of the course has many challenging areas because it includes ledges and rocks.  

New Hampshire Boat Museum in Wolfeboro:

This unique museum allows fans to explore boats more closely. There are many exciting things for each tourist on and off the ships. They can explore boating motors, crafts, and different parts of the boat within a museum.

You can also indulge in various activities because they organize courses and youth programs yearly and weekly. These are meant to teach you about boat-building, yacht kit-building, and the discovery of the lake.

In August, Alton Bay Boat Show is also organized. They aim to promote the boat’s role in the NH lakes. 

Ticket Prices for the Museum:

Children	$7
Adults	$9

Fun Spot Arcade:

It is the best place to visit on rainy days, but make sure to reach the center before thunderclouds loom. In Laconia town, the Funspot arcade is a hub of games.

You can find 600 plus arcade games. They host the American Classic Arcade Museum and have many games from the 1970s to1980s.

This arcade center holds the Guinness world record due to being the enormous arcade gaming canter. You can even find a 20-lane bowling center, cash bingo, indoor golf, Pac man, etc.

People often celebrate birthdays and special occasions there because a restaurant and tavern are available. 

Relax on a Beach:

Lake Winnipesaukee has many beaches for relaxing and enjoyment. It includes Ellacoya State Park’s Beach, Weirs Beach, Allen Albee Beach, Bartlett Beach, etc. On hot days’ visitors love to swim in the water and bask in the sun.

Weirs Beach is the best option for everyone because the water is calm and they can easily swim and relax. Even kids can also spend quality time on the beach. 

Innisfree Bookstore:

The Innisfree bookstore has been an Irish-themed bookstore. It has been working since 1992. It is located in Meredith’s Mills Falls Marketplace. They have a famous book collection on the history and geography of New England and Hampshire.

Moreover, they have some children’s books, gifts, games, puzzles, and some old souvenirs. It is the best place to buy new, popular, and best-selling books. You can also visit the bookstore on rainy days. 

Go Wine Tasting:

In Lake Winnipesaukee, some people love wines and wineries. There are many places for wine tasting, but Hermit Woods Winery and Winnipesaukee Winery are well-known wineries. 

Hermit Woods Winery is located in Meredith. They serve wine through glass and flight. They also offer many food items like salads, sandwiches, charcuterie boards, and other things for enjoying your evening. There is also an outdoor and indoor seating place. Interested members also get local craft beers.  

Moreover, Winnipesaukee Winery in Wolfeboro offers a flight of three local wines for just $8. You can even learn the techniques to make wine glass souvenirs with grapes.

Eat at a Retro Diner: 

The retro diners are old-themed café. Tilt’N Diner and the Route 104 diner are two main in Lake Winnipesaukee. Both give the style of a 1950s restaurant and have delicious food items.

Route 104 Diner is part of New Hampton, NH Common Man restaurants. The diner provides a 50s experience with desired food and an all-day breakfast.

The Tilt’N Diner is also part of Common Man restaurants in Tilton, New Hampshire. It provides the feeling of 50s-style with plays upbeat music. 

Where to stay in Lake Winnipesaukee?

Lake Winnipesaukee has many accommodation places, whether you are looking for B&B, luxury, or mid-range homes. You should book excellent and reasonable hotel rooms and dorms whenever you visit somewhere. 

Final Thoughts

It is the best tourist spot because of its many relaxation and recreation activities. It has different activities like sailing, camping, boating, fishing, skiing, swimming, restaurants, canoeing, hiking, and shops. They can also explore the towns’ arts, heritage, and culture.

It is a beautiful lake that attracts visitors and offers a chance to explore New Hampshire’s beauty. The lake has welcomed tourists for many decades and is still the favorite vacation destination. People come around the year and can enjoy each season. 

Q. What are the best luxury hotels in Lake Winnipesaukee?

In Holderness, the Manor on Golden Pond is the best option. It is a little far from Lake Winnipesaukee but is a luxury and spectacular hotel. Its rooms are fully equipped with all the necessary facilities.

For example, with rooms, there are balconies, fireplaces, and plush robes. They also provide quality services to visitors. It is considered one of the best restaurants.

Q. What is the best B&B in Lake Winnipesaukee?

Center Harbor Sutton House B&B is the best option if you find the best B&B. It has cozy rooms, and the owner provides handmade beds for extra comfort. 

Q. What are the best mid-range hotels in Lake Winnipesaukee?

In Wolfeboro, Windrifter Resort is considered the best mid-range hotel. The resort has fully equipped rooms with many facilities. It is affordable for the people who often visit Winnipesaukee. There is also a pool, fitness area, full kitchens, and a tennis court.

Q. What is the best budget hotel in Lake Winnipesaukee?

Half Moon Motel & Cottages is the best budget-oriented hotel in Weirs Beach. It has comfy rooms and little cabins. The hotel offers all the necessary facilities, including a swimming pool, which is best for large families. 

Q. How Much Time to Spend in Lake Winnipesaukee?

According to our experience, at least three days are necessary to explore all the attractions of Lake Winnipesaukee. It is lovely if you plan to visit for one week, two weeks, or a month.

IIt is enough to visit two towns altogether in pairs if you have a shortage of time and make a plan for a single day. For example, you can visit Meredith and Weirs Beach or Wolfeboro and Moultonborough. You don’t have much time to explore all the towns together in one day.

Q. How to Get to Lake Winnipesaukee?

Compared to Moultonborough, Laconia is too closer if you come from Boston. Approximately Laconia is a one-hour drive from New Hampshire’s Airport or Manchester. It is a two-hour drive from Maine, Boston, or Portland.

On the other hand, compared to the Wolfeboro, Meredith is too closer if you come from the Franconia area. You need a car to visit the destination.  

Q. What is the best time to visit Lake Winnipesaukee?

The summer months, from June to August, are considered the best time to visit this place.

Mid of June is the most expensive and busiest time to visit because biker from all over the country comes to participate in the Laconia Motorcycle Week event. It is the best time to see more crowds if you want to enjoy more fun because motorcycles are roaring on the lake.

It would be best to visit in Fall to enjoy the fall foliage around the lake. The mid of September is the best time to see the iconic view when kids return to school.

Compared to the other months, Winter is different. In February, many ice fishing and sled dog race competitions are held. Visitors can also enjoy ice skating.

In the end, if you plan to visit in the Summer months, book your accommodations before the time to get the good stuff. 

Q. Is Lake Winnipesaukee Worth It?

Yes, this lake has magic and attracts hundreds of tourists each year. After visiting this vacation spot, you will also admire and regularly visit it each year.

Q. How big is Lake Winnipesaukee?

The average distance of the lake is 21 miles.

Q. Where is Lake Winnipesaukee?

It is in the NH’s lakes region, between the White Mountains.

Q. What town is Lake Winnipesaukee in?

It is situated in Laconia town.

Q. How deep is Lake Winnipesaukee?

The maximum depth of the lake is 180 ft.

Q. How many acres is Lake Winnipesaukee?

The lake covers more than 45,000 acres of area.

More on Lake Winnipesaukee:

• Best Lake Winnipesaukee Hotels & B&Bs
• The Ultimate Guide to Weirs Beach
• Best Boat Rentals on Lake Winnipesaukee
• 11 Best Restaurants in Wolfeboro, NH
• 15 Fun Things To Do In Meredith