Where can you wake up to the smell of pines and the gentle sound of waves lapping at the shore? Where can you swim out into the water without having to worry about snakes, alligators, and sharks? Where can you find a haven away from the chaos of the world and yet be close to fine restaurants and top-level entertainment?
Where can you be immersed to your neck and still see your feet through clear sparkling water? Where can you drive down a road with a beautiful expanse of water only a few feet away and majestic mountains in the distance?
There is only one answer to these questions – Lake Winnipesaukee in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Winnipesaukee is New Hampshire’s largest lake with a shoreline of 240 miles and 274 islands, the largest being Long Island at 1,186 acres. Six islands are connected to the mainland by bridges. Another eight islands are served by the M/V Sophie C. The lake is 22.9 miles long and 7.5 miles wide with a maximum depth of 213 feet. Winnipesaukee is a glacial lake that covers 71 square miles. It is the 3rd largest lake in New England after Lake Champlain and Moosehead Lake. The driving distance around the lake is 63 miles. It is reported that it contains 625 billion gallons of water – that’s a lot of H2O. Lake Winnipesaukee has been a popular tourist destination for more than a century. There are eight communities that surround the lake, including Wolfeboro, which is the oldest summer resort town in the U.S. The Mount Washington boat provides scenic cruises. The lake freezes over during the winter months providing numerous winter activities – bob houses dot the lake and snowmobiles skim by.
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH, was rated the #1 retirement place in the country under the category “leisure living for recreational and cultural opportunities” (rated by MacMillian Travel – fifth edition of Retirement Places Rated.)
Many people have already discovered New Hampshire’s natural spa as evidenced by the ratings on Tripadvisor® where they give Lake Winnipesaukee the highest reviews and attest to the matchless attraction of the lake. One reviewer from Texas writes that “paradise begins here…a little bit of heaven here on earth.” A reviewer from Maine says Lake Winnipesaukee is “not your ordinary lake…the is the dreamiest lake I have ever been to.” Lake Winnipesaukee is labeled as a “must see” with water “perfect for swimming and boating.”
One reviewer calls the lake “amazing every day.” Lori G. says, “Wherever we went, whatever road we drove on, the view was absolutely stunning.” One Massachusetts reviewer describes the Lakes Region as the perfect place to “swim, fish, boat, shop, eat fabulous food, and catch local farmers markets, fairs, and parades…animal lovers will watch bald eagles fly and loons swim by.” Sharon D. from Los Angeles names her time at the lake as “the high point of my year where I can float on my back and stare up at the pine trees against the blue sky.” A visitor from India found Lake Winnipesaukee “one of the cleanest and most pristine lakeshores…with crystal clear fresh water, making short waves on the beach.” The sentiment in all the reviews is summed up by a reviewer from Massachusetts: “Lake Winnipesaukee has it all – fishing, boating, hunting, motorcycle rallies, wildlife, shopping, history, arcades, night life, and a life time of memories.”
Yankee Magazine writes, “The cool thing about Winni is that everyone can find his or her place”. New York Travel mentions Lake Winnipesaukee as a “boaters paradise.” The lake is described in Boston Magazine as the “sapphire-blue giant of New Hampshire’s famed Lakes Region.”
It’s time for you to discover Lake Winnipesaukee as well. Come join the adventure.
This post was written by Mary O’Neill.
