Lake Winnipesaukee is a hidden gem that you must visit

Lake Winnipesaukee is known for being New Hampshire’s largest lake. It is a fabulous destination for boating and fishing in summer, and snowmobiling in the winter. During autumn the surrounding towns turn into spectacular fall colors. This is simply a must-visit destination when you’re in the area.

Located in the Belknap and Carroll counties, east-central New Hampshire, U.S. this gem lies at the foothills of the White Mountains east of Laconia.

A beautiful autumn destination

Alton
Center Harbor
Gilford
Laconia
Meredith
Moultonborough
Tuftonboro
Wolfeboro – Also known as “the oldest summer resort in America”

Have some fun and enjoy the outdoors.

Mount Major is a 1,785-foot summit that can be reached via a 1.5-mile hike. It is suitable for all hikers and has the best views in the Lakes Region.
Outdoor recreation on the lake.
Gunstock Mountain Resort is a family-friendly resort with everything you might want; from beautiful hikes and views to zipline tours, treetop adventures, lift rides, and ski slopes.
Wild Meadow Paddlesports is the place to visit for paddleboarding, renting kayaks/canoes, and having some fun on the water.
Go for a picnic along the shores of this beautiful lake and enjoy the majestic mountain backdrop and a family-fun day.

“It is approximately 21 miles (34 km) long (northwest-southeast) and from 1 to 9 miles (1.6 to 14.5 km) wide (northeast-southwest), covering 69 square miles (179 km2)—71 square miles (184 km2) when Paugus Bay is included—with a maximum depth of 180 feet (55 m).

The lake contains at least 264 islands, half of which are less than 0.25 acres (0.10 ha) in size, and is indented by several peninsulas, yielding a total shoreline of approximately 288 miles (463 km). The driving distance around the lake is 63 miles (101 km). It is 504 feet (154 m) above sea level. Winnipesaukee is the third-largest lake in New England after Lake Champlain and Moosehead Lake.”

There are many beautiful places to stay some with really spectacular views across the lake.

But the area is lovely so if you cannot find a place to stay right on the lake, some of your outdoor adventures (refer above suggestions) will definitely take you to places with panoramic views.

Below we also give you a few suggestions of where to stay. However, Lake Winnepesaukee is also famous for its appearance in quite a few movies.

As Lake Winnipesauke is such a beautiful place, it is no wonder that many films can be linked in some way to this beautiful spot:

Some boating scenes from the 1981 Academy Award-winning film On Golden Pond were shot on the lake.
The 1991 comedy movie What About Bob? was set at Lake Winnipesaukee, although the actual filming was done at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.
The 2006 comedy Click has a flashback depicting Adam Sandler as a kid playing on a beach on Lake Winnipesaukee.
And many more….

Where to stay: Winnipesaukee | Find your perfect vacation spot.

Center Harbor Inn

Paddleboard, pedal boat, kayak, dock slips, and moorings are available for rent. Rooms have private balconies and you can relax on the Inn's private sandy beach.

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