New Hampshire has some great nature. Forests, trails, and lots of mountains. But beaches? Some folks might not think we measure up to our New England neighbors. To those people we say, "okay, you might be right!" The truth is that while we love our 13 miles of coast, sometimes we want to try something new. That's why we love this lake beach. Don't let the fact that it's not on the ocean dissuade you from a visit. In fact, you might just forget that you're sunning your buns at a lake!
At 10 miles long and 1,100 feet above sea level, Lake Sunapee is the highest lake of its size in America.
We also think it might be one of the most beautiful!
And while there aren't a ton of boat ramps and public access swimming areas, we're glad that Sunapee State Beach exists.
This white sandy beach is perfect for spending the day with friends and family.
And if you're not paying attention you just might actually believe you're on the coast.
The beach area features a store, canoe & kayak rentals and a playground.
The only problem with this gorgeous beach is that it often gets full, which means you'll want to arrive early. When it's reached capacity, the gate won't let you in and it's a long drive back to Hampton for plan b!
Lake Sunapee State Park is open weekends only from May 18th to June 2nd. It opens full time on June 8th through September 2nd. September 2nd to September 15th is goes back to a weekend-only schedule. Daily operating hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost to enter is $5 for adults and $2 for children aged 6 to 11. For more information check out the New Hampshire State Park website. Address: 86 Beach Access Road, Newbury, NH 03255.
And, for more wonderful lakeside beaches take a look at this article. You'll find 9 more spots we love!
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