Looking to get to know Lake Winnipesaukee

[adventurelass]

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Hi everyone,
Seems as though there are many knowledgeable people on this forum. What a blessing!
I'm thinking of relocating from CT to this area and am going to be coming up to paddle the lake in my kayak and check out the surrounds from the water--at the end of this month. Probably around the 26th of October.
Can anyone suggest a great, year-round, reasonably-priced cottage/motel to stay in?
What are your favorite boat launch sites for kayaks?
Are there places I should be sure not to miss?
Thanks!
Adventurelass[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE]

[Lakegeezer]

Adventurelass - you have a major project in front of you to get to know the area. Hard to do in a week, and there are some major choices to make if you plan to relocate. The best start, in my opinion, is to drive around the lake. That is about a 90 mile ride, so give it at least 1/2 day. Buy a boater's map, and stop a lot, just so you can see the coves, the bays, the marinas. Drive down some roads. Check out Alton, Wolfeboro, Center Harbor, Meredith, Paugus, Weirs Beach. Then, start poking around some of the quiet areas with your kayak. This is a good time of year to use a kayak, because there is a lot less traffic, but its a huge lake. Remember the age old advice of how to eat an elephant. One bite at a time. The north-eastern parts of the lake are quiet. The Weirs area is a zoo. Winter Harbor is protected. The Varnies are too. Paugus bay is locked off from the rest of the lake during the summer due to a choke point. What are you looking for? I can't recommend a motel/cottage, but you should check out the classifieds in Winnipesaukee.com. As for entry points - there are dozens. My favorite is Lees Mills. You can kayak up to a waterfalls that enters the lake from Lees Pond. At 19 mile bay, you can go under the bridge and up the river about 1/2 mile. Another excellent kayak. It takes years to know the lake. Don't settle down too quickly. Good luck.

[Outlaw]

Here's a site you can check out in terms of places to stay. http://www.laconia-weirs.org/html/motel.htmlMany close down after Columbus Day, so definitely call ahead and check out the ones yoou like.

[adventurelass]

Many thanks to both Lakegeezer and Outlaw. Your information will be much appreciated. I WILL just drive up, with kayak on roof, and drive all the way around the lake first. Then I can choose which area to settle in, during this first look-around.
Geezer, thanks for the link! I'll cross-check that with an AAA book, which will tell me quickly which are open after Columbus Day. And Outlaw, I'll check out your launch sites.
I'm very psyched.
Hope you're having a superb and beautiful autumn!
Adventurelass (Melissa)

[meredith necker]

Glad you are coming up. Don't forget that we are further north than you are so it is colder up here. There aren't many boats on the lake now, many cottages have been closed up so if you are on the lake and get in trouble there won't be many people to save you - safety first; make sure you are prepared! You'll never paddle all around the lake in a week; as others have noted it probably would be better if you chose a couple of areas to explore. Have you seen the lake in the summer? It is radically different then.

[Mr Port Jefferson]

Many thanks to both Lakegeezer and Outlaw. Your information will be much appreciated. I WILL just drive up, with kayak on roof, and drive all the way around the lake first. Then I can choose which area to settle in, during this first look-around.
Geezer, thanks for the link! I'll cross-check that with an AAA book, which will tell me quickly which are open after Columbus Day. And Outlaw, I'll check out your launch sites.
I'm very psyched.
Hope you're having a superb and beautiful autumn!
Adventurelass (Melissa)
Wow!! I want to hear all about your new adventures at the lake - let us know how your doing and where you decided upon to settle - it is something I'd love to do so I would like to live through you vicariously for a while if I could!
Thanks!