Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire consisting of a surface area of about 71 square miles. It has 178 miles of shoreline, and includes over two hundred islands around the entire lake. Lake Winnipesaukee is a Mecca for tourism, as it provides an environment for all different types of activities on and off the lake. These activities consist of: water sports, numerous restaurants and shopping amenities, water amusements, and arcade games. ”Summer time in the Lakes Region is simply the finest time of year. The boats, sports cars, and great dinning make this time of year the best” (Lake Winnipesaukee.net).

     Lake Winnipesaukee is well known for the unbelievable water sports that the lake accommodates. First and for most are the boats on the lake, they range anywhere from a car boat which is car that can go in the water and be a boat also, to a cigarette boat which is a high power speed boat that can cruise at speeds of one hundred miles per hour. There’s not many on the lake but you know one is coming by because the sound of the engines will pierce your ears, and you’ll see almost everyone on the lake turn their heads in “aw” due the simple fact that cigarettes are beautiful. The boats cruise the lake from top to bottom daily making it very difficult for tourists to swim. If you look out on the lake all you see is the boats swarming from all directions, with their fish tails spraying in the air, and their wakes waving to shore. Behind their wake you’ll find the psychotic jet skiers trying to get airlifted at outrageous speeds. Occasionally you will see them flipped, or even better pulled over by the marine patrol for being reckless or driving too fast. Rarely will you find the families towing the water-skiers or wake boarders, only if you decide to cruise through a small island, or wake up early enough before the lake fills up. The morning is the best time to practice watersports; the lake is like a sheet of glass. 

The open lake is way too busy to maneuver waterskiing or wakeboarding due to excessive boat traffic, if you’re daring enough to do so, you’re looking for a death wish. Lake Winnipesaukee is a great place for a family vacation, and I have been going up their every summer sense I have been an infant.

 If you unfortunately do not have a boat or a jet ski, there is still plenty else to do while visiting Lake Winnepausakee. Weirs Beach, a mile long boardwalk of shops and amenities located right on the lake that can entertain you for hours. When I was a kid this used to be my favorite place. My parents would be at the family bar next to all the arcades and I would be running back and forth like a maniac begging for more money as I blew it all on arcade games and cotton candy. The restaurant and shopping amenities that surround the lake are award-winning. To start is whole in the wall British pizza shop, that you can smell from the beginning of the lake whom serves an unbelievable “meat lovers” pizza. Two doors down you can gain about thirty pounds devouring candy apples, cotton candy, and settle all with a delicious ice cream Sunday that will soothe your body. At the same time while enjoying all this wonderful food, you can play some ski ball or race bumper cars in at the Weirs Beach Arcade. If you have kids this a great place to take them. Aside from being on the lake, this is where the action is at, kids and families running around everywhere, the smell of every food imaginable, the mount washing honking its horn, and the train passing by screeching its brakes.

 If you ever get sick of playing arcade games, I never do. There is also the lakes region train that offers a tour of the entire lake, in addition to the Mount Washington Boat. When you see this on the lake it almost looks like a cruise ship. This ship well known, for weddings or a simple sight seeing boat ride on the lake. All the years I have been going to the lake, I still have yet to go on the Mount Washington.   

After a long day on the boat stop by the Naswa Beach Bar for a phenomenal cocktail.  A bar located right at center of the lake, filled with sand beach chairs, and “Lake Beach goers.” They have their own docks, allowing boaters to stop in and dock. Trying to get a spot to park your boat is like fighting for your life, because there are always at least five to ten boats waiting to park in one spot. The boat docks are stacked to the brim, sometimes even double docking. In that case you catch the guys walking back and forth to make sure someone didn't scratch their boat. The Naswa is one of the popular spots on Lake Winnipesaukee. Almost every day of the weekend an event is held; whether it be a hot bikini contest, a poker run, a band, a dj, or just a simple vendor handing out free apparel, it’s always swarmed with people. The beach bar is not just for adults, everyone is welcome. The adults can have a few drinks, while the kids splash around in the beach sand bar. This is the place where you go and see someone you haven’t seen In a while. I have yet to go to the Naswa sense I have been of drinking age, but I sure can’t wait this summer. The Naswa has the best looking staff in the lakes region, and their service is award winning.

 If you haven’t been to Lake Winnipesaukee yet you’re missing out on the one hundred and seventy eight miles of shoreline amenities on and off the water which include; water sports, shopping and restaurant amenities, the arcades and water amusements. “The Native American name Winnipesaukee means either "smile of the Great Spirit" or "beautiful water in a high place.” The largest lake in New Hampshire is the center of many people’s homes that live in Alton, Gilford, Laconia, Wolfeboro, Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, and Tuftonboro whom provide oxygen to the lake, and the amenities around it.