The New Hampshire Town You Need to Visit Before Summer Ends

Did you know that Wolfeboro is kinda known as The Oldest Summer Resort in America, with a vacation history that reaches back to the 1700s.

But you don’t have to be a history person to enjoy it.

You know how it goes...

Sometime in the Spring, you make a list of places you want to explore, restaurants you want to try and little New Hampshire road trips you swear you’re finally going to take.

Then you blink, and next thing you know, we're talking about back-to-school shopping and pumpkin spice.

Credit: Getty Images

Before summer slips away completely, there is one New Hampshire town that deserves a spot on your list: Wolfeboro.

Sitting along the eastern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, Wolfeboro has everything you picture when someone says “New England summer.”

There are boats tied up along the docks, people walking through downtown with ice cream cones, restaurants overlooking the water and enough small-town charm to make you wonder why you haven’t visited sooner.

Start With a Walk Along the Water

One of the best things about Wolfeboro is that you don’t necessarily need a complicated plan.

Park downtown, walk toward the town docks and let the day unfold.

The waterfront is filled with boats, lake views and places to sit for a few minutes and take everything in.

It feels busy enough to have some energy, but it can still feel slower and more relaxed than some of New Hampshire’s larger summer destinations.

That is part of the appeal.

Credit: Getty Images

Explore Downtown Wolfeboro

Once you leave the docks, downtown is easy to explore on foot.

You’ll find locally owned shops, restaurants, cafés and plenty of places to grab a cold drink or something sweet.

This is not the kind of trip where you need to rush from one attraction to another.

READ MORE: I Had No Idea You Could Do This in New Hampshire's White Mountains

Wolfeboro is beautiful from the shoreline, but the view gets even better when you get out on the water.

Depending on how adventurous you’re feeling, you could rent a kayak, book a boat ride or simply find a quiet place near the lake.

A New Hampshire summer road trip is not complete without food.

Wolfeboro has everything from casual options and ice cream stops to restaurants that make it easy to turn your afternoon visit into an evening by the lake.

The ideal plan might be lunch, a walk downtown, a little time on the water and dinner before heading home.

This may be the most important part.

Do not leave too early.

Find a spot by the lake, put your phone down for a minute and watch the light change across the water.

It’s one of those simple New Hampshire summer moments that somehow feels bigger than it is.

The feeling that, for a few hours, there is nowhere else you really need to be.

Summer may be moving quickly, but there is still time to squeeze in one more memorable New Hampshire road trip.

Wolfeboro might be the perfect place to do it. Let me know what you think