Whether you’re looking for pampered luxury or cozy historic charm, this list of Lake Winnipesaukee hotels and inns, including nearby Squam Lake, is here to help you plan your next lakeside getaway.
LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE HOTELS & INNS | YANKEE EDITORS’ PICKS
Ames Farm Inn | Lake Winnipesaukee Hotels Photo Credit : Damselfly Photography
Featuring a quarter-mile of sandy beach and 17 quiet cottages facing Lake Winnipesaukee, Ames Farm Inn offers the ideal nostalgic lakeside escape. Since 1890, five generations of Ameses have tended this idyllic property, where perks include a majestic lawn, a restaurant, a dock, and mountain views. Named a 2016 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Lakefront Cabins.”
Wolfeboro residents Peter and Patty Cooke spent two years lovingly rehabbing the c. 1813 Yellow House, a crumbling local landmark across from Brewster Academy, thus saving it from almost-certain demolition. Restored to its former glory and renamed the Pickering House Inn, this 10-room bed-and-breakfast now features heated bathroom floors, Frette robes, and rain showers, as well as the Barn, a rustic-chic event space. Named a 2019 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best B&B.”
Set directly on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, the Adirondack-style Church Landing at Mill Falls features 70 designer-decorated guest rooms, each with fireplaces and private lakefront balconies, as well as access to amenities like the beach, two indoor/outdoor pools, and the on-site Cascade Spa and Salon. Traveling with a furry friend? The inn offers a limited number of pet-friendly rooms, each with pet bed, food and water bowls, and complimentary treats. Named a 2012 Yankee Editors’ Pick (alongside sister property Inn at Mill Falls) for “Best Pet-Friendly Overnight.”
The Ballard House Inn | Lake Winnipesaukee Hotels & Inns Photo Credit : Courtesy of the Ballard House Inn
A beautifully restored 1784 boardinghouse with outstanding lake and mountain views from the back-porch swing, the inn offers six rooms and two suites, plus easy access to hiking trails from the backyard. You’ll also enjoy homemade country breakfasts and complimentary coffee, wine, and beer. Named a 2017 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Historic B&B.”
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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. Named a 2017 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Lakeside Inn.”
SQUAM LAKE HOTELS & INNS
Squam Lake Inn | Lake Winnipesaukee Hotels & Inns Photo Credit : Courtesy of Squam Lake Inn/Jumping Rocks
Housed in an 1895 farmhouse just a short walk from Squam Lake, the inn offers nine updated guest rooms, each with private bath and some with perks such as a fireplace or claw-foot tub, plus a complimentary breakfast. Both guests and locals love the seasonal menu, craft beers, and casual vibe at the inn’s on-site Inn Kitchen + Bar, open seasonally. Named a 2015 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Foliage Retreat.”
There’s never a dull moment at this century-old Squam Lake retreat, where the days brim with hiking, yoga, kayaking, nature walks, and other screen-free diversions. Participate as a family, or savor a little adult R&R by signing your kids up for age-appropriate activities, such as the Wee Campers play group for ages 3 through 6, island picnics for middle schoolers, and scavenger hunts and boat trips for teens. And leave the coolers and tents at home: The cabins, cottages, and lodges come equipped with bucolic charm and just about everything you and yours could need for a week (or weekend) in the woods. Named a 2019 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Kid-Friendly Lodging.”
Perched on a hill overlooking nearby Squam Lake (the setting for the 1981 Academy Award–winning film On Golden Pond), this 13-acre summer estate offers a truly luxurious retreat. Unplug in one of more than 20 well-appointed rooms, many with fireplaces and hot tubs, indulge in a spa treatment, or enjoy a fine dining experience in the inn’s Van Horn dining room. Named a 2016 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Small Luxury Hotel.”
Which Lake Winnipesaukee hotels and inns would you add to our list? Let us know!
This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
Aimee Tucker is Yankee Magazine’s Home Editor and the Senior Digital Editor of NewEngland.com. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.
