The 4th Annual Pond Hockey Classic Returns to Lake Winnipesaukee

Although an unusually warm winter last year forced the Lakes Region’s event of the season to relocate to a smaller lake due to safety concerns about the ice on Lake Winnipesaukee, this year there is no doubt that the New England Pond Hockey Classic can take place as scheduled on the big lake, and Meredith Bay is already buzzing with activity as the organizers prepare the rinks that will host the region’s biggest pond hockey tournament!

The Pond Hockey Classic has quickly earned a reputation for providing players and fans alike with a traditional, nostalgic, and competitive pond hockey experience. Now in its fourth year, the tournament is fine-tuned and more popular than ever, with the event sold out at 200 teams that will compete for the coveted “WinnipeHockey Cup” on 21 classic rinks next weekend, February 1^st – 3^rd, 2013. Players will be traveling to quaint Meredith Village from as far away as California, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, and various parts of Canada to participate in the 4 v 4 round-robin tournament. Read the rest of this entry »

Fun Lakes Region Activities for the Holiday Break

The feasting is finished and the snow is finally piling up—time to get outside and soak up the remainder of the holiday break! Here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, we’ve got quite a few options for winter activities to enjoy with family and friends (while getting a little exercise, too!) …

Gunstock Mountain Resort has some great events lined up for the week. In addition to their fabulous skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, families might want to check out the schedule of special activities for vacation week. There will be crafting and music in the main lodge on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday from 1:30 – 2:30pm, an instructor from the W.I.L.D. Center will be on hand, featuring a presentation with live animals and a chance for questions and answers. Thanks to yesterday’s storm, Nordic skiing begins this weekend with 5 kilometers of rolled trails and soft snow, and all of the resort’s snowshoe trails are ready, too! Gunstock is planning a spectacular New Year’s Eve, with special tours, sleigh rides, s’mores by the fire, a torch light parade at 11:45pm, and fireworks at midnight! Read the rest of this entry »

Come to the Lakes Region for New Year’s Eve!

New Year’s Eve on Lake Winnipesaukee is promising to be spectacular this year!  There will be so much to do and see, you might want to arrive early and plan to pace yourself so that you’ll be awake to greet 2013 as it rolls in at midnight!

First, head over to Wolfeboro to enjoy some of their First Night activities. First Night Wolfeboro is a community-wide, alcohol-free celebration of the performing arts. There will be a variety of entertainment options at many locations around town, including some really fun activities for children and families starting at 2:00pm. Kids will enjoy face painting, mask making, and hat making, as well as storytellers and interactive live music, and folks of all ages will want to check out the Discovery Dome and Telescopes from the McAuliffe-Shepard Planetarium, and of course, the parade at 5:00 and fireworks at 5:30. The list of events and activities is too long to mention here, so be sure to visit the First Night Wolfeboro website for details. Read the rest of this entry »

Boston Chronicle Visits the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls

Shayna Seymore interviews Rusty McLear.

While The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls and the surrounding village of Meredith, NH are popular Lakes Region destinations, well known to many people within as well as outside the area, these local treasures are about to gain an even wider audience and greater exposure, as they have been featured on a Boston travel show that is scheduled to air tonight!

Shayna Seymore and Bob Oliver from Boston Chronicle visited Meredith last month on October 15^th and 16^th, staying overnight at the Lodges at Church Landing, the latest addition to the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls. The two were in town to film a segment for a series that the show produces called “A Tank Away,” which features great places to visit within a tank of gas from Boston. The special series is filmed every season, and the Chronicle crew timed their visit to coincide with the peak of fall foliage in the Lakes Region. Read the rest of this entry »

Columbus Day Weekend in the Lakes Region

Fall Foliage Special Train, Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad

This is the pinnacle of the season—the sun is warm, the air is crisp, and the colors throughout the Lakes Region are glorious—welcome to autumn in New England! For residents and visitors to New Hampshire, the high point of fall has long been Columbus Day Weekend, when peak colors often coincide with the three-day holiday. This year is no exception, with the foliage expected to be very colorful in the central part of the state over the next few days. Here are some fun ways to enjoy the scenery this weekend: Read the rest of this entry »

Labor Day Weekend Events in the Lakes Region

Music in the Mill Falls Marketplace

Relaxing in the Lakes Region of NH this holiday weekend? Besides the abundance of summertime activities that are still going strong, there are some fun special events happening to celebrate and cap off the season as we shift into fall…

Music in the Mill Falls Marketplace – Stroll through the shops of the Mill Falls Marketplace or just relax outdoors while enjoying a summer’s night serenade. The Craig Jaster Jazz Trio plays from 5:30 to 8:30 pm in the courtyard of this beautiful and historic market that was once an old linen mill. The Marketplace played a major part in revitalizing the village of Meredith, which is now a destination on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.

Labor Day Weekend Craft Fair at the Bay – The 23^rd Annual Labor Day Weekend “Craft Fair at the Bay” will be held at the Alton Bay Community House and along the waterfront of Lake Winnipesaukee in Alton this weekend. Over 100 Juried craftspeople from all over New England will display and sell their works, which include pottery, fine jewelry, primitive and folk art, photography, wood carvings, metal sculpture, blown glass, and so much more. Admission and parking are free, and Alton Bay is also accessible by boat! Read the rest of this entry »

Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad Brings Nostalgic Entertainment to Meredith Bay

Climb aboard the classic train at Meredith Station and take a trip back in time as the old locomotive chugs along the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee. While the breathtaking views of the lake and distant mountains are sure to evoke a sense of wonder and leisure reminiscent of turn-of-the-century travel to NH grand hotels and summer resorts, this ride also has old-fashioned entertainment to bring an even deeper experience of the “good old days.”

Every Monday through Friday this summer, “White Marriott the Hobo Balloonist” will be aboard the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad to share his specialty balloons with passengers. Kids of all ages will love his balloon creations, especially the animals and flowers formed from simple balloons!

On Saturdays, accordionist David Smith will be aboard the train, greeting passengers as they board and then strolling through the train as he plays nostalgic tunes on his accordion for everyone to enjoy. These fun songs are sure to get everyone in the spirit for a relaxing lakeside adventure! Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

What’s New on the M/S Mount Washington for 2012

Now that spring is here and summer is just around the corner, thoughts are turning to the age-old NH tradition of sailing, paddling, and cruising on Lake Winnipesaukee. In keeping with that tradition, the biggest party boat on the lake has its customary schedule of cruises and events—as well as some new options—lined up for a fun-filled season on the water!

The M/S Mount Washington is a first-class, 230-foot excursion ship that sets out on scenic cruises every day and sunset dinner cruises each evening. “The Mount” has many ports on Lake Winnipesaukee, including Weirs Beach, Wolfeboro, Alton Bay, Meredith, and Center Harbor. During the summer months, the ship visits all its ports frequently during the day, and passengers can take a cruise from one lakeside town, get off and spend some time visiting another little town, then board again and return to the home port.* At night, the Mount becomes a hot spot, with a themed dinner dance cruise every evening.  Check out the Tribute to Elvis, the Summer Lobsterfest, or the Parrot Head Party Cruise, to name a few. Read the rest of this entry »