Where to Stay in the Lakes Region by Kim Knox Beckius
From lakefront cottages to family-oriented motels and sprawling resorts, you'll have your choice of intimate accommodations or grand lodgings.
Christmas Island Family Resort (630 Weirs Boulevard, Laconia, 603-366-4378 or 800-832-0631, www.christmasresort.com) offers a variety of Winnipesaukee lakefront accommodations including motel rooms, efficiency apartments, and housekeeping cottages. Whichever you choose, your family will have access to two private beaches, a boat dock, and an indoor pool. Anchorage at the Lake (725 Laconia Road, Tilton, 603-524-3248, www.anchorageatthelake.com) on Lake Winnisquam has thirty rustic cottages with screened front porches and thirty private acres for peaceful recreation.
Looking for a larger hotel or resort? The Inns at Mill Falls (312 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 800-622-6455, www.millfalls.com) is a complex that actually includes four country inns, a covered bridge, a spa, and a marketplace with adorable shops, galleries, and seven restaurants — all overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. The selection of getaway packages is unparalleled, so be sure to ask about deals that include meals, skiing, spa treatments, or sightseeing excursions. The Margate on Winnipesaukee (76 Lake Street, Laconia, 603-524-5210, www.themargate.com) is a family-friendly, full-service hotel that boasts its own private white-sand beach, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, and a gazebo beach bar. The charming Wolfeboro Inn (90 North Main Street, Wolfeboro, 603-569-3016, www.wolfeboroinn.com) was built in 1812 as a private residence and has expanded to feature forty-four guest rooms and a casual New England pub. Shalimar Resort (660 Laconia Road/Route 3, Winnisquam, 603-524-1984 or 800-742-5462, www.shalimar-resort.com) offers guests an indoor pool and a private beach, plus free use of paddleboats, rowboats, and canoes.
Renting a vacation home for a week or more is also a popular option in the Lakes Region. Preferred Vacation Rentals (Route 25, Center Harbor, 603-253-7811, www.preferredrentals.com) provides an extensive online directory of hundreds of available rental properties, or call for a free brochure.
Contact the Lakes Region Association (603-744-8664 or 800-605 2537, www.lakesregion.org) for additional lodgings assistance.
TRAVEL TIP
The New Hampshire Campground Owners' Association has 140 members, so campers have plenty of choices in all the state's diverse regions. The association's online campground directory, www.ucampnh.com, is a great place to start your search. New Hampshire also boasts more than a dozen state parks that offer everything from tent sites to full RV hookups. For complete information and state park camping reservations, call 603-271-3628.
