New EKAL Activity Center Offers Fun Ways to Experience Lake Winnipesaukee

Scott Crowder stands outside the new EKAL Activity Center

Visitors to the Lakes Region of New Hampshire have always found a variety of ways to enjoy the water in the summertime. From swimming and waterskiing to sailing and speed boating, there is something for everyone here. One of the best ways to get on the water and explore is with a canoe or kayak, and now it’s even easier for guests and residents of Meredith to hop in and paddle, as a new activity center has opened on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee.

The new EKAL Activity Center in Meredith is part retail shop and part learning center, providing visitors with rentals of kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle boards (SUP), and old-fashioned pedal boats, as well as lessons in how to best use the equipment. The center also offers guided tours of the lake on any of these watercrafts. Ekal opened last weekend to beautiful weather and people eager to begin a fun summer on the lake! Read the rest of this entry »

Birch Lodge and Boathouse Lodge Officially Opening!

The finished Lodges at Church Landing

After eight months of construction and a lot of anticipation, the new Lodges at the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls will be opening their doors this weekend to welcome their very first guests, and will be celebrated at the official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony this coming Tuesday, June 19^th.

The Birch Lodge and the Boathouse Lodge at Church Landing comprise the latest expansion at the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls, adding 13 deluxe lake-view rooms and suites in two new buildings connected to Church Landing by a covered cedar walkway. Construction began last September and continued non-stop right up to this week, when staff at the Inns pitched in to help clean up, assemble furniture, and get everything in place for guests. Read the rest of this entry »

Meredith Becoming Another NH Antique Alley?

When folks think of heirloom and period piece shopping destinations, New Hampshire’s “Antique Alley” on Route 4 in Northwood usually comes to mind, but there are a few other little towns in the Granite State that have a growing antique and art market, including this quaint village on the edge of Lake Winnipesaukee.

Located in the heart of the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, Meredith is near a lot of old farms and family camps, which have transformed into treasure troves for antiques over the years. Meredith has also become a thriving destination town, thanks to its one-of-a-kind hotels, restaurants, and shops, as well as a lively assortment of events throughout the year. This is a winning combination for antique shops and art galleries in town.

Ted McGuigan recently opened Antiques at Meredith Bay, a new shop on Main Street with a view of the lake. “I opened in February and I’ve been doing well,” says Ted. “Business has been very, very good.  I’m very pleased with Meredith and how it’s promoted.” Ted credits The Greater Meredith Program and the Meredith Rotary Club for supporting the town with various events during each season. “Not many towns do that, so it’s a major plus.” Ted’s customers are tourists as well as local residents, and he carries items that are sourced locally in the Lakes Region. The shop features a wide range of items, from miniscule collectibles, to marble-top tables, to gold and estate jewelry.  Says Ted, “A little bit of everything, something for everybody’s taste, hopefully.” Read the rest of this entry »

Country Carriage a Longtime Favorite at the Mill Falls Marketplace

The vintage counter and glass cases at The Country Carriage

Stepping into the historic Mill building at the Mill Falls Marketplace is like taking a trip through time. The wooden floors and beams show their age and beauty marks from as far back as the early 1800s, but the old and new mingle here seamlessly, bringing a timeless quality to the shops that now inhabit this old linen mill. One of these shops seems to have been born out of the evolution of the mill, melding perfectly with the ambiance of the building. Indeed, The Country Carriage, with its rustic American theme, is the flagship store, having been here since the mill was renovated into the Marketplace in the early 1980s.

Gail Putnam has owned and managed The Country Carriage for nearly 28 years, “since before the first [Mill Falls] Inn was even built,” she says. The Mill Falls Marketplace opened with a handful of stores in 1984, and in June the following year, the ribbon was cut at The Inn at Mill Falls. “I have personally been here this entire time,” says Gail. “I think we are the first—well the only—original store and store owner.” Some of the other stores have been at the Marketplace from the beginning, but have changed hands since that time. Read the rest of this entry »

“Material Girls” Gather to Sew and Reconnect at Mill Falls

A few Material Girls

Since this lakeside NH resort opened in 1985, it has hosted many groups of people who return year after year for business conferences, corporate retreats, and special social events. One family has even been gathering at the Inn at Mill Falls for its annual reunion for over 25 years! But there is one group of friends who have a distinctive place in the Inns’ varied history—they love it here so much that they come back for their reunions not just once, but twice every year.

The Material Girls Quilting Group has been coming to The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls since 2000 for their biannual getaway weekends, every March and November, when they set up their sewing room for a few days of sharing ideas, working on individual projects, and nurturing longtime friendships. In the Cummings Room at the Inn at Mill Falls, the sound of laughter can often be heard over the hum of the machines. Read the rest of this entry »

The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls Launches Free Mobile App for iPhone & Android

This well-loved resort on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, while honoring tradition and simple pleasures, continues to stay current and cutting edge in the modern world of travel. The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls has implemented many green initiatives, prides itself on a world-class spa, and offers complimentary Internet access with its property wide WiFi network.  Now the Inns can boast another trend-setting milestone—it is one of the first lodging properties in New Hampshire to launch a free and customized iPhone & Android mobile application.

“Visitors and guests can download the free Mill Falls App to explore the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls and all the property has to offer,” says Gail Batstone, General Manager of the Inns at Mill Falls. “We are thrilled to offer this as a guest service because it will help our guests manage their stay, easily find their way around the property, and get quick answers right from their mobile device. When guests arrive, they will be prompted to download the app and they can immediately see images and video, learn about all the hotel amenities and how to access them, and discover upcoming events at the hotel or in an around Meredith.” Read the rest of this entry »

Church Landing one of Top 25 Best Relaxation/Spa Hotels in the U.S.

This lakeside resort has once again been recognized as one of the best places to stay, not only in the Meredith area, but in the entire country as well. Last year, Church Landing at Mill Falls received the Travelers’ Choice® Award by TripAdvisor® as one of the Top 10 Hotels for Romance in the United States, and just a couple weeks ago, TripAdvisor awarded Church Landing this year’s Travelers’ Choice Award as one of the Top 25 Best Relaxation/Spa Hotels in the United States. Church Landing was named 24^th, and is the only New England based property that made the list in this category. Read the rest of this entry »

Inns’ Pet-Friendly Program Continues to Benefit Animals in NH and Beyond

Simon

Not only does this lakeside NH resort provide pet-friendly rooms and services for travelers with animal companions, but through its special Pet-Friendly Program, the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls also helps many animals in need by raising crucial funds for the New Hampshire Humane Society.

Pet-Friendly accommodations at Church Landing and the Inn at Mill Falls are available for an additional $25 fee per pet, which covers additional cleaning costs and amenities such as pet beds, blankets, food dishes, and treats.  The Inns then set aside $10 of this fee for the NHHS in Laconia, NH. Since the program’s inception in 2008, The Inns have donated over $10,500 to NHHS. This money has been put to good use, with several creative community projects that benefit animals and people throughout the region. “The donation of this money is so very much appreciated by the New Hampshire Humane Society and we are so grateful to Rusty McLear, the HHH group, and Mill Falls . . . “ says Mary Di Maria, Executive Director of NHHS, as she recently outlined some of the ways this great organization is putting those donations into service: Read the rest of this entry »

Family Celebrates 25 Years of Reunions at The Inns

The Hinchey/Smith/Burbine family, 2011

On the second weekend of every December, this lakeside village becomes home to an extended family that has been gathering in Meredith for nearly 30 years and began staying at The Inn at Mill Falls the very first year the doors opened. Since then, the extended Hinchey/Smith/Burbine family has continued to meet at the Inns for their annual Christmas get-together, marking 25 years this December. They say they wouldn’t think of doing it any other way.

When Laura Hinchey moved to Meredith from Rhode Island in the early 1980s, she became the catalyst for the family’s regular treks to the New Hampshire Lakes Region.  In the beginning, the group was small enough to stay at Laura’s home, but every year, the party got “bigger and bigger and bigger,” so when the first Mill Falls Inn opened in 1985, they booked some rooms there.

Most of the sisters, cousins, uncles, grandparents, nieces, and grandchildren travel from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Laura’s home state of Rhode Island, and the group now varies in size from about 45 to about 55 family members each year. Of course, some years there are new babies, and sometimes others can’t make it. “My grandmother came for years and years,” says Laura. “We lost her two years ago at the age of 102, but she did make it for her 100^th birthday. We have quite an age spread as well.  This year, the youngest one here was my great niece, her name is Sophie, and she’s just 2 months, and the oldest was my mother, who celebrated her 75^th birthday that weekend.”

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Mill Falls gets INN the Spirit of Giving

For the past eight years, the staff at this Lakes Region resort has been bringing smiles to elders in the community by fulfilling their Christmas wishes as surprise gifts, warming the hearts of everyone around them.

In December of 2004, The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls and the Meredith Station started a wonderful tradition of bringing gifts to the residents of the Belknap County Nursing Home in Laconia, NH.  Pat Wade, Manager of the Meredith Station, visits the nursing home every year and selects several ornaments from their Christmas tree. Each ornament details a resident’s holiday wishes, which might include favorite sweets, a new cardigan sweater, or fun jewelry.  “We have a lot of ladies who like to doll up,” says Ann Kyle, Activities Director for the home.

Out of the 94 current residents and their ornaments this year, The Inns chose 41 for their gift giving.  Ann explained that Sacred Heart and Saint Joseph’s Church also help with the gifts.  “We have very generous people in the community who are wonderful to our residents,” she says. Read the rest of this entry »