Laconia, NH

Americana farm-to-table tapas restaurant and piano bar set in a 231-year-old farmhouse on 20 acres. The kitchen maintains its own organic garden and sources from New England producers — small plates rotate with the season, and the piano bar adds a rare evening energy for the Lakes Region.

Upscale steakhouse in downtown Laconia with a broad wine list and a seafood side that takes the New England waters seriously — lobster, haddock, and clams share the menu with dry-aged beef. A proper date-night option in a region otherwise dominated by lakeside bar food.

New American bistro housed in a handsome old train depot on Veterans Square, doing exactly what the name promises: local ingredients, tight seasonal menu, and a relaxed downtown vibe. Consistently ranked at the top of Laconia's dining scene for its fresh execution and warm service.

Bright, health-forward café drawing on Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and California influences — grain bowls, sandwiches, and small bites built from produce sourced at local NH farms. Vegan and gluten-free options are genuinely thoughtful, not afterthoughts.

Waterfront dining room at Church Landing in Meredith, with views across Meredith Bay that are hard to beat at sunset. The kitchen handles New England surf-and-turf competently, but it's the setting — dock arrivals welcome — and the bar program that elevate the experience.

Charming Italian spot inside the historic Mill Falls Marketplace in Meredith, with rustic wood-and-brick décor, a solid pasta and pizza menu, and live music most weekends. Gluten-free pasta and pizza are available, and the kitchen handles them well.

A Meredith institution since 1954 that serves turkey dinners year-round — traditional roast with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, plus prime rib and seafood for the non-turkey holdouts. The dining room is big, the prices are honest, and the atmosphere is pure Lakes Region.

Cozy breakfast and lunch spot in Meredith perched above a 40-foot waterfall with Lake Winnipesaukee visible beyond. Porch seating over the falls is the premium spot — simple, well-executed café fare with a setting that earns an extra star on its own.

Laconia's only hibachi and sushi destination, opened by the team behind Vida Weirs Beach, on the north shore of Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith. Hibachi stations with theatrical tableside cooking, a full sushi bar, and a cocktail list that keeps pace — rare in the Lakes Region.

Restored post-and-beam barn in Gilford on the southeast shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, serving wood-fired pizza, pub fare, and seafood with a barn-chic atmosphere that works for both families and couples. One of the most atmospheric dining rooms on the lake.

Right at the entrance to Weirs Beach with an outdoor deck overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee — the most quintessential Weirs Beach dining experience. Cold drinks, live music most summer evenings, and bar food (burgers, wings, fried seafood) that matches the setting: casual, fun, and loud.

Local pub institution in Gilford with a broad menu — New England pub staples, a strong burger, and rotating craft beers. A no-frills gathering spot that locals actually go to, with a covered deck and a kitchen that stays open later than most options in the area.

The premier hike in the Belknap Range — a 5.4-mile moderate loop that tags three summits (Piper, Belknap, and Gunstock) with sweeping views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the White Mountains from multiple high points. The best hike in the Lakes Region for serious walkers.

A 3.3-mile moderate loop near Moultonborough ascending to a restored fire tower between Lake Winnipesaukee and Squam Lake — the 2,031-foot summit gives a 360-degree view across 15 miles of water, with the White Mountains behind. One of the best fire-tower hikes in New Hampshire.

The most direct route to Gunstock's 2,245-foot summit — a 2.1-mile moderate out-and-back with 1,154 feet of elevation gain that opens onto rocky ledges mid-climb and a full panorama at the top. A faster hike than the full Belknap loop, achievable in under two hours.

A shorter 4.9-mile loop to Belknap's 2,384-foot summit — the highest peak in the Belknap Range — with a 34-foot steel fire tower at the top delivering a true 360-degree view of the Lakes Region. More solitude than the popular Piper-Belknap-Gunstock loop.

A 128-acre lakeside park 2.4 miles north of downtown Laconia on Lake Winnisquam — a network of wooded paths and shoreline walking suitable for a casual morning walk or a relaxed family outing. The mountain biking trails attract local riders; walkers can stick to the perimeter paths.

A 4.5-mile moderate loop combining Belknap and Gunstock summits — a good middle ground between the full three-peak traverse and a single-summit out-and-back. Less traffic than the popular Piper-Belknap-Gunstock circuit, with equally strong views from both high points.

The largest arcade in the world by Guinness World Records — over 600 games spanning every era from vintage 1970s classics to modern simulators, plus bowling lanes and mini-golf. Open since 1952, it's an institution at Weirs Beach and worth a visit regardless of age.

An 8,000-seat outdoor amphitheater on Lake Winnipesaukee at Weirs Beach — one of New England's premier summer concert venues, nominated for Music Venue of the Year by the Academy of Country Music five times. Major national touring acts fill the calendar from May through September.

Year-round professional theater company in Meredith — the Lakes Region's only professional stage, producing Broadway-style shows in an intimate 200-seat house. Summer season runs back-to-back productions from June through August; the talent and production quality consistently surprise first-time visitors.

One of the last surviving drive-in movie theaters in New England, directly across from the iconic Weirs Beach sign. Every showing is a double feature — bring blankets, tune the car radio, and experience an Americana tradition that's hard to find anywhere else.

Beyond skiing and hiking, Gunstock operates one of the longest ziplines in the United States, a mountain roller coaster (alpine coaster), and a 90-challenge aerial obstacle course in summer. Snowtubing runs parallel to the ski slopes in winter. A full-day activity destination in any season.

Several marinas along the Weirs Beach waterfront and in Meredith rent pontoon boats, jet skis, kayaks, and paddleboards by the hour or day. Getting on the water is the definitive Lakes Region experience — no boat ownership required.

The classic Lakes Region beach destination: a 1920s-era wooden boardwalk stretching along a wide sandy strand on Lake Winnipesaukee, flanked by amusement arcades, ice cream stands, and boat rentals. In summer, the energy is pure Americana — crowded, loud, and genuinely fun. During Laconia Bike Week (June), this becomes the center of one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the world.

New Hampshire's largest lake — 72 square miles, 274 islands, and 183 miles of shoreline in the heart of the Lakes Region. Swimming, boating, kayaking, and fishing define summer here; the lake freezes solid enough for ice fishing in winter. Nearly every activity in the region connects back to the water.

All-season county-owned resort 15 minutes east of Laconia in the Belknap Range. In summer: the longest zipline in New England, a mountain coaster, an aerial obstacle course, mountain biking, and chairlift rides with panoramic views of Lake Winnipesaukee. In winter: 55 ski trails, snowboarding, and snowtubing.

The grande dame of Lake Winnipesaukee since 1872 — a 230-foot excursion vessel that runs scenic daytime cruises and sunset dinner-dance cruises from the Weirs Beach dock. The two-and-a-half hour scenic loop tours the lake's major bays and islands; the dinner cruise adds a full meal and dancing.

The only state-park beach on Lake Winnipesaukee — a half-mile sandy strand in Gilford with calm, warm water backed by the Belknap Mountains. Less commercial than Weirs Beach and popular with families for its supervised swimming area, picnic facilities, and restrooms.

Vintage excursion train departing from the Weirs Beach station along the Lake Winnipesaukee shoreline, with open-air cars giving riders unobstructed water views. Runs several daily trips in summer; special fall foliage and holiday trains run seasonally.