Of the literally hundreds of lakes created by the snowmelt flowing south from the White Mountains, much the biggest is Lake Winnipesaukee , which forms the center of the vacation-oriented Lakes Region. Long segments of its 300-mile shoreline, especially in the east, consist of thick forests sweeping down to waters dotted with little islands, which are disturbed only by pleasure craft. The most sophisticated of the towns is Wolfeboro ; the most fun to visit has to be Weirs Beach .

Ideally, you would bring your own small boat and get thoroughly lost in the maze of small channels and islets. Failing that, the cruise ship   Mount Washington does daily two-and-a-half-hour tours of the more open stretches in summer, leaving Weirs Beach daily at 10am, 12.30pm and 3pm, Wolfeboro (except Mon & Thurs) at 11.15am and Meredith Mondays at noon and 2.30pm. The tours cost $18, and also call at either Center Harbor (Mon 11am) or Alton Bay (Thurs 11.15am). It's certainly a pretty ride, though it can seem a little long in the heat of the day, and you might prefer to take an evening dinner cruise instead for $35-39 (July & Aug Mon-Sat; tel 603/366-5531 or 1-888/843-6686, ). A smaller mail-boat does more local round-trips from Weirs Beach for $14 (Mon-Sat 11am & 2pm; tel 603/569-1114) or from Wolfeboro daily at 10am, also $14.

Lakes Region

• Lakes Region

Explore Lakes Region

• Meredith
• Northwards to the mountains
• Weirs Beach and Laconia
• Wolfeboro

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