No matter how much time you spend in the Lakes Region, you will never run out of areas that beg to be explored. Lake Winnipesaukee is an undertaking in itself! With 240 miles of shoreline, 72 square miles of surface area, and a length of 28 miles, it could take months (or even years!) of diligent exploration to cover it all. After chatting with a few locals, as well as some of our seasoned Meredith Bay residents, I have come up with a few different options to get you around the lake…it’s up to you to pick the adventure!

Planes: For the more adventurous set, there are seaplane and biplane tours that will give you a whole new perspective of Lake Winnipesaukee and the surrounding area. The seaplane tour starts off in Paugus Bay and loops towards Meredith then back around to Governor’s Island. This is the perfect way to get a feel for how the different towns are situated around the lake!

Trains: If you are at all familiar with the Lakes Region, then you probably already know about the Winnipesaukee Railroad. The railroad line was originally constructed in 1849 and was part of the Boston & Maine Railroad that brought passengers to the Weirs Beach area for their summer vacations. The route travels through many of the lake resorts and backyards of many beautiful homes between Lakeport and Meredith and is always in view of the lake!

Automobiles: Who doesn’t love a good road trip? The 63-mile drive can be done in about 2 hours (depending on traffic) but I would highly recommend making a day of it! Each town on the route offers different experiences and local history, as well as a plethora of restaurants and road side food stands. You can follow the GPS coordinates from the link or take some time to customize your own excursion! If it’s just you and a partner, a motorcycle makes for a great open-air alternative.

Boats: What better way to explore the lake itself than to hop aboard the M/S Mt. Washington? The fleet, based out of Weirs Beach, is composed of two other smaller vessels as well: US Mail Boat, Sophie C., and M/V Doris E. The company offers dinner/sunset cruises as well as kid-friendly day cruises, with the smaller sister vessels being used primarily for island tours. If you’re looking for a scenic brunch spot, they offer a Champagne brunch tour on Sundays from Weirs Beach and Alton Bay!

Bikes: For those of you that are looking to get a little exercise while exploring the area, a bike tour is perfect. Making the whole 63-mile trek would be quite the mission. Breaking it down into increments allows you to take your time and enjoy the scenery!