A Perfect Weekend in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region

WHAT TO DO

Mount Washington Cruises, Laconia

If you don’t own a boat, now you can pretend you have three: $175 buys an unlimited daytime season pass on the 230-foot Mount Washington, the 68-foot Doris E., and the Sophie C. mail boat, all cruising Lake Winnipesaukee, the state’s largest lake. Mountain ranges encircle the 71-square-mile expanse that’s yours to explore; with the option of hopping on or off at five different ports, you’re free to choose your lakeside escape. Family and guest passes are also available.cruisenh.com

Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough

This former country estate has views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains, not to mention 28 miles of hiking trails and its own art gallery.castleintheclouds.org

Interlakes Summer Theatre, Meredith

In addition to offering endless outdoor recreation opportunities, the Lakes Region is also an arts and theater destination. Thanks to Meredith’s Interlakes Summer Theatre, culture fans can enjoy a variety of professional productions, which in the past have included Cats, Footloose, and West Side Story. interlakestheatre.com

Funspot, Laconia

Here you’ll find the American Classic Arcade Museum, the largest public collection of these games anywhere and something of a pilgrimage site. What you behold is a carpal tunnel–inducing Xanadu of eight-bit graphics and Casio keyboard soundtracks. More than 250 vintage coin-operated arcade games blink hypnotically in the dimly lit room, all of them still costing just a quarter to play. classicarcademuseum.org

WHERE TO EAT

Local Eatery, Laconia

Devoted to all things local, chef Kevin Halligan takes seafood, beef, and lamb from nearby providers and turns them into entrées accented with beautiful salads and interesting appetizers. His “local burger” — topped with cheddar, bacon, and a fried egg — is legendary; he also runs a bakery and a meat market in town to keep the supply chain strong. laconialocaleatery.com

Camp, Meredith

The tin roof, fieldstone fireplace, peeled-wood trim, and big pine tables evoke a classic lakeside camp, and the food echoes the menu that Mom (or your camp counselors) used to make, including mac ’n’ cheese, pot roast, and even s’mores for dessert. There’s also a good menu just for kids.thecman.com

Mise En Place, Wolfeboro

When then-president Nicolas Sarkozy was feeling homesick for France, he pulled up une chaise at this fine eatery a few blocks away from Main Street and Lake Winnipesaukee. Chef-owner Terry Adrignola seasons her gourmet American dishes (like seared sea scallops and lobster/jumbo lump-crab risotto) with French-style flair—good enough for Sarkozy, while giving you a little taste of France without the jet lag. miseenplacenh.com

WHERE TO STAY

The Ballard House Inn, Meredith

For the record, Newton is not the official innkeeper, but the bouncing golden retriever’s enthusiastic welcome is certainly in line with the vibe at this beautifully restored 1784 boardinghouse. While owners Brian and Lynn Krautz can’t take credit for the outstanding lake and mountain views from the back-porch swing, they get full marks for homemade country breakfasts and complimentary coffee, wine, and beer. Located minutes from Lake Winnipesaukee, the Ballard House Inn offers six rooms and two suites, plus easy access to hiking trails from the backyard. ballardhouseinn.com

The Wolfeboro Inn, Wolfeboro

A short walk from the town center, the historic Wolfeboro Inn (c. 1812) comes with its own private beach on Lake Winnipesaukee and a replica 19th-century paddleboat, the Winnipesaukee Belle, that offers seasonal daytime cruises. The inn’s pub, Wolfe’s Tavern, serves New England comfort food alongside upscale options, and has an extensive beer list (Mug Club members must sample 100 varieties … but just two per visit, please). Oh, and there are rooms, too—44 of them, including suites with lake views. wolfeboroinn.com

Ames Farm Inn, Guilford

Nostalgia rises like mist off the edges of Lake Winnipesaukee where the water meets a quarter-mile of sandy beach and 17 quiet cottages. Five generations of Ameses have tended this idyllic spread since 1890. The lawn would be extravagant anywhere, but on this lake, it’s astounding. You scarcely need more than the inn, restaurant, dock, and mountain views, but just in case, there are movies, karaoke, and ping-pong. The cottages line up like ducklings, porches facing the view. amesfarminn.com

The Manor on Golden Pond, Holderness

Perfect, the way the afternoon sun strikes Isaac Van Horn’s 13-acre summer estate, on a hill overlooking Squam Lake. The manor basks in a golden glow—the same that shone in On Golden Pond, the 1981 Academy Award winner starring Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn, filmed on Squam. Inside, polished wood gleams in the distinctly uncommon “common” areas: pub, library, sun-splashed dining room. Built in 1907 by a wealthy land developer for his bride, today’s innkeepers, Brian and Mary Ellen Shields, continue the romantic gestures with spa treatments, fine dining, and a Wine Spectator cellar. Member “Small Luxury Hotels of the World,” with 15 manor rooms. manorongoldenpond.com