Curious about where to find a delightful lakeside escape packed with fun activities? Want to discover the perfect mix of relaxation and excitement? Well, look no further than Meredith, NH. This small New England town is a hidden gem on Lake Winnipesaukee’s shores.
Meredith offers a perfect blend of lakeside charm and outdoor adventure. Whether you’re seeking a leisurely boat cruise, a taste of local wines, or a scenic railroad journey, Meredith has something for everyone. Explore the top attractions and activities in Meredith with this comprehensive guide.
Fun Things To Do in Meredith, New Hampshire
Take a Boat TripÂ
One of the best ways to admire Meredith’s spectacular lake views is by getting out on the water, as it is in the heart of NH’s Lakes Region. Many local companies offer narrated sightseeing cruises on Lake Winnipesaukee. It lets you relax as you pass by stunning lakefront homes, historic sites, and islands.Â
Meredith Marina offers many boat rental opportunities with flexible terms and conditions. Along with boats, you can get water skis, jet skis, and wakeboards to make fun on the water.
Consider Y Landing Marina company if you plan to stay more than one week. They offer small cottages, stores, boats, and several 20- and 22-footers.
Go Shopping
The charming Main Street through downtown Meredith features many boutique shops, art galleries, specialty stores, and antique shops. Mill Falls Marketplace is the best shopping center to browse around.
The marketplace is in a converted factory building with eateries, gardens, a waterfall, and many lakefront shops. Visit Adornments & Creative Clothing for the best store to buy gifts for your loved ones. They offer a large collection of apparel and home goods.
If you are searching for rare prints and old maps alongside locally made gifts, crafts, jewelry, and pottery, visit Old Print Barn. Dragonfly Diversions is the best suitable option if you are coming with kids. The whimsical toy store provides kites, games, and puzzles for kids of all ages.
Go Wine Tasting at Hermit Woods Winery
The family-owned Hermit Woods Winery is a romantic destination. Visit this place if you are coming to the city without kids or with friends. The award-winning wines are made from locally harvested fruit in downtown Meredith.
Stop by their tasting room to sample wines like blueberry mead, black currant wine, and fruit wines made from apples and strawberries. Outside seating and food trucks are available on weekends.
Visit Weirs Beach
Just 15 minutes from downtown Meredith lies iconic Weirs Beach, the largest public beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. Visitors flock here to swim, enjoy water sports, play beach volleyball, stroll the mile-long boardwalk, and take kids to the video arcade and mini-golf courses.
In the evenings, the drive-in movie theater is a great fun thing to do at Weirs Beach to watch classic and new movies. The four-screen Drive-In theater was opened in 1949 and charged $30 for a car. There are also many family-friendly activities, including 600 games, mini-golf, and bowling.
Ride the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
All aboard this vintage train ride along the shoreline of Lake Winnipesaukee near Meredith Bay, offering a good option to witness the beauty of NH.
During the approximately two-hour trip, this scenic railroad passes by pristine lakes, forests, and mountain vistas from restored early 1900s coaches. The train ride ticket is $17 for 4-12-year-olds, $22 for adults, and kids under 4 are free.
M/S Mount Washington Cruise
Enjoy panoramic views on this large ship cruise with multiple decks, live commentary, and food and drink options.
Mill Falls Cruise is the smaller cruise that offers a more intimate experience of seeing lake sights up close to an open-top pontoon boat.
Twin Barns Brewin
Twin Barns Brewery is the best place to have fun on rainy New England days. This converted horse barn now houses a craft brewery serving New England-style ales and lagers on tap.
Sip taproom exclusives like Winnipesaukee White or Black Raspberry Witbier outside the pet-friendly patio under market lights. Take a behind-the-scenes tour to see how the signature brews are made. It is also family-friendly, and you can play games in the 1850s barn to make your time memorable.
Visit Moulton FarmÂ
Get up close with sheep, goats, bunnies, and more at this generations-old Meredith farm. It is situated on Lake Winnipesaukee’s northern side, featuring animal pastures and barns.
Stock up on just-picked berries or seasonal produce at their farm stand store. At Moulton Farm, fall visits offer apple picking, corn mazes, and pumpkin patches.
Meredith Sculpture Walk
Get your steps in on this 2-mile walk along the downtown riverfront displaying over 30 unique bronze sculptures. Pick up a printed guide to the temporary and permanent sculpture installations at the Greater Meredith Program building.
Explore the Other Side of Lake WinnipesaukeeÂ
The quaint towns of Alton Bay, Wolfeboro, and Center Harbor offer superb dining, shops, parks, and beaches along the eastern shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, just a 30-minute drive from Meredith. Also, access hiking trails on Mount Major and hiking or biking trails on miles of former railroad beds with scenic lake overlooks.
Go Mini-Golfing at Pirate’s Cove
Pirate’s Cove is the elaborately themed 18-hole mini-golf course that transports players to the high seas with pirate décor on every hole. After you finish pillaging the course, refuel at their on-site snack bar and arcade.
This fun site has many activities for people of all ages. The ticket price for adults is $9.75, and for kids between 4-12 is $8.75.
Splash Around At Waukewan Beach
Waukewan Beach is the best place to have fun on a warm, sunny day on the shores of Lake Waukewan. The beach features clear waters and a sand beach area. It is perfect for boating, sunbathing, and swimming.
Visitors can also rent canoes, kayaks, and small motorboats from the nearby town marina. The less-crowded beach is on Meredith’s western side and offers basic amenities.
Take a Ride on The M/S Mount Washington
One of the best ways to soak in the natural beauty of Lake Winnipesaukee is aboard New Hampshire’s oldest and largest lake cruise ship.
Enjoy a relaxing 2.5-hour tour, soaking in stunning views of forested shorelines and scenic mountain ranges. Pass by attractions such as the Castle in the Clouds estate and Endicott Rock from multiple observation decks.
The M/S Mount Washington provides meals, bar service, live music, and three dance floors. The ticket price of this 230-foot-long ship is $42.
Catch a Show at Winnipesaukee Playhouse
This local performance theater in downtown Meredith transports visitors back in time upon entering the historic colonial-style building. Expect professional yet intimate musicals, dramas, and comedies in their small 200-seat theater.
The Winnipesaukee Playhouse has many talented local actors performing entertaining and educational performances. The ticket cost to watch a professional performance is $25 to $45 and $14 to $25 for educational performances.
Learn About Local History
The Meredith Historical Society & Museum is set on the grounds of a Colonial-era estate. It features exhibits detailing the area’s agricultural history and prominence as a four-season resort destination. Knowledgeable tour guides share town history and folklore not found in history books.
Go Ice Fishing
Lake Winnipesaukee freezes in winter, becoming a hot spot for ice fishing. Local fishing outfitters like White Mountain Fishing Excursions offer ice shelter rentals and tours. They take groups by snowmobile or special ice vehicles to select the best catch locations across prime ice-fishing lakes and ponds in the Meredith area.
Great Rotary Fishing Derby is the best ice fishing tournament to watch or participate in. Meredith Rotary Club hosts it in February every winter, and the winner gets a prize of $15,000.
Where to Stay in Meredith, NH
Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Meredith, NH:
Church Landing is situated over 6000 feet of Lake Winnipesaukee shoreline. This upscale resort features luxury accommodations, fine dining, an exclusive spa, and a private beach club.Â
Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Meredith, NH:
Inn at Mill Falls is the top choice if you want top-rated budgeted accommodation in New England. Each spacious room at this locally owned boutique inn overlooks the flowing Mill Falls Marketplace waterfall. Some rooms offer private balconies and fireplaces.Â
Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Meredith, NH:
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Meredith is a great value chain hotel near downtown. It is a decent place to stay, with an indoor pool, fitness room, and complimentary breakfast bar.
How Much Time to Spend in Meredith, NH
Most visitors spend 2-3 days exploring Meredith. They have enough time to take a lake cruise, enjoy attractions, shop downtown, and relax at the lakefront beaches. Nature lovers may want to extend it to 4 to 5 nights to allow for some scenic hiking on nearby mountain trails.Â
Meredith also makes a great home base to explore surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee towns. Many vacationers stay a whole week using Meredith as their home base. With day trips planned to Wolfeboro, Weirs Beach, Castle in the Clouds, and more attractions.
Best Time to Visit Meredith NH
Summer is peak tourist season, with all attractions open and the weather perfect for swimming, boating, and outdoor exploring around Lake Winnipesaukee. But summer crowds and prices are highest during July and August.Â
For smaller crowds and lower rates, visit during the late spring or early summer (May-June) or early fall (September-October). Most area attractions, shops, cruises, and restaurants remain open into late October with fewer tourists.
Winter offers stunning snowy scenery and frozen lake access for ice fishing, skiing, snowshoeing, and more cold-weather activities. Some seasonal attractions and a few restaurants close, but hotel rates drop, making winter an excellent budget option.
How to Get to Meredith NH
Most visitors reach Meredith by car, which allows easy access to attractions around Lake Winnipesaukee. Significant highways, like I-93, Route 104, and Route 3, provide direct access to Meredith. The closest international airport is Manchester–Boston Regional Airport, under an hour’s drive away.
Concord Coach Lines provides daily bus service into Meredith from Boston’s South Station and Logan International Airport, with stops in multiple New Hampshire cities.
Is Meredith, NH, Worth Visiting?
It is worth visiting place because the scenic community of Meredith offers an idyllic New England getaway. Its tranquil lakeside setting, charming small-town character, abundance of shops, attractions, and outdoor recreation will surely make your tour memorable.
Meredith makes an excellent home base for experiencing the natural beauty of Lake Winnipesaukee through boat tours, beach trips, and lakeside resort stays. At the same time, the New England town retains its unique charm and local culture distinct from often busier, more touristy nearby towns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some good things to do in Meredith, NH, with kids?
The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad and spending time on Waukewan Beach is one of the best things if you come along with kids.
How much time do you need in Meredith NH?
A single day is enough to explore many beautiful attractions but you will enjoy more if you come up for one week because you have enough time to explore the surrounding areas of the town.
What are the top 5 things to do in Meredith New Hampshire?
The top 5 activities & attractions in Meredith are:
- Take a Lake Winnipesaukee cruise.
- Go shopping downtown.
- Visit a winery/brewery.
- Relax at Hesky Park Beach.
- Ride the scenic railroad.
What is there to do on rainy days in Meredith, NH?Â
On rainy days, you can:
- Browse the shops downtown.
- Take a scenic ride on the Winnipesaukee Railroad.
- Visit museums like the Meredith Historical Museum.
- Catch a show at Winnipesaukee Playhouse.
- Relax at an indoor pool hotel.
Is Meredith, NH, expensive to visit?
Meredith offers options for various budgets. Prices go up in the high tourist season in the summer, but traveling in spring/fall or booking ahead of time can lead to good deals on hotels and attractions. Those on a budget can pick from economy lodging and enjoy the town’s accessible public beaches.
What towns are close to Meredith, NH, to visit?
Popular nearby towns to visit include Weirs Beach (15 minutes away), Wolfeboro (30 minutes), Alton Bay (20 minutes), Center Harbor (25 minutes), Castle in the Clouds estate (25 minutes), and Concord NH capital city (45 minutes).
More on Lake Winnipesaukee:
- 24 Fun Things to Do on Lake Winnipesaukee
- Best Lake Winnipesaukee Hotels & B&Bs
- 16 Best Boat Rentals on Lake Winnipesaukee
- 11 Best Restaurants in Wolfeboro, NH
- Weirs Beach, Lake Winnipesaukee [The Ultimate Guide]
