Satori Tea Garden a Peaceful Retreat for Lunch, Sweets, and Tea

One of the nicest things about summertime in New Hampshire is being able to relax outdoors in the warm weather and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Add delicious food to the mix and the experience borders on transcendent—it feeds the soul. In the quaint lakeside village of Meredith, visitors and locals can find a quiet little spot tucked in a beautiful Japanese garden to sample light French luncheon fare, elegant desserts, and fine teas. This haven is known as Satori, a tea garden.

Satori is located in the gardens of the lakes gallery at chi-lin, an Asian art and antique gallery and workshop center just up the hill from The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls. Satori opened for its 11^th season on Wednesday, July 25^th to mild weather and a steady stream of customers. Suzanne Lee, owner of the lakes gallery and Satori tea garden, offers light vegetarian cuisine and tea at satori Wednesday through Saturday from 11:30 to 4:30. After school starts again in the fall, the tea garden will be open on Saturdays, with other days available by appointment, until the fall begins to turn chilly. 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 »

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 »

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 »

NH Holds First Annual Statewide Restaurant Week May 18 – 25

For the past several years, communities across the country have organized their own local Restaurant Weeks, when participating restaurants offer special prix fixe menus to encourage diners to step out and try something new or visit an eatery they might not otherwise try. These events started in larger cities, such as New York and Los Angeles, and have recently become popular in smaller cities and towns where there are lots of great bistros, cafés, and cantinas to choose from. In New Hampshire, foodies have been able to enjoy Restaurant Weeks in Portsmouth, Manchester, Keene, Concord, Nashua, and Dover for some time, but this year marks the first-ever annual statewide Restaurant Week!

Restaurant Week NH will kick off on Friday, May 18^th at participating eateries throughout the Granite State. More than 100 restaurants are already on board for this eight-day event, which will feature prix fixe menus for lunch and/or dinner from a variety of popular dining spots. To fit different budgets from fine dining to quick and casual, there are three levels of pricing, the event website lists all the participating restaurants with an icon of one, two, or three forks for each restaurant. One fork means $10 lunch and $15 dinner, two forks means $15 lunch and $25 dinner, and three forks means $20 lunch and $35 dinner. All pricing includes three courses, usually an appetizer, main course, and dessert. 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 »

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 »

The Great Meredith Rotary Fishing Derby Returns to Meredith Bay

Although this weekend’s Pond Hockey Classic changed locations due to the warm winter and resulting questionable ice conditions on Lake Winnipesaukee, the forecast calls for colder temperatures in the coming week, and officials have decided to keep the annual ice fishing derby on for next weekend!

The Great Meredith Rotary Fishing Derby will take place as planned on Meredith Bay next Saturday and Sunday, February 11^th – 12^th. Now in its 33^rd year, the derby is one of the most well attended events in New Hampshire. Fishermen, their families, and friends gather in Meredith from all over the country and overseas in hopes of snagging the heaviest Meredith Rotary-tagged rainbow trout and claiming the grand prize. Read the rest of this entry »

3rd Annual Pond Hockey Classic Coming to Meredith, with a Twist!

NEPHC 2011

The event of the season has quickly earned a reputation for providing players and fans alike with a traditional, nostalgic, and truly competitive pond hockey experience. The first two years saw quaint Meredith Village on Lake Winnipesaukee bustling with activity as hockey lovers from all over New England and beyond converged on this normally quiet winter wonderland. This year will be bigger and better than ever—even though the event will be held on a different lake—and will be the focus of attention from a national organization documenting the environmentally sustainable practices of the sport.

The New England Pond Hockey Classic will still take place in Meredith, NH February 3^rd – 5^th, 2012, but while the games were scheduled to take place on Lake Winnipesaukee again this year, the warm winter has prevented Meredith Bay from freezing to a safe enough level to accommodate the expected crowds. The organizers have now officially decided to move the event to nearby Lake Waukewan, just a quarter-mile away on the other side of Meredith. Read the rest of this entry »