VISIT TO LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE AND THE BEAUTIFUL TOWNS OF MEREDITH AND WOLFEBORO

LAKE PHOTOS

                                     

                                               

PHOTOS OF MEREDITH

                                           

PHOTOS OF WOLFEBORO

      

VISIT TO LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE  AND  THE BEAUTIFUL  TOWNS OF MEREDITH AND  WOLFEBORO   ON  ITS  SHORES.

From our Ossipee Lake accommodation, we visited two towns Meredith and Wolfeboro located in  the opposite directions of Ossipee ,each  about 30 km  or half an hour's car drive from our place of stay. Both the towns are visited by tourists in summer and winter  and are perched on the shores of Lake  Winnipesaukee .

Boating ,kayaking, ,swimming ,fishing , skiing, snow sports ,  biking,hiking,dining,and shopping is the main activity of visitors to these  towns and some other towns around the Lake. I found a good number permanent residents of both the towns comprising of senior citizens , retired people and  elders who remain busy with community work  and other cultural activities apart from protection of the  Lake and its habitat. Trash littering is almost a crime over here. No house boats are allowed to be built in the Lake . Lake Winnipesaukee is currently categorized as oligotrophic (low productivity) and listed as a high quality water by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES).Oligotrophic lakes are most common in cold, sparsely developed regions that are underlain by crystalline igneous, granitic bedrock. Due to their low algal production, these lakes consequently have very clear waters, with high drinking-water quality.

The Lake freezes in winters and I was told that small private planes also make adventure landing on its  frozen surface.Snow skiing has been developed  as popular winter sport in many places in the New Hampshire State.

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire and the third largest in New England. It is 21 miles long and has 288 miles of shoreline. The surface area of the lake is 72 sq miles whereas the maximum depth of the lake is 180 feet.Lake Winnipesaukee or “Smile of the Great Spirit” as it was originally known to the Native Americans who  lived in the region before the arrival of the immigrants , has attracted young and old for generations. There are roughly 260 islands on Winnipesaukee, many have seasonal cottages that are used during the summer months. The Lake  is especially unique because eight distinct towns border the lake. The towns include Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro, Alton, Gilford and Laconia. The Lake's   picture-perfect location, wooded shoreline and crystal clear, spring-fed water, makes it a popular summer destination for tourists and locals alike.There are dinner cruises in this most scenic Lake of New England. One can charter a boat and head out to one of the larger islands on the lake for hiking or picnicking.

People living in the  towns around the lake do a  lot of voluntary work which includes maintenance in parks and cemeteries. Living in Wolfeboro or Meredith  or other towns,  offers residents a suburban rural mix feel and most residents own their homes. In these towns,  one finds too many  restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many retirees live in these towns around the Lake Winnipesaukee.

MEREDITH

Meredith is a beautiful town with about 7000 residents most of whom happen to be retired persons or seniors. They live an organised life style enjoying walks, bicycle rides, evening music, boat rides and creative community work. When we visited Meredith , a Sculpture Walk   had been organised by the resident community. We saw some fine art  installations . The sculptures are created from artists in the Northeast and are located in areas including:  Main Street, The Mill Falls Marketplace, and along Lake Winnipesaukee in Hesky Lake shore park  and other scenic parks. 

Every day, during summers, some musicians amongst the residents play jaaz or some music to entertain visitors and residents. Every park has a separate roofed  enclosure for this activity.  The town has all  modern infrastructure facilities like piped gas, tap water, banks, post office ,fire brigade, police office, Hannaford retail store, healthcare centre and  gas or petrol filling stations . A senior resident told me this:-

" I have a house in  Boston but I live for summers over here. Very peaceful, pretty and convenient place to live. I am busy with some social work and  some cultural groups. I play golf everyday and read a lot. My wife and me have our dinner out usually at 7 pm . Except for Saturdays and Sundays , when lot many youngsters arrive , the town sleeps at 8 PM. I join the music performers everyday . On   every Sunday ,  me and my wife rent a boat and go into the lake. She loves shopping . Shop , donate old stuff. We keep touch with  our family . Our children also join us on long holidays otherwise we meet all on Christmas holidays in our  Boston home. I love to cook on Saturdays ."

WOLFEBORO

Known as “The Jewel of Lake Winnipesaukee,”Wolfeboro is a famed vacation destination with an idyllic combination of lakeside beauty and charm. With miles of shoreline on New Hampshire’s largest lake, Wolfeboro has an abundance of four-season recreation and spectacular Lake Winnipesaukee views. Additionally, its quaint downtown area is a popular destination in its own right and includes attractions like The Libby Museum of Natural History, The New Hampshire Boat Museum, and the Clark House Museum Complex.

Wolfeboro ,with its motto "The Oldest Summer Resort in America", became a popular summer colony, particularly for families from Boston and southern New Hampshire. Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, Kurt Vonnegut, Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon have spent time in Wolfeboro. Wolfeboro is full of myriad shops, art galleries,as well as tempting array of restaurants ,bed and breakfasts, inns and cottages . The place has many museums depicting various local history topics ,natural history ,life on New Hampshire lakes and  honouring World War II heroes.Wolfeboro has a 2024 population of 2,274 which is currently declining at a rate of -10.58% annually .

In the summer , the town bustles with sight seeing, concerts ,summer theatre , craft fairs ,kayaking , boating, swimming and golfers. Shoppers delight in many locally owned shops and boutiques.

In the fall or autumn, spectacular foliage creates photo opportunity at ever turn. Nearby country fairs abound with farm produce, farm animals and crafts.The crisp weather invites walks, bike rides and run on trails .Under a blanket of glistening snow, Wolfeboro becomes a winter wonderland for skiing ,snowballing, skating , ice fishing and more.

"Ice Out" on Lake area heralds the onset of spring when greenery and flowers are seen everywhere. Sap flows from the maple trees, and delicate green mist decorated the ground , the harbinger of a happy summer to come .

The average annual household income in Wolfeboro is $73,592, while the median household income sits at $47,990 per year.

It is  almost similar story for Meredith and other towns on the Lake  falling in New Hampshire State of New England .

.( Avtar Mota )

                                          

                                        

                                        

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