Water is a life force in New Hampshire during the summer, with natives and tourists flocking to spots where we can enjoy the cool refreshment of lakes, rivers, or the ocean. There’s nothing quite as great as strolling around a waterside town in the spring sunshine. Here are 8 charming waterfront towns where you can start your celebration of spring.
1. Meredith
This is one of the biggest towns on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, but that doesn’t take away from its charm. Meredith has public docking and a boardwalk along the bay, offering beautiful views over Meredith Bay to the mountains beyond. Craft fairs are common during the summer, and the Mill Falls shopping space offers great browsing year round.
2. North Hampton
A bit further up the coast from the bright lights and big crowds of Hampton Beach, North Hampton offers a quieter and more rugged view of the New Hampshire coast. Check out Fuller Gardens where the man-made beauty will take your breath away, look at the historic mansions and then head over to the rocky beach to watch the surfers, who are out year round.
3. Wolfeboro
Another lake on the shores of Winnipesaukee, Wolfeboro provides small-town charm with views from the southern side of the lake. Check out the historic downtown, and be sure to check out the Wright Museum of WWII and the New Hampshire Boat Museum.
4. Littleton
This charming town in the White Mountains is tucked between two rivers, with the Ammonoosuc running through town and the Connecticut River providing a border. Littleton is a perfect place to stretch your legs and get lunch during a drive through the White Mountains.
5. Sunapee
Tucked in the middle of New Hampshire in the Shadow of Mount Sunapee, this small lakeside town is brimming with charm. Check out restaurants and shopping, and be sure to look into the summer concert series.
6. Holderness
Holderness is smaller than other waterside towns, but what it lacks in shopping it makes up for in natural beauty and adventures. Stroll through covered bridges, rent kayaks on Squam Lake, check out the Squam Lake Science Center, or hike to the top of Rattlesnake Mountain to enjoy sweeping views over the town.
7. Woodsville
Woodsville is a small town with a big dose of natural beauty. The junction of the Ammonoosuc and Connecticut rivers and the rolling hills of the Vermont border give this small town a very charming feel.
8. Moultonborough
This northern-most town on Lake Winnipesaukee is popular with visitors. The small town on the shores of the lake is a stop for the Mount Washington boat, which brings tourists into town. The Old Country store has everything you could possibly want or need, and if you venture away from the lake’s shores the Castle In The Clouds offers breathtaking views from an old mansion overlooking the lake.
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