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And it’s just two hours from Boston.
Just two hours from Boston, the small town of Meredith, New Hampshire, sits at the intersection of Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Waukewan, and their surrounding watersheds. Hemmed in by pine trees and dotted with boats, its 14 miles of inland water area are a magnet for year-round family fun.
But it’s also Meredith’s history, food, and community that stands out among its larger Lakes Region siblings. A historic mill at the center of town powered textile, saw, and grist mills starting in the 1700s, and now a charming wooden marketplace houses small boutique businesses here. Historic trains and mail boats reflect an industrial legacy, while country inns adopt a slower pace. Wherever you go and stay, from the moment you drive down the hill on Daniel Webster Highway and spot the waterfront, you’ll feel the down-to-earth mood in Meredith.
Where to Eat and Drink
In the heart of downtown, the Mill Falls Marketplace is an old-school retail and dining venue overlooking the historic mill waterfall. Everyone in the family will find something here, from coffee to treats to books, so prepare to go in different directions and reconvene later in the courtyard to show off your goodies.
The kids will be thrilled to discover almost every type of candy, including nut-free options, at Lee’s Candy Kitchen, while adults may opt for a white chocolate ube matcha or cold brew from Identity Coffee Co. Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Ristorante is a jovial meeting spot if you’re craving Italian—don’t miss the gourmet pizza and lobster ravioli in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce. Finish the afternoon with a little light reading at Innisfree Bookshop, a sweatshirt from Great Northern Trading Company for chilly nights on the lake, or a special New Hampshire-made home gift from The Nest.
Return to the Marketplace for Winni-Toast (avocado, bacon, egg, spinach, tomato, and a basil aioli over sourdough) at Blissful Cafe & Bakery, where you’ll also score a waterfall view. Pick up sandwiches and snacks at Moulton Farm for a beach or hiking picnic, or cozy up at a table in Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant for The Gobbler sandwich (turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo on brioche).
A visit to the Hermit Woods Winery tasting room may challenge your perception of what wine can be. There are craft vintages from more than two dozen nonconventional fruits, like elderberries, peaches, quince, plums, and strawberries. Bottles of the Petite Blue Reserve, for example, feature a pound of wild blueberries, producing a flavor that resembles traditional French Burgundy, while five different varieties of kiwi berries grown at the University of New Hampshire create the Sav Blanc-style flavor profile of the Meredith Bay White.
In the evening, the lakefront-meets-mountain environment inspires the menu at Lakehouse Grille. Menu items include seafood galore, pork porterhouse, and duck confit tacos with blood orange marmalade.
Where to Play
Lake Winnipesaukee has a reputation for swimming, boating, paddling, and other water activities. You can BYO kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and boats via the public boat ramps at Meredith’s Hesky Park, Lovejoy Sands Road, and Cattle Landing. Or, rent equipment at Elevated Wake Co., which also hires boats, offers wakeboarding and waterski tours, and even dispatches a coach to teach you boat-handling techniques.
For a gentler excursion, take the U.S. Mailboat Cruise on M/V Sophie C and help the skipper deliver mail to the lake’s summer island residents, a tradition since 1945. Alternately, hop aboard the nostalgic Winnipesaukee Railway for a two-hour cruise through the woods on the 19th-century Boston-Concord-Montreal line.
The magic of Meredith lies in its diverse offerings, and because it’s a gateway to the White Mountains, it’s also a playground for mountain biking, hiking, and alpine exploration. For a softer start, stroll the roughly mile-long Laverack Nature Trail boardwalk from town to Prescott Park. More adventurous visitors can take the 1.7-mile loop trail and bathe in the sounds of the 190-acre managed forest at Waukewan Highlands Community Park, or ride the Red Trail around wetlands and beaver habitat at Meredith Community Forest,
Where to Stay
Lakefront is the place to be in Meredith, and Mill Falls Resort Collection at the Lake has several accommodations where you can wake up to the sound of gentle waves. Church Landing on the hilltop is the main lodge, with spa and restaurants on site, while Chase House, Palmer Inn, and Bay Point outposts pepper the shoreline with top-notch service.
For a more pastoral setting, The Nutmeg Inn is an 18th-century country farmstead with eight guest rooms named after herbs and spices. Also on site, a billiard room and seasonal swimming pool are ideal social gathering spots.
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