Which area lakes have places you can "boat to"?
 

My young family and I are looking for a lake where we can take a boat ride and actually "go somewhere and dock", such as a general store, a town, or similar, as opposed to just boating around a lake.

Which local lakes (aside from the obvious Winnipesaukee) have places like this, i.e., where you can tie up your boat somewhere?

Thanks!

http://i44.tinypic.com/1499wms.gif fonnie23, I just noticed that you are fairly new to the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends. I’m not familiar with all the lakes that have what you are looking for, but I’m sure you will get a number of them told to you by the members of the forum. Best of luck looking and enjoy the locations that you will be trying.
http://i54.tinypic.com/2e56yqf.gif

The only other NH lakes I've been on are Sunapee and Squam. They are both much smaller than Winni.

Sunapee: Pretty lake and easy to boat on. Clearly marked areas. There are a few "rafting" spots that people like. There are three main public docks: Sunapee Harbor, Georges Mills and Newbury. Newbury and Sunapee Harbor have a couple of restaurants and shops nearby.

Squam: Beautiful lake but you have to be careful to read the markings. Lots of submerged rocks. They're marked, but pay attention. Squam has many islands you can either anchor near, or in some cases, dock at (where most of Winni's islands are privately owned).

Both lakes tend to be inhabited by boats 20' or less, where Winni has boats of many sizes. Obviously it has the widest range of attractions!

Whatever floats your boat!
(crap. did I say that out loud?)

Let me add Winnisquam to the mix......pretty lake, but there is very little to do by boat. Couple of restaurants and stores. If you want to relax, cruise and ski, it's great. You can always find some flat water, even on weekends.

Winnisquam
 

has an awesome public launch ramp. Parking is limited so get there just after the fish boats leave but before the day crowd. There is an awesome sand bar next to the bridge. If it rains, the sand bar crowd ducks under the bridge!

Newfound Lake has a nice launch ramp at Wellington State Park. Plenty of parking! Very clean lake, very few rocks. Lots of rafting.

Ossipee Lake is also very clean. I have not been boating there in years. It use to have accomodations at Totem Pole park. Not sure if it is still there.

Squam is mentioned above. The Squam lake property owners are still fuming about the public dock and still insist the boaters introduced the milfoil. What they don't believe is that they may be the one to bring it in on one of their own boats. I'd stay away from the properties as you boat. Great lake for pontooning and because of rocks, I would change to an aluminum prop if you have an SS.

Kanasaka, and Opechee are great lakes for waterskiing and fishing, little else.

Wicwas has a diving cliff at one end. There is an island in the middle of the lake that kind of push boaters within the 150' rule. Most people ignore it but respect passage.

Wicwas
 

Thanks Broadhopper. Do you know where on Wicwas the dive rock is located?