About the area
Supermarkets and Shopping
Less than a quarter mile to the east on RT 3 (West Main Street) are two groceries: Walmart and Market Basket.
A few minutes further east is Exit 20, where you’ll find the Tanger Outlet Mall, with a host of places to shop and eat. Chain restaurants include Five Guys, Uno’s Pizzeria, Applebee’s, The 99 Restaurant and Grill, and much more.
Lakes
Webster Lake is a 606-acre water body in the city of Franklin. Water from Webster Lake flows to the Pemigewasset River shortly above its confluence with the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack.
It’s about a 15-minute drive from the house. Turn right out of the driveway and follow West Main Street into Franklin, through its small downtown, and until you cross the Pemmigewaset River and come to a T-intersection. Turn right onto Route 3A and head north. Follow 3A until you see a dam on your right and shortly after, you’ll see a road on your left called Griffin Road (about 2 miles from the turn onto 3A). Take this left, follow it up and down until it ends at a parking lot. This lot is for Griffin Beach. You might be charged $5 for parking during the day. After 4 pm, there’s no attendant.
Lake Winnisquam is toward the east, and has two public beaches. These are much farther away.
Ahern State Park – Laconia Rt 11A. On the shores of Lake Winnisquam. Many walking trails, small swimming beach. Pit toilets. 436-1552
Bartlett Beach – Laconia Beach on Lake Winnisquam. Rt 3 to Court Street. Turn onto Bay Street. Left to Winnisquam Ave. Beach is at end. No fee. Swimming, bathrooms, fishing, playground, picnicking. 524-5046
Lake Winnipesaukee
Located in several communities of the lakes region, its name means the Smile of the Great Spirit. There are several access points, a few of which are listed here. The closest of these is about 30 minutes away in Laconia.
Weirs Beach Endicott Park- Weirs Beach Small public beach on the Weirs Beach Channel connecting Paugus Bay with the larger portion of Lake Winnipesaukee. Rt. 3, Weirs Beach, Laconia, NH
Historic Endicott Rock – Surveyors commissioned by Royal Governor John Endicott of the Massachusetts Bay Colony signed their initials in 1652. Great place for boat watching. Admission fee. Rt 3, Weirs Beach – overlooking the town docks. (603) 436-1552
Alton Town Beaches – Alton Small Swimming Beach -Restrooms, parking. No admission fee. Rt 28A on Alton Bay. No lifeguard on duty. Swim Dock on Rt 11 next to town docks. No admission fee. Lifeguard on duty.
875-0109
www.altonparksandrecreation.com parksrec@alton.nh.gov
Brewster Beach – Wolfeboro Rt 28, (South of downtown), to Clark Rd (across from Huggins Hospital). Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. No fee. Restrooms, swimming, picnicking.
569-5639.
Carry Beach – Wolfeboro Public beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. Rt 28 (north of downtown) to Forest Rd. Swimming, picnicking, restrooms.
569-5639.
Ellacoya State Park – Gilford 600-ft. sandy beach on southwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee; RV park with 38 campsites. Call (603) 271-3628 to make a reservation. Swimming, picnicking, store, bathhouse. Route 11, Gilford, 03249
(603)293-7821.
Email: nhparks@dred.nh.us
Leavitt Park – Meredith Swimming, picnicking. No fee. Small playground area. From Rt 25/Rt3 intersection in center of town, take Rt 25 North to Leavitt Rd. 603-279-4538
Less than a quarter mile to the east on RT 3 (West Main Street) are two groceries: Walmart and Market Basket.
A few minutes further east is Exit 20, where you’ll find the Tanger Outlet Mall, with a host of places to shop and eat. Chain restaurants include Five Guys, Uno’s Pizzeria, Applebee’s, The 99 Restaurant and Grill, and much more.
Lakes
Webster Lake is a 606-acre water body in the city of Franklin. Water from Webster Lake flows to the Pemigewasset River shortly above its confluence with the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack.
It’s about a 15-minute drive from the house. Turn right out of the driveway and follow West Main Street into Franklin, through its small downtown, and until you cross the Pemmigewaset River and come to a T-intersection. Turn right onto Route 3A and head north. Follow 3A until you see a dam on your right and shortly after, you’ll see a road on your left called Griffin Road (about 2 miles from the turn onto 3A). Take this left, follow it up and down until it ends at a parking lot. This lot is for Griffin Beach. You might be charged $5 for parking during the day. After 4 pm, there’s no attendant.
Lake Winnisquam is toward the east, and has two public beaches. These are much farther away.
Ahern State Park – Laconia Rt 11A. On the shores of Lake Winnisquam. Many walking trails, small swimming beach. Pit toilets. 436-1552
Bartlett Beach – Laconia Beach on Lake Winnisquam. Rt 3 to Court Street. Turn onto Bay Street. Left to Winnisquam Ave. Beach is at end. No fee. Swimming, bathrooms, fishing, playground, picnicking. 524-5046
Lake Winnipesaukee
Located in several communities of the lakes region, its name means the Smile of the Great Spirit. There are several access points, a few of which are listed here. The closest of these is about 30 minutes away in Laconia.
Weirs Beach Endicott Park- Weirs Beach Small public beach on the Weirs Beach Channel connecting Paugus Bay with the larger portion of Lake Winnipesaukee. Rt. 3, Weirs Beach, Laconia, NH
Historic Endicott Rock – Surveyors commissioned by Royal Governor John Endicott of the Massachusetts Bay Colony signed their initials in 1652. Great place for boat watching. Admission fee. Rt 3, Weirs Beach – overlooking the town docks. (603) 436-1552
Alton Town Beaches – Alton Small Swimming Beach -Restrooms, parking. No admission fee. Rt 28A on Alton Bay. No lifeguard on duty. Swim Dock on Rt 11 next to town docks. No admission fee. Lifeguard on duty.
875-0109
www.altonparksandrecreation.com parksrec@alton.nh.gov
Brewster Beach – Wolfeboro Rt 28, (South of downtown), to Clark Rd (across from Huggins Hospital). Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. No fee. Restrooms, swimming, picnicking.
569-5639.
Carry Beach – Wolfeboro Public beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. Rt 28 (north of downtown) to Forest Rd. Swimming, picnicking, restrooms.
569-5639.
Ellacoya State Park – Gilford 600-ft. sandy beach on southwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee; RV park with 38 campsites. Call (603) 271-3628 to make a reservation. Swimming, picnicking, store, bathhouse. Route 11, Gilford, 03249
(603)293-7821.
Email: nhparks@dred.nh.us
Leavitt Park – Meredith Swimming, picnicking. No fee. Small playground area. From Rt 25/Rt3 intersection in center of town, take Rt 25 North to Leavitt Rd. 603-279-4538