A (Very Opinionated) Guide to (some) of the Lakes
Six lakes, six personalities—and why the one you choose matters more than you think
Almost everyone who calls us, especially from out of state, says the same thing at first: “We want to be on Winnipesaukee.”
And look, that makes sense. It’s the one everyone has heard of, the one that shows up in searches, the iconic New Hampshire lake. The Big Lake. But here’s what happens: after they start looking, after they see what their money buys on different lakes, after they spend a weekend here and notice what they notice between the showings—most of them end up somewhere else.
It’s not that Winnipesaukee is wrong. It’s that the lake you choose has a personality. And that personality matters more than people think.
So here’s an honest take on the six lakes we work with the most—what they’re actually like, who they tend to fit, and what people don’t realize until they’re here.
Lake Winnipesaukee — The One Everyone Knows
This is the big lake. Seventy-two square miles, 365 islands, the most of everything—restaurants, marinas, boat traffic, summer activity. On a July Saturday, the parade of boats feels endless. The water glitters between speed boats and jet skis and pontoons and kayaks along the shore.
Andrea lives right on Winni, her dock jutting out into water that’s never quite still. Jenn kayaks with her there sometimes, early morning when the lake hasn’t woken up yet, and it’s beautiful. A favorite route has us circling a couple of coves and smiling with that particular local affection (read: they’re fun but kind of ridiculous) at the massive slides and inflatable pyramids that some of the houses float just off shore. By noon, though, it’s busy. That’s the reality, you want peace, be out before 10 am.
Winnipesaukee fits people who want options. Families who want kid activities within a ten-minute drive. Anyone drawn to the energy of Laconia and Weirs Beach or the old-school charm of Wolfeboro or Meredith. People who don’t mind sharing the lake—or who actively enjoy it, the hum of summer happening all around them.
What people don’t realize: summer weekends can feel like a parade you can’t leave. Waterfront properties command a premium, and you’re paying for the name as much as the water. There are quiet pockets—Alton Bay, certain coves tucked into the shoreline—but you have to know where to look, and even then, you’re never quite alone.
The truth: if you want the classic New Hampshire lake experience with all the conveniences, this is it. Just know what you’re signing up for.
Lake Winnisquam — Winnipesaukee’s Quieter Neighbor
Fourth-largest lake in New Hampshire, and most people have never heard of it. That’s part of the appeal.
Winnisquam sits just south of its famous neighbor, connected by the Winnipesaukee River, and it feels like a different world. The water is clean—shockingly clean, the kind of clarity that makes you want to wade in fully clothed on a hot day. The boat traffic moves slower here. You can paddleboard without dodging wakes. You can hear yourself think.
This is the lake for people who want lake access without the Winnipesaukee price tag. Folks looking for a slower pace but who still want a sizable body of water—something that feels big enough to get lost on. Anyone who values “fewer people know about this.”
What people don’t realize: it’s genuinely quiet. This is not a party lake. There’s less commercial development, which means fewer restaurants and shops right on the water. But you’re still close to everything—fifteen, twenty minutes to Laconia or Meredith if you want options.
The truth: if Winnipesaukee feels like too much and you want something that still feels like a big lake, Winnisquam is worth looking at. The sunrises here—mountains reflected in still water—are the kind that make you understand why people stay.
Squam Lake — The “If You Know, You Know” Lake
The lake from On Golden Pond. That’s how most people know it, if they know it at all.
Squam is pristine in a way that feels intentional. Protected. The Squam Lakes Association has been working since 1904 to keep it that way—low development, limited boat launches, strict guidelines about what you can and can’t do. The idea is “see but not be seen.” Shoreline vegetation gets selectively thinned so you can glimpse the water from your porch, but buildings stay screened from view. Only four public boat launches on the entire lake.
This is a lake with islands—thirty named, more unnamed—and coves so quiet you can hear loons calling across the water. Eagles nest here. The mountain backdrop makes every view feel like a postcard you didn’t ask for but can’t stop looking at.
Squam fits people who prioritize privacy and natural beauty above all else. Folks with serious budgets—waterfront here is expensive, and that’s not an accident. Anyone who wants to sit on a screened porch in the early morning, coffee going cold while they watch mist lift off the water and listen to loons, will love Squam. If you're hoping for jet ski rentals and a floating tiki pontoon, you'll be disappointed—and that's by design."
That’s what some people don’t realize: there are restrictions. Motorboats are limited to keep the lake quiet. It’s not a social lake—you’re not running into neighbors at the marina, because there isn’t one. Access is limited; if you’re not on the lake, you’re probably not getting on the lake.
The truth: if you can afford it and you value peace over convenience, Squam is unmatched. It’s not for everyone, and that’s the point. The fog rises off the water in the morning, and loons fill the air with their haunting call, and you feel like you’ve slipped back into something older. Something that can’t be rushed.
Lake Ossipee — The Shockingly Beautiful One
Every time Jenn is out here, she’s surprised more people don’t ask about it.
Ossipee is a spring-fed lake in the shadow of the Ossipee Range, and the mountain backdrop makes it feel more dramatic than other lakes. The water is clear—swim-to-the-bottom clear. The boat traffic is light. Quieter than Lovell, quieter than Winni, quieter than almost anywhere.
This is the lake for people who want beauty without the buzz. Outdoorsy types who value hiking and kayaking and low-key lake life over nightlife. Anyone looking for value—Ossipee punches above its price point in a way that makes you wonder why it hasn’t been discovered yet.
What people may not realize: it’s a little more remote. Ossipee and Freedom are small towns, genuinely small, so if you need proximity to restaurants or shops, factor that in. But if you’re someone who doesn’t mind only having a few options for take out in exchange for waking up to mountain reflections in still water, this is the trade worth making.
The truth: this is the lake for people who want to feel like they discovered something. It’s not a secret, but it feels like one.
Lovell Lake — The Best-Kept Secret
Jenn lives near Lovell Lake. Andrea sneaks away from Winni to meet her at the Wakefield Inn for cocktails when they need quiet. That tells you something.
Lovell is smaller, straddling the New Hampshire-Maine border, with a charming little town center in Sanbornville and Portland forty-five minutes away. The lake itself is peaceful—not a jet-ski lake, not a party lake. The kind of place where campfires and canoes still make sense. Where kids spend all day on the dock and don’t ask for anything else.
This lake fits people who want lake life but also want access to a small walkable downtown. Folks who value quiet but don’t want to feel isolated. Anyone who wants proximity to Maine—Portland, the coast—as a bonus.
What people don’t realize: it’s genuinely peaceful. You won’t hear much engine noise. The town center, small as it is, gives it a different feel than some of the more remote lakes—you can walk to the diner, to the local market, to movie nights at the library without getting in the car.
The truth: Lovell feels like a throwback to what lake life used to be. Not in a nostalgic way, but in a this is still possible way. Fishing from canoes. Long summer evenings. The kind of place where people remember to slow down.
Great East Lake — The Sunset Lake
Great East is split between New Hampshire and Maine, and it’s known for two things: shockingly clear water and sunsets that people drive from other lakes to see.
The water clarity here is the kind that makes you trust it. You can see straight to the bottom in most places, and swimming feels less like a leap of faith and more like stepping into something clean and good. There’s a mix of old summer camps and year-round homes lining the shore, which gives the lake more character than some of the more uniform developments.
This lake fits families who value swimming and water clarity. People who want classic New England lake camp vibes without the fuss. Anyone who wants less boat traffic than Winni but more activity than Ossipee.
What people don’t realize: the sunsets here are legitimately famous, and for good reason. The way the light hits the water at the end of the day—gold bleeding into pink bleeding into purple—makes you stop whatever you’re doing and just watch.
The truth: if you grew up going to a lake camp and want to recreate that for your own family, Great East gets it right. The kind of place where kids remember summers for the rest of their lives. Where the sound of screen doors slamming and laughter carrying across the water never quite goes away, even in winter.
There’s No Wrong Lake (But There’s Probably a Right One for You)
The lake matters. Not because one is objectively better, but because they have personalities, and those personalities match different people.
Most buyers start with Winnipesaukee because it’s the one they know. By the end, they’ve usually found their lake—and it’s often not the one they expected. Sometimes it’s Winnisquam, where the mornings are so still you can hear your own breathing. Sometimes it’s Squam, where the privacy feels like a kind of luxury you didn’t know you were missing. Sometimes it’s Lovell or Ossipee or Great East, where the price feels right and the fit feels better.
Andrea on her dock on Winni, watching the water ripple and the air soften while motorboats speed across the Broads in the distance. Jenn at the Wakefield Inn with a glass of wine, chatting with neighbors about the fish they left on the dock for cleaning before dinner. Both of them love where they are. That’s the point.
If you’re starting to think about lake life here and trying to figure out where you fit, Andrea and Jenn are happy to talk through it. Not to sell you a house—not yet, anyway—but just to help you think through what matters to you. Because here’s the thing: the right lake makes all the difference. And it’s worth taking the time to figure out which one feels like yours.
Here’s to life between the lakes and mountains.
🏞️ Jenn and Andrea, Keys to the Lakes
