Your tour starts in orchard country and you'll soon be among loons, herons, and the 274 or so islands on New Hampshire's largest lake. You'll see mountain views and shores lined with youth camps, vintage cottages, and new mansions. Each day you will paddle to another quaint village and your guide will take you to museums, nature centers, and the best ice cream shops in town.

Includes fully guided trip with meals, kayaking, hiking, nature and history interpretation, cultural walks, lodging, luggage transport, and shuttle.

During peak motorboat use in summer, canoeing and kayaking will take place early each day to avoid traffic and noise. Bring your own canoe, lake touring kayak, or sea kayak, or we can arrange rentals.
 

      When? Our guided canoe and kayak trips are available May through October, although July through mid-October may be the warmest time. May and June is the best time without tourists around. We rent wet suits during cooler months, or you can wear layers of clothing as you would for cross-country skiing or hiking.

Relative Water Temperature: 
 May June July August September October November
Cold                 Warmest          Cooler      Cold
 

Itinerary
Day 1--Meet guide at Lake Opechee Inn & Spa by 1:00 PM and together you'll review your itinerary for the week. You'll leave your car at the Inn, or other secure place, and your tour will start with stops at a local farm stand, an old-fashioned country store, a loon center, and a wildlife sanctuary. Arrival at Olde Orchard Inn, in Moultonborough, NH, and walk to dinner nearby.
Day 2--After a full country candlelit breakfast and packing a picnic lunch, you will be shuttled to the kayak put-in nearby on Lake Winnipesaukee and you and your guide will paddle approx. 15 miles (24 km) to the village of Center Harbor, where you'll stay tonight at Sutton House Bed & Breakfast. A guided historic walking tour of the town, a stop for quilt-lovers at a famous shop, and some time at the beach before dinner nearby.
Day 3--Today you'll paddle around Meredith Neck and by islands called Six Mile, Five Mile, and Three Mile Islands. Arrive at the docks in Meredith Village and settle into Meredith Inn B & B for two nights. A guided tour of the town will bring you into historic buildings to see how very different the town was only a hundred years ago. Some tax-free shopping and a yummy dinner at one of the area's original restaurants.
Day 4--You will be taken up to another lake today to paddle back into Meredith approx. 4-6 miles (6.5-9.5 km), some of which is natural shoreline with red-winged blackbirds, swallows, dragonflies, and maybe a moose. (You could opt to just do 2 hours of the wilderness part, out and back to the launch site.) If time permits, or if you would rather skip paddling today, you can also visit a nature center and go for a hike with lake views in a nearby town. Stay in Meredith a second night.
Day 5--Paddling with the sunrise on your left cheek, you'll now be following railroad tracks for the rest of your route. In the 1800's the tracks were originally built to transport logs from the White Mountains to the lumber mills, and for farmers to trade their goods for products from the cities of Boston and Montreal. You will paddle through Weirs Beach and into Paugus Bay. A weir is a type of set up that Native Americans used to catch fish. We'll stop at "The Weirs" to visit a museum of the lake and to get a taste of local flavors and amusements. Continuing into Lakeport, you'll be paddling 9 miles (14.5 km) today and stay at Lake Opechee Inn & Spa.
Day 6--Paddle into Laconia on the Winnipesaukee River and have a walking tour through downtown to visit exhibits and historic buildings. Departure after lunch.

Details
• Destinations/Prices are subject to change without notice.
• In the case of poor paddling conditions, alternate activities are available at no extra charge--still a great New Hampshire experience. Anything is possible on our adventures: wildlife and scenic viewing, waterfalls, weather, outdoor photography, survival skills instruction, animal tracking, and nature & history interpretation.
• Recreation equipment: Paddling equipment rentals can be arranged (rental package starts at $200 for tandem canoe, and $275 for solo kayak). Dry bags and day packs are provided.
• Guided hiking, nature, and history tours are included (see itinerary).
• 14 Meals and snacks are included and start with dinner on Day 1 and end with lunch on the last day.
• Your luggage will be transported each day to the next lodging destination, and your vehicles when/if appropriate.
• You will receive a pack list and directions upon registration.
• Trail/parking fees and tax are included; gratuities are not included.

     * Check for availability May - October

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Our mission is to immerse participants in New Hampshire's nature and heritage

as they develop memories and life skills.

Outdoor ESCAPES New Hampshire, LLC
49 Butternut Lane, Conway, NH 03818
www.outdoorescapesnewhampshire.com

naturenut@outdoorescapesnewhampshire.com

    (Copy & paste address to your email program.)   

          Lucie (LaPlante) Villeneuve
Wilderness Guide & Outdoor Educator
Trip Locations: Guides meet participants statewide

Office Hours: By chance...e-mail or call any time  

          Cell Phone: 603-528-0136

 
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Last modified:  04/12/2010