A burst of warm weather & the crisp air of autumn has extended our fall this year. New Hampshire’s Lakes Region has transformed into a palette of more color than a Henri Mattice painting. Though we’re slightly past peak foliage, the color still pops like an orchestra in Boston. Many camps have been closed for the season and the festivities of fall are well under way. This weekend, many will congregate in downtown Laconia for the annual Pumpkin Festival. But there are so many activities yet to enjoy.
1. Scenic Drives and Leaf Peeping
The Lakes Region is renowned for its stunning fall foliage, and one of the best ways to take in the color is by embarking on a scenic drive. As you wind through the picturesque roads that surround the lakes, there are numerous farm stands, restaurants and unique shops where local artisans showcase their talents in food, crafts, and other artistic delights.
While on that drive, you’ll surely pass many trailheads offering hiking for all skill and fitness levels. The moderate 3.8-mile round-trip climb of Mount Major offers spectacular views of Lake Winnipesaukee. For a shorter, more family-friendly option, Rattlesnake Mountain in Holderness provides a quick 1.4-mile hike with stunning views of Squam Lake and the surrounding foliage.
For something a bit more challenging, The Ossipee Mountains on the north side of Lake Winnipesaukee is surrounded by moderate to hard-level trails. If you’ve ever wondered why the Ossipee Range is round, it’s known as a Ring Dike. One of many discovered throughout the Earth. Geologists believe it was formed 1.2 million years ago from a collapsed volcano. Many have found volcanic rocks throughout the region.
3. Apple Picking and Harvest Festivals
There are many farms throughout the Lakes Region offering PYO apples, corn mazes, and all kinds of fall activities. Apple cider, fresh sugar doughnuts, and harvest vegetables. Many have locally sourced meats and dairy as well.
5. Wine Tasting and Craft Beer
Autumn is also a time to savor the flavors of the Lakes Region. Hermit Woods Winery in Meredith offers tastings of locally made wines, including their signature fruit wines that pair perfectly with the fall season. Many of the wines feature ingredients grown right in New Hampshire, giving you a taste of the region’s agricultural bounty.
For craft beer enthusiasts, a visit to one of the region’s many breweries are a must. Twin Barns Brewing Company & Kettlehead Brewing in Meredith and Lone Wolfe Brewing Company in Wolfeboro offer seasonal brews that capture the essence of fall. Sip on a pumpkin ale or an Oktoberfest-style lager. Beans and Greens in Gilford offers great food and craft beer from Notch Brewing Company, along with live music and lots of fun activities for the whole family, like the popular corn maze.
6. Haunted Attractions and Halloween Fun
For those looking to add a little spookiness to their fall experience, the Lakes Region offers plenty of Halloween-themed activities. From spooky mazes and trunk-or-treats to the terrifying Haunted Overload in Lee, New Hampshire. Though a bit of a drive, this is one of the most impressive, haunted attractions in the country, with elaborate sets and terrifying actors. Of course, the peak of the spooky season closes with trick-or-treating.
7. Cozy Retreats and Firepit Evenings
After a day of exploring, there’s nothing better than cozying up by a fire. Many of the region’s inns and lodges offer outdoor firepits, perfect for warming up on a cool fall evening. Consider staying at places like Mill Falls at the Lake in Meredith or The Wolfeboro Inn, both of which offer a charming atmosphere and easy access to nearby fall activities.
8. Ready for the Next season
As Summer has long faded and Fall is winding down, the leaves bid their final farewell as we turn the next page in our four seasons of fun. Jay Peak, Stow Mountain, and Sugarbush ski areas in Vermont were recently roused with an early snowfall of up to 12 inches of fresh powder in some places. As many of our previous winters past have netted relatively little snow, those who love to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, snowmobile, ice fish, or just plain love the beauty of the fresh white blanket of fresh snow, this could be a great forecast of the season to come. Plus, many acorns are falling another sign of a productive winter. Many ski resorts throughout New Hampshire are already preparing for the upcoming ski season, there’s still time to enjoy a scenic chairlift ride to the peak of Gunstock Mountain for a spectacular view of the Lakes Region.
There really is no place like the Lakes Region. Whether you live here full-time, part-time, or just visit from time to time, New Hampshire always feels like home. From the lakes to the mountains to the forests and all the towns within, the region offers a sense of peace and a connection to nature that’s hard to find elsewhere. Every season brings its own beauty and adventure, creating a place where memories are made and cherished year after year, generation after generation.
As Thomas Starr King once mused “A visit to New Hampshire supplies the most resources to a traveler, and confers the most benefit on the mind and taste, when it lifts him above mere appetite for wildness, ruggedness, and the feeling of mass and precipitous elevation, into a perception and love of the refined grandeur, the chaste sublimity, the airy majesty overlaid with tender and polished bloom, in which the landscape splendor of a noble mountain lies.”
This article was written by Randy Miller. Randy is a Realtor® at Roche Realty Group in Meredith, NH, and can be reached at (603) 279-7046. Please feel free to visit www.rocherealty.com to learn more about the Lakes Region and its real estate market.
