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In NH, it is the most beautiful tourist destination and known as the “fun town.” Summer Gateway has several things for people’s enjoyment, such as a drive-in movie theater, restaurants, boat cruises, boardwalk, train rides, arcades, sandy beaches, etc.
The beach is located in New Hampshire‘s Laconia town. Find an epic destination in the northern corner of the Lakes Region. The native people of the beach belong to the Penacook tribe and are known as Abenaquis.
Their town’s name was Aquedoctan, which means “place of good fishing.” The indigenous people used a special basket to catch fish called a “weir.” After that, the town’s name became popular from the basket name.
It has also been a popular tourist destination since the mid of 19th century because a railroad connecting Montreal, Boston, and Concord stops in that town. There are several reasons to claim it is Lake Winnipesaukee’s most popular tourist spot.
Here we will provide accurate information to make your beach trip more enjoyable.
Things to Do in Weirs Beach NH
The old-fashioned beach is a good family-friendly spot because there are several things for fun.
For example, during the day, you can relax on the beach, stroll the boardwalk, take a boat cruise, or visit the arcades. And during the night, watch a drive-in movie, play board games with a brewery, or enjoy the town’s nightlife.
Secondly, several shows are organized at the beach for people’s entertainment. For example, view a fireworks show every Saturday night from mid-July to early August.
Enjoy a Laconia Motorcycle Week show from the Fourth of July to mid of June.
Stroll the Weirs Beach Boardwalk:
The boardwalk gives iconic town views and is known as the most enjoyable activity. During strolling on the boardwalk, there are several benches for sitting and historic placards to provide the entire town’s story.
The boardwalk directly takes the visitors to the beach and runs along Lakeside Avenue. People learn several new informative things by strolling along the pier. For example, they learn how the town welcomed the Lake steamship’s lady in 1849.
Secondly, learn how the town became a hot music concerts spots in 1903. At that time, the ticket price to attend the concert was 10 cents and 20 cents if someone wanted to dance.
In 1925 The Winnipesaukee Pier was famous for being a big band spot. However, nowadays, it is famous for Games, jet ski rentals, and waterfront dining.
Arcades and More Fun Activities:
Arcades are a really fun place for the whole family, and you can experience many new things there. Visit the Half Moon Penny Arcade, which has modern and old-fashioned games for people’s enjoyment.
If you feel hungry, visit the Cook’s Candy Kitchen. You will easily find many spots offering slush, ice cream, fried dough, and adult beers.
Moreover, visit the Half Moon Gifts shop to buy new items and New England souvenirs. You can also go to the Save Ology Thrift Shop to buy secondhand items at a reasonable price. Bumper cars are always fun to ride, and you never miss this opportunity during a trip.
On the other hand, if you don’t have much time during a beach visit, you can experience several things in a short drive. It includes a climbing wall, boat rentals, golf courses, and Gunstock Mountain Resort. There is also a Funspot, which is the world’s largest arcade.
Enjoy one of New Hampshire’s Best Beaches:
The local inhabitants of the town called this beach “The Weirs.” It is considered the most fantastic lake beach in NH due to its many features. It includes a playground, picnic table, and restroom. The beach waves are very gentle, and the sand is soft to feel relaxed.
It has 640 feet long widest point. The endpoint of the beach ends with a shallower boardwalk that is good for young kids.
It is a good spot to experience the stunning views of the blue Ossipee Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee’s islands. There is New England’s oldest public monument Endicott Rock from 1652. At the beach, lifeguard services are also available from June to August.
Cruise Lake Winnipesaukee:
There is a headquarter of Mount Washington Cruises, which is a good option for visitors to explore the lake’s beauty.
Many kinds of cruises are available there for people’s enjoyment. It includes a Sunday brunch cruise, a sunset dinner cruise, and a summer cocktail cruise.
Ride the M / S Mt. Washington cruise that stops in Wolfeboro and Alton Bay. It is the best basic narrated cruise option, and the average cruise ride is 2.5 hours. The cruise cost is $42, and you pay an additional $6.50 for service or fuel charges.
On the other hand, everyone has different choices, but we are big fans of the M / V Sophie C cruise because it has many qualities. It is a unique small floating post office boat that delivers mail around the islands.
Funspot:
It is the world’s largest arcade center and is written in the Guinness Book of World Records. The arcade center has more than 600 arcade games, including 300 vintage games.
The fun spot has the American Classic Arcade Museum, where you can experience 40 years ago niche games.
There are also many exciting things, including cash prizes, indoor mini golf, bowling, and a restaurant with many party or dining facilities.
Take a Ride on the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad:
You can ride on an old-fashioned train to experience the beautiful railroad journey. It travels along the lake’s edge. In the past, the train journey was a part of the Maine Railroad. It starts from the Meredith and continues along the Paugus Bay and Lake Winnipesaukee.
The average journey distance of the train is two hours from Meredith, and its costs $17 for kids and $22 for adults. The train journey is one hour from the beach and charges $14 for children and $20 for adults.
See a Movie at the Weirs Drive-In Theatre:
In NH, several drive-in movie theaters will take you in the past. For example, the Weirs Drive-In movie theater shows films from 1949 in the summer and spring months. This theater has four screens and plays modern and classic films.
The Weirs Drive-In movie theater offers many on-site refreshments, and there is no need to get any items from home. The per-car ticket costs $30 for 4 people and pays $5 for an additional passenger. However, kids under age 4 can freely watch films with family members.
Visit the Breweries of Lake Winnipesaukee:
There are many breweries in NH, but Twin Barns Brewing is top on the list. It has a massive beer collection, board games, food and a big deck. It is a family-friendly brewery, and people love it very much. It is an eight-minute drive away from the beach.
Secondly, visit Bristol town, which has Shacketts Brewing and Woodman’s Brewery Company. Thirdly, go to Wolfeboro, famous for Tavern, Lone Wolfe Brewing, and Burnt Timber Brewing Company. You can also use a taxi service if you don’t have a car or designated driver.
Visit Other Lake Winnipesaukee Towns:
Around Lake Winnipesaukee, each town has its own specialty and is famous for certain things. For example, Meredith is popular for their restaurants, sculptures, shops, and stunning waterfront area.
Secondly, Wolfeboro has America’s oldest summer resort and a downtown area. Moultonborough is famous for its Old Country Store and Castle in the Clouds home. It is the best daytime picnic spot because there are many fun activities.
Where to Stay in Weirs Beach NH
Each person has their choice, but according to our research or personal experience, here are the best options you can consider while visiting Lake Winnipesaukee.
High-end:
Lakeview Inn & Cottages is the best option and a nice place to stay during your visit. The hotel offers many facilities that make your trip more memorable. You can enjoy a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, outdoor seating, a Barbeque facility, a picnic area, and breakfast.
They offer different cottages and rooms with futons, kitchens, amazon TVs, and other facilities. The rooms are well decorated with a beautiful wood-paneled cabin. It is a couple and family-friendly spot due to its location. The cottage is 5 minutes walk away from Winnipesaukee Pier.
Mid-range:
Grand View Motel and Cottages is the best mid-range option. Its accommodations are a bit old but are extremely clean, renovated, comfortable, and offer cozy quilts.
They offer different chairs to enjoy the special moments. For example, use Adirondack Chair to see the stunning views of M.S. Mount Washington Lake. A Wicker Chair is used to watch the Fireworks Shows on their porch.
Budget:
Half Moon Motel & Cottages is considered the best-budgeted hotel, and many families love their facilities. It has a swimming pool and clean or comfortable rooms with quick access to the lake.
Below are the favorite options that are available for rent.
- The condo is the top choice to save money. It offers two-bedroom with 2 full bathrooms, a kitchen, and a walk-out balcony to entertain the stunning lake views. In accommodations playground, water pool, laundry, and tennis court facility are available for guests.
- A waterfront home is a great place with three-bed. The home comes with a boat dock.
- The purple Victorian-style home is a little expensive but has many features. Here you can get a bathroom with a tub/shower combo, internet, heater, work desk, fireplace, eat-in kitchen, satellite or cable, air conditioning, and other facilities.
Best Time to Visit Weirs Beach
It is the best summer destination because there are many fun activities. The biggest tourist crowds come from June to August, and accommodation prices sharply increase at that time. In mid of October, the lake expresses stunning views because, at that time, the fall foliage is at its peak, which increases the lake’s beauty.
However, if you experience a pleasant time, you can go in the off-season when there is extremely quiet. At that time, kids go back to their schools.
Laconia Motorcycle Week, or aka bike week, is the biggest event of the year at the lake. It is trendy and starts each year in mid of June.
Tourists come each year to enjoy the motorcycle rally because it is the world’s oldest rally. Most roads remained closed at that time due to the massive crowd, and you could only walk on the rods.
In the end, if you plan to visit during that month, you should book accommodations early. However, if you hate motorcycle roars, you should not visit during that time.
How to Get to Weirs Beach
There are different options to visit the beach, but driving is the most convenient option because it is in Laconia town. If you come from Concord, a drive takes 45 minutes. Require a one-hour-long drive for the people of Manchester. And from Boston, it takes a one-hour and 45-minute drive.
If you see the famous neon sign, it means you have reached your destination. Don’t worry about the parking because many places are available around the beach.
The average per-hour parking cost at many spots is around $1. You can also use a credit card if you don’t have paper money. The bus line and public transportation are also working.
Is Weirs Beach worth it?
Yes, it has excellent worth, and many people love to visit and enjoy many fun activities. It’s affordable, a fun, family-friendly, and stunning vacation destination. Visiting in the summertime is beautiful because there are several things to do during that month.
Conclusion
By summing up, it is a well-known vacation destination in the Lakes Region. The beach has many attractions for everyone. The provided list and information are helpful to make your plan to travel to the beautiful place easily.
FAQs
Q. What town is Weirs Beach in?
It is located in Laconia town.
Q. Can you swim at Weirs Beach?
Yes, but the best swimming time is from June to August.
Q. Does it cost money to go to Weirs Beach?
No, it is free for visitors with no admission ticket. However, you have to pay some parking charges that are also very minimal.
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
