How many lakes and ponds does it take to make a Lakes Region? In New Hampshire, the answer is 273. If you love lakes and the quiet, calming influence a day on or beside the water can have, you may actually find yourself emitting a squeal of delight when you catch your first glimpses of these sparkling blue gems as you drive the region's rolling, winding roads.

The crown jewel is Lake Winnipesaukee, the state's largest lake. It's 182 miles around, covers 72 square miles, and contains 238 confirmed islands — some estimates put the number over 300. The lake's unusual shape and jagged coastline provide for sheltered coves, bays, and inlets that create a sort of optical illusion, making Winnipesau-kee appear much less enormous from many perspectives. Situated around the lake you'll find storybook New England towns, private residential areas, resorts, and even a carnival-esque boardwalk area at Weirs Beach.

While your natural tendency may be to gravitate toward the big blue diamond that is Winnipesaukee, don't overlook some of the region's smaller, less crowded, and less hurried lakes, including Squam Lake, Winnisquam Lake, and Newfound Lake.