Summer Vacation help

[KellyRicker]

My husbands father spent many summers on Lake Winnipesaukee. He has told many stories on how beatiful and perfect place it is. My family and I are planning a vacation to visit the Lake Winnipesaukee promblem is we live out of state and never been to New Hampshire, we have no clue where to stay and I need help.

Last year we travled south and had a bad experience by going by the brochure and web site. Travel expedia right on target thou and I did not listen.

I am looking for a very nice resort, with kid activies, indoor/outdor pool, and hopefully alot more. The rooms must have kitchen, washer and dryer, and most of all cable for kids when needed. Please help me in this matter Myrtle Beach was a disater last year for us. Other familes will be travling but staying in different room. I want my children to be able to tell the stories their grandfather tells about how perfect it is .

[Mink Islander]

here's the link. This is the newest/nicest high-end hotel on the lake.

http://www.millfalls.com/regularpages/churchlanding.htm

[dpg]

Your asking for alot in a motel/hotel in my opinion. Your best bet is to rent a private home/condo preferably on the water if your budget allows. Try Google and simply type in Winnipesaukee Realtors or something like that, you'll get plenty of leads to call and/or email. You can stay a little off the lake - within walking distance and save bundles of $$$.:D

[Phantom]

KellyRicker -- I too agree with the above, your looking for quite a lot out of a hotel -- especially in the Lakes Region. There are not any Resorts that I am aware of that fill the requirements that you list. Your list sounds more like a mountainside condo at a major ski resort al la Aspen or Vail.

Based on your requirements, I too would suggest that you look into renting a cottage (multi-room to handle your friends) and thus forego the pool or look at Condo (s) -- which will usually have pool/tennis/beach and greenspace for the kids to play

A good starting place, that should keep you busy hunting is available right here www.winipesaukee.com click on "Lake Links", then click "Rentals"

Good Luck

[Resident 2B]

KellyRicker,

I agree that you will not find some of what you want in most of our motels/hotels, although we have some great motels/hotels in the area. There are a few with multiple bedrooms, but there are other ways to go.

Condos or larger lake homes are the way to go depending upon your budget. There are several areas of the lake and each is different. In general, the area around Weirs Beach has the most things for kids to do. However, this is also the busiest part of the lake. Wolfboro is also an active area, but less noisy than the Weirs. Meredith offers a lot of shopping and places to go. Center Harbor is smaller and quiet with some great places to eat. Alton is small, but lively. There is something for everyone, it really depends on what you want. If you do not need a dock, the cost of a condo or lake home should be more reasonable. If you are bringing a boat, you must be aware of our boating certification requirements.

This website has great and very accurate information. I rented before buying and I used Strictly Rentals and Preferred Properties with great success. They both have websites that you can find in the lakelinks section of this website. The community pages section gives you a good idea about the different communities.

Also, be sure to take a cruise on the Mount Washington, either during the day or a family evening dinner cruise. You will see the lake from the water. This is the best way the see it!

In addition, the people on this forum will give you more ideas. We all love this area and do our best to make sure first time visitors get good advice.

Enjoy!

[Woodsy]

I think The Margate Resort has both an indoor and an outdoor pool. I know they have an indoor one.

Woodsy

[ghfromaltonbay]

The Summit Resort is a condo/timeshare, but they rent to weekly guests. Their condos have 2 bedrooms, cable, washer/dryers and the recreation building has a pool + game rooms and exercise facilities. There is also an outdoor pool. It's located on White Oaks Rd. in the Weirs. The same company also owns Steele Hill which is the same type of condo develpment but located near Winnisquam. We stayed there in the winter and it was great to use the indoor pool.

[gtxrider]

GH you forgot that The Summit is not far from Waldo Peppers, the Wiers, Funspot, Go Karts..... It is pretty centrally located for most of the activities at the lake!

[Mee-n-Mac]

As already said I think you'll be looking at a rental if you want all the inside ammenities (pool is ???'able though). The hotels in Meredith (Mills Falls people) probably come closet to what you want short of a nice house or condo. Be aware though that they aren't what you'd find in Hawaii or Bermuda or other such vacation spots (they aren't "resorts"). Meredith does have the advantage of being close to shopping and Wiers Beach with the kid activites that can be found there.

[KellyRicker]

I do not want anyone to get the wrong thoughts, it is just that we usually go to Ocean City Maryland because it is close to where we live and they have places that have indoor/outdoor pools such as condos. We had a really bad trip last year at Myrtle Beach area great but the place we stayed really bad, like when my sister's room floor had not been clean and she has twin boys age 1 and the floor had broken glass on it she called front desk and the brought her a broom and said to bring back when done. Each family paid almost 1100 to 2000 for each of there condo and that is alot just do not want to go threw that again and your place here seem so beatiful on the web but still I need feedback we are thinking of The Nordic Inn but also a nice gentleman sent a message of his rental and we maybe looking into that.

[Dave R]

I do not want anyone to get the wrong thoughts, it is just that we usually go to Ocean City Maryland because it is close to where we live and they have places that have indoor/outdoor pools such as condos. We had a really bad trip last year at Myrtle Beach area great but the place we stayed really bad, like when my sister's room floor had not been clean and she has twin boys age 1 and the floor had broken glass on it she called front desk and the brought her a broom and said to bring back when done. Each family paid almost 1100 to 2000 for each of there condo and that is alot just do not want to go threw that again and your place here seem so beatiful on the web but still I need feedback we are thinking of The Nordic Inn but also a nice gentleman sent a message of his rental and we maybe looking into that.

You'll find it a whole lot more laid back than Ocean City. I can highly recommend renting a lake house (with a beach) and a boat. The activities will take care of themselves. A pool would be the last thing on my list of needs with 72 square miles of wonderful lake to play on/in. When we vacation on Winnipesaukee, we hardly ever use the car and just get around by boat. It's wonderful to go grocery shopping, out of ice cream, or out for dinner by boat. We found our rental house right here on this site and it was wonderful and very reasonably priced.

Good luck!

[Merrymeeting]

Kelly,

I would add to the recommendations to look into renting a private cottage. I know many families who have vacationed together in the lakes region and this seems to work out the best.

You really don't need to worry about a pool at the lake. The lake water is cleaner and more refreshing than any pool you've ever been in! As mentioned, there are plenty of activites for the kids in the area. However, if the sun is out and it's warm, you'll find that the lake and a simple rowboat will keep them occupied for days!

If your husbands dad is around to ask, I'd suggest asking him for more detail on what it is he liked about the region. Much has changed in the area since he visited, and your experience can be VERY different depending on the part of the lake you choose.

For example, if you choose the Weirs Beach area, you will have plenty for the kids to do. But you will also find that area more crowded and louder than other places.

If you are looking for the classic "Golden Pond" experience, rent a cottage. The larger resorts won't give you this experience.

Let us know a bit more about what you hope for, and your requirements, and we should be able to give you a few more pointers.

Merrymeeting

[valhala]

To familiarize yourself more with such a large and diverse area, you may want to browse The Lake Winnipesaukee Home Page, and all the Lake Links on the left hand side. You can find Real Estate Agents if you want to rent a cottage for a week, or there are listings for hotel/motel lodging which may give you a feel of the area. There are so many lake side towns to visit and stay, so you need to narrow it down. To name a few; check out Meredith and its' beautiful hotels, resaturants, and market place shops. Wolfeboro is the oldest resort town in America where you will find the Wolfeboro Inn and other lodging. The Weirs Beach area has a beautiful beach with great view for picnicking, swimming, and watching all kinds of boats as they parade through the channell. At the Weirs you will also find funky arcades for the kids, miniature golf, the Hobo Railroad for train rides, and the M/S Mount Washington for a cruise around the lake, or dinner and dancing. You can also rent a small boat yourself for a few hours at Anchor Marine at the Weirs. Check out Elacoya State Park, too. Where ever you decide to stay, most attractions are all within a day trip by car or boat.
Happy Turkey Day...

[NHBUOY]

Hey Kelly..The NORDIC INN is located @ LOON MTN/Lincoln/North Woodstock N.H....That is a 45 min drive to the lake...???

[Liquorish]

Hi Kelly,
After spending many summers at the areas hotels, with my family( 3kids) Margate, Misty Harbor and B.Maes.. We came to the conclusion that B maes had the best rooms (biggest and best value) nice indoor pool, but the beach was a little walk.. However the location is great, very centrally located. The Margate has a nice beach but has become very expensive and the mngmt seems to have aan attitude.. The misty was a bit run down the last time I was there, but that was a while ago (5yrs). Whatever your choice is Winni will be a load of fun for you and your family.
Good luck.

[Phantom]

Kelly Ricker --

Final thoughts -- Two place come close to filling (perhaps) most of your needs and are worth a look into. Both however only do weekly rentals (Sat-Sat) during the season. The set up at each of these places is you rent a small cottage (ranging from 2-3 bedrooms), each cottage is equipped with linens / cooking utensils / etc. and both have fabulous beaches where "little" ones can play and docking if a boat is in your plans.

I can speak to Abakee from personal experiance from MANY years there- It is very children friendly (from the management on down) and is truely a family environment-- it's location by land is extremely (walking distance) close to Wiers Beach, the mini golf & go Karts et al which we've found handy through the years for late afternoon entertainment. As the kids got older they'd go down themselves (a welcomed relief at cocktail hour:look: ) Yet, the facility and the way it is situated is well away the daily bustled associated with the Wiers. In fact when your on the property you have no idea that your so close to the Wiers. There is no pool nor recreation area per se (other than the beach & waterfront) at both facilities and reservations may be tough -- both experiance a serious dose of repeat business year to year.

From your needs description - THIS may fit most of your requirements

Both have web sites -- and can be google'd -- I know abakee's is www.abakeecottages.com

Good Luck

[jkjoshuatree]

The Naswa at Weirs Beach has a lot of what you're looking for. They have canoe's, paddle boats, and fishing off their docks for the kids. The rent cottages by the week (although they're pretty small) that have kitchens with all the utensils and amentities you need. However, the cottages are a little snug and lets' just say, rustic.

There's a beach for the kids and jet ski rentals too. Another warning, they're expensive and they have a governor on the throttle. If you want to rent jet skiis, walk down the road a bit to Handy Landing. The woman there is super nice and they fly.

The restaurant and beach bar have decent food and live entertainment on weekends. But it can be pretty loud and some of the cottages are directly behind where the band plays.

Its centrally located to everything the kids would want, but, like everyone else said, its busier and louder than most other parts of the lake.

A brief rundown of the areas around the lake:

Meredith: Pros:Tons of shopping, 4 upscale hotels, nice restaurants, pretty.
Cons: No water access for the kids (i.e. no public beaches)

Centre Harbor: Pros: Quiet, execellent restaurants, public beach.
Cons: No nightlife, far from kid activities.

Moultonboro: Pros: Extremely quiet and woodsy, beautiful.
Cons: Far from kid activities.

Wolfeboro: Pros: Picture perfect New England-y. Shopping, restaurants.
Cons: A little more expensive.

Alton: Pros: Amazing hikes, very scenic.
Cons: Not too many restaurants or shopping.

Gilford: Pros: Quiet, pretty, great state parks, amazing hikes.
Cons: Parts of Gilford are a little over commercialized.

Weirs Beach: Pros: Everything a kid could want (arcade, waterslides, etc.)
Cons: Loud, busy, not as pretty as the rest of the lake.





Hope that helps.

Overall, I would have to agree with everyone else. Seek out what area you want and rent a cottage from a rental agency.

Good luck.

[rander7823]

Kelly,

I usually take my family and stay at Samoset. We have 3 daughters aged 11, 9 and 7 and they love it. In fact they almost gave up a trip to Disney World to go to the lake instead. They have a pool and a very nice little beach on the lake and it is well located. If you get a waterview/front it is more $$$$ but you get to see the MT Washington go by. The first time the girls saw it go by at night, all lit up, was priceless.

The one thing you have to do though is stay on the Lake.


http://www.samosetnewhampshire.com/