Best Lakeside Getaways Near Boston
With Boston being right on the ocean, sometimes Bostonians want to get a little freshwater fun. The swimming, boating and all around atmosphere are different inland. When it is time for a getaway, it is time to go where the water is warmer, there is shade and the weirdest underwater creature is a large mouth bass. Take a day or weekend trip to one of the area's gorgeous lakes to get away from the noise and hustle of the city. Anyone can find an adventure or a place to sit with a book at these locations.
Lake Winnipesaukee
Lakes Region, NH
www.winnipesaukee.com
Lake Winnipesaukee is roughly a two-hour drive from Boston, but it is well worth it. It is arguably the most popular lake in New England and one of its largest. Swimming, boating, fishing, sunbathing and even nightlife are all on the lake and its shores. The proximity to region attractions, like Laconia, which is known for its bike week every summer, and Mount Cardigan make this lake perfect for any kind of getaway. However, with 260 islands to explore, 182 miles of shoreline and 72 square miles of lake surface, the lake itself should provide plenty of enjoyment.
Plymouth, MA
www.mass.gov
In spite of its name, Long Pond is also referred to as a lake. Unfortunately, the names are used interchangeably quite a lot in the region, so the distinction means little to New Englanders who are used to huge ponds like this one. It is 211 acres in total and 102 feet at its deepest. This means there is plenty of room for vacationers to fish, embark on a boating excursion from the launch, or swim just off one of its two beaches. The pond is about a 30 to 45-minute drive from Boston and only a few minutes from Plymouth's varied amenities, so do not worry about being trapped in the wilderness.
Tuxbury Pond RV Resort
88 Whitehall Road
South Hampton, NH 03827
(603) 394-7660
www.tuxburypond.com
About an hour from Boston in southern New Hampshire is an RV resort with a lakeside view. The resort itself offers an arcade room, playground, general store, bathhouses, laundry, sporting areas, and even movies. It is glamorous camping - or glamping - with the added benefit of activities like rowing, swimming and fishing for nature lovers. There are also rustic campsites for those who prefer to forego the RV. Some sites are directly on the pond for better access to boating and fishing.
Concord, MA
www.mass.gov
Walden Pond is a national historic landmark located in a state reservation about 35 minutes from Boston. It is the place for which Henry David Thoreau named his non-fiction novel Walden, which was about the benefits of living a solitary life in the wild, among other things. To walk in his footsteps is but one reason to visit this tranquil and enjoyable place. It is in Concord, which is home to a number of historical sites from American Revolution battlefields to the home of famous writer Louisa May Alcott.
Onway Lake Family Resort
15 Sargent Drive
Raymond, NH 03077
(603) 895-2165
www.onwaylake.com
Another New Hampshire treat that is just about an hour away from Boston is the Onway Lake Family Resort. There is swimming in the lake, but the resort also features a swimming pool for those who prefer a less rustic body of water for their swimming needs. Other amenities include tennis, basketball courts, hiking trails, and a clubhouse. Activities include canoeing, fishing and bicycling in the summer; Sledding, skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing take place in the winter.
Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.