| |
| |
|
Outdoors Information |
|
|
|
Lake Winnipesaukee - The Smile of the Great Spirit
Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest and one of the deepest lakes in New Hampshire. Centered in the popular vacation area known as the Lakes Region it provides 4-season pleasure for millions every year. The lake is surrounded by the foothills of New Hampshire's White Mountains, which provides stunning backdrops to this jewel of a New Hampshire lake, and magnificent views for those prepared to hike a few miles to the summit of surrounding peaks. The lake is spring fed and clean, and many homes on the lake take their water supply directly without any filtering. But the native people have known this lake and its beauty for 10,000 years. They gave Lake Winnipesaukee the Indian name meaning "Smile of the Great Spirit." These days people still fish and canoe on the lake but it's shared with modern day jet skis and motorboats. But essentially Lake Winnipesaukee is an area to take your time exploring, and let the hours tick slowly by. I've been visiting Lake Winnipesaukee for the last twenty years and I have these suggestions for enjoying your visit to the Lake. M/S MOUNT WASHINGTON CRUISE For a 132-years a cruise boat has been traveling up and down the 72 square miles of the lake. The current boat - M/S MOUNT WASHINGTON has been operating since 1946. Due to the demand it was extended in 1982 by cutting the boat in half and placing a middle section. Today with it's three decks and ample room there's no better way of getting oriented on the Lake. You can board the boat at Weirs Beach and take the 2 and ½ hour cruise down to Alton Bay or up to the picturesque town of Meredith. When you make the trip be prepared to do a lot of waving. The M/S Mount Washington is a popular and the most distinctive boat on the lake, and you'll find most boaters and people on the shorelines waving in recognition of this majestic large ship. THE LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE SCENIC TRAIN RIDE The Lake Winnipesaukee scenic train runs from Meredith to Weirs Beach to Lakeport and back. You can take a 1 hour or 2 hour ride. You'll get spectacular views of the lake and shoreline and Belknap Mountain. This is a slow ride train as it travels the shoreline on Paugus Bay, and you'll get plenty of time to admire many of the stunning homes built on this stretch of the ride. Snacks and ice cream are sold on the journey. THE CASTLE IN THE CLOUDS The Castle in the Clouds is a magnificent home built on a mountaintop in 1913 by industrialist Thomas Plant. You can tour the castle and grounds where you'll find waterfalls and miles of trails to explore. During the fall foliage season it offers majestic views of the lake and surrounding area. The Castle is near Moultonboro on the eastern side of the lake and you can get there by following Route 171 in Ossipee. BELKNAP MOUNTAIN HIKE For these willing to be a little more adventurous Lake Winnipesaukee offers some great hiking tails. Many are moderate to difficult, but the Belknap Mountain hike in Gilford is easy and can be done by most people including small kids. This is an enjoyable walk and you should allow 2 and ½ hours round trip to appreciate the walk to its fullest. At the summit you'll be rewarded with a magnificent view of Lake Winnipesaukee, and if conditions are right you can sometimes spot Mount Washington in the distance. Take Route 11A to Gilford and drive south through the village. Stay on this road as it climbs Belknap Mountain road. Eventually you'll see signs and a parking area on the left. These are just a few activities you can do when visiting Lake Winnipesaukee. For more information and details on Lake Winnipesaukee attraction and things to do visit the Lakes Region web site at www.lakesregion.org. Cliff Calderwood is the owner and contributing writer of http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com. You can read more about Lake Winnipesaukee and get a free travel report at his New England Vacation online Guide site.
MORE RESOURCES:
Outdoors - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Backpacking Trips - Ten Essential Items I've had backpacking trips that included rain, snow, lightning, rockslides, altitude sickness, and twenty-mile days - all in a summer weekend. Wilderness trips can be dangerous, but you can make then less so, by having the following ten essentials in your backpack. Whitewater Rafting Trip For the dedicated water sport enthusiast there can be no greater challenge than embarking on a whitewater rafting trip. The abundance of whitewater rafting trip courses available worldwide offer enjoyment and challenges for both the novice and the more experienced adventurer. Driving in Greece - How Bad is it? Generally speaking, Greek drivers are not the best in Europe, but they are not the worst - those people know who they are!I have been in driving in Greece for a while now and have witnessed many examples of bad habits on the road, which have shocked my rapidly departing British sensibilities. It is not uncommon for drivers to hoot their horns at traffic lights, even when they are still on red and to fly through red lights. River Cruise in Bangkok - Sightseeing on the Chao Phraya A river cruise in Bangkok gives an insight to the community life on the Chao Phraya River and the legacies on this river of kings, a picture of stark contrasts.It needn't have to be an elaborate affair; you can cut the frills and expenses. New Technologies in Camping and Outdoor Clothing Enhance the Outdoor Experience Camping is an excellent way to explore and experience the outdoors. The weather needn't be an obstacle to what sorts of climates and places you might trek to. Planning Your Own Gorilla Safari Will Save You Money - Heres How Going on a gorilla safari must rank as one of the best wildlife experiences left in the natural world. Many people describe it as an overwhelming and awe-inspiring experience and worth every penny they spent on making it happen. Japanese Garden of Monaco Have you ever seen an authentic Japanese garden? Well, I had the chance of seeing the one in Monaco and was really impressed too. Wanna taste a little Japanese culture? Stepping on this ground is escaping from the real world into a fantasy land. Too much to do in London! No one can truly say they know London well. To know London completely is impossible. Great Family Camping Trips Make Excellent Traditions A wonderful way to invest in your families' treasure trove of memories is by spending time in the great outdoors. Camping trips can be an excellent tradition that your family will look forward to and in time, look back upon with fond memories. Shark Pictures Not The Real Thing Pictures of a massive dead Great White shark on the back of a bakkie are doing the rounds on email with the subject line saying "Caught at Monwabisi and Strandfontein Beach yesterday" - but experts have dismissed it as a hoax.The grim pictures show the shark with a hook and trace still attached. 7 Need to Know Campsite Cooking Strategies Are you sick and tired of not knowing what to bring or what to cook when you go camping? Do you either pack the entire kitchen (including the sink) or you bring the absolute minimum and then have to use a fork as a spatula or two spoons as tongs?If that sounds even the slightest bit familiar then you are in the right place. Over the past decade or so I have refined a list of 7 things that I use every single time I prepare for my next camping trip. How To Get The Most Out Of Your Trekking Poles How to get the most out of your trekking poles is one of the biggest concerns while considering buying a new pair or using your existing trekking poles. To get most out of your trekking poles, you need to consider two things: First, various "types of trekking poles" to suit your preference, style, ease of use and of course budget! Second, to know about various features of your trekking poles and how to use them effectively to get most out of them!Before discussing the above mentioned points, let's see what exactly these trekking poles are. Student Travel - Backpacking In Europe For the fortunate few, life isn't complete without a backpacking trip through Europe. This right of passage is believed to further the maturation process of college students, according to sociologists. Be Sure to Buy the Best Discount Camping Gear Before Going on that Family Adventure When you're on the Internet looking for discount camping gear, it's good to read an online camping equipment review. There are so many camping outdoor gear products on the market today that the challenge is choosing between them. Tanzania Safari Top Five National Parks and Game Reserves Ask about perfect wildlife destinations and a Tanzania safari will be at or near the top of the list every time.But what about the national parks and game reserves within the country itself? Which are the best to visit because they can't all be equally good. The American Picnic - Make Yours Memorable We love spending time outdoors and if you are expecting a large group; you need to be somewhere you can accommodate all of the people. A picnic can be anything you want it to be. Highpointing: It's Not Just For Mountaineers Mount Sunflower, Kansas. Ebright Azimuth, Delaware. Shark Attacks! How Common are They? Where do They Occur? Last week in Australia, one man's day at beach could have turned into a disaster: He was attacked by a seven-foot bronze whaler shark while surfing about 100 yards out from Sydney's Bronte Beach.Fortunately, the man, Simon Letch, stayed calm and "shoved the board at [the shark] like a barge pole. Yachats, OR: An Outdoor Lovers Paradise on the Oregon Coast There is something about a town tucked between the mountains and the sea. Often, it feels like one has reached the far end of the world when he or she arrives in a place like this. Retired LoWs Do Yuma Yuma, Arizona. In the winter, it's the best town in America with a year round population of some 50,000 and a winter population of 150,000.
|
| home | site map | Ocean Photography |
| © 2006 |
