# A classic New Hampshire lake escape for the whole family > A relaxed 3-day family lake getaway in New Hampshire with quiet morning paddling, campfire cookouts, forest trails, and easy day trips. Canonical: https://wonderkit.app/itineraries/lakes-region-nh/family-lake-getaway HTML: https://wonderkit.app/itineraries/lakes-region-nh/family-lake-getaway - City: Lakes Region, New Hampshire - Trip: Family trip · 3 days · 6 stops - Audience: families - Season: Late June through mid-September - Last reviewed: 2026-10-14 - Plan this trip: https://wonderkit.app/start?city=Lakes+Region&source=premade_trip&vibe=family&wk_src=itin-lakes-region-nh-family-lake-getaway&itinerary=lakes-region-nh%2Ffamily-lake-getaway&wk_cta=markdown ![A classic New Hampshire lake escape for the whole family](https://wonderkit.app/api/photos/places/ChIJxTlD9NV04okRXf0x2XNEoUo/photos/Aa-ngMbh35AE74YoCau2WxsT-f2Ny70vifJYvVFWr1KiY1pAUxaST2zhksdUpmpSwn6RuAy_1HufsZe5WE-mYJLMpZzczvsnZEKM8tcXFIFjzu97k9UeqpmnmrF2zX14tfrkZQqi_byD-6goyx0Iaa5PXpTxd_xqbiCtwMzJNuCsKiK421MMI0Sz2Gbl-AO0tZQJn6bpb_loEKrtrqHcPMPkvkRnh-dCwNzloQN9IsF16sut17A3rlf_qzIcTZTdcFioXXt-7_8DAZlrPlgTY0C0tc046_XiNmCVVVWx_fYdwX94cXEocMMoh7PzBDxUGhtgcv1MNenwQ8xoSM4XcmaxLl6h7jV-LVZ3djbmTmPHJVdvm59ecS2Qe0K6O2Cr9GR5tevkIqCuKag6Cr_RQuQZ_Olo3hvg?h=1200) Leave the congested turnpikes behind and slip into the quiet pocket between New Hampshire’s big lakes and the White Mountains. East Madison sits on calm Purity Lake, where mornings unfold to the rhythm of loon calls and canoe paddles slicing through mirror-still water. For multigenerational families and parents traveling with young children, this trip delivers classic lakeside ease without the stiff luxury price tag or chaotic highway traffic. You can unpack once in an unpretentious cabin or lodge room, spend afternoons building sandcastles on a clean sandy beach, and let the kids wander over to open-air pancake and bacon cookouts among towering white pines. When restless energy strikes, short drives take you to North America's largest glacial erratic, live wildlife trails along Squam Lake, and rushing waterfall flumes. It is an unhurried, porch-sitting summer escape where dinner is steps away and the hardest decision of the day is whether to take out a kayak or jump in for one last sunset swim. ## How to use this plan Use this three-day plan as an unhurried template for a long summer or early autumn weekend. Base yourself at Purity Spring Resort to keep driving to a minimum, and swap in nearby nature trails or waterfall walks whenever little legs need a change of pace. ## Day 1 — Paddles, Pine Forests, and Lakeside Arrival Settle into East Madison, claim your spot on the sand, and spend the afternoon drifting across calm water before an easy dinner on the property. ### Anchor: Purity Lake Beach at Purity Spring Resort *Purity Lake Beach & Watercraft* **Check in, launch a complimentary canoe, and spend the sunny hours paddling calm, motorboat-free water.** Check in at Purity Spring Resort and head straight for the sandy private waterfront on Purity Lake. The resort provides canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards for guests to explore the gentle shoreline without boat wake. Shallow entry zones make swimming easy for toddlers, while older kids can paddle out toward small islands. Watch for painted turtles sunning on submerged logs and listen for resident loons calling across the cove as evening settles in. ### Backup: The Mill Indoor Pool at Purity Spring Resort *Indoor Pool & Mill Waters* **Head indoors for warm laps and a hot tub soak if afternoon mountain showers roll through the valley.** If mountain rain clouds roll over the Ossipee foothills, retreat to the heated indoor pool facility at the resort's Mill building. Large glass windows bring the pine forest indoors while kids splash safely away from passing storms. A relaxing hot tub lets parents unwind after the drive north from Boston or New York. ### Eat & rest Walk across the grounds to Traditions Restaurant at the resort's central inn for family-friendly tavern burgers, crisp salads, and baked mac and cheese, leaving car keys tucked away for the night. *Arrive by mid-afternoon so children can burn highway energy on the sand before sitting down for a leisurely dinner.* Day reference: 1 ## Day 2 — Forest Cookouts and Glacial Granite Start with woodsmoke and outdoor griddles in the pines, explore quiet nature boardwalks, and stand beneath an ancient granite colossus. ### Anchor: Rocky Point at Purity Spring Resort *Rocky Point Breakfast Cookout & Esker Trail* **Walk through the pines to an open-air morning cookout on the point followed by a gentle wildlife loop.** Follow the smell of woodsmoke to Rocky Point for a beloved Saturday summer tradition where resort cooks prepare eggs, crisp bacon, bagels, and hot coffee over outdoor burners by the water. After breakfast, step directly onto the adjacent Esker Trail in the NH Audubon Hoyt Wildlife Sanctuary. The gentle one-mile loop winds through fragrant hemlocks and follows a sandy glacial ridge around No Bottom Pond, offering easy footing for little legs. ### Backup: Madison Boulder Natural Area *Madison Boulder Exploration* **Take a five-minute drive down the road to inspect North America's largest known glacial erratic.** Just five miles from the resort, this 17-acre state park protects a massive block of granite dropped by melting glaciers fourteen thousand years ago. An easy, crushed-gravel forest trail leads a quarter-mile through the trees to the 83-foot-long, 5,000-ton boulder. The level loop keeps stroller-pushing parents and grandparents comfortable while kids gaze up at its towering face. ### Eat & rest Head ten minutes down Route 16 to Hobbs Tavern & Brewing Company in West Ossipee for wood-fired pizzas, hearty tavern fare, and house-brewed root beer inside an 1885 farmhouse. *Keep the middle of the day unprogrammed for naps or quiet hammock time back at the resort before the afternoon outing.* Day reference: 2 ## Day 3 — Woodland Wildlife and Mountain Waterfalls Spend your final morning meeting native northern wildlife along forested boardwalks or chasing waterfalls above Lake Winnipesaukee. ### Anchor: Squam Lakes Natural Science Center *Live Animal Trail at Squam Lakes Science Center* **Walk through natural woodland enclosures to see rescued black bears, bobcats, and playful river otters.** Drive west toward Holderness to explore this accredited open-air wildlife refuge set among mature hardwood forest. A three-quarter-mile packed gravel trail guides families past spacious enclosures housing non-releasable native animals, including black bears, mountain lions, and river otters that swim through underwater viewing tunnels. Hands-on interactive stations and forested playscapes keep younger children engaged at every turn. ### Backup: Castle in the Clouds **Hike along Shannon Brook to discover seven distinct cascades on a historic mountaintop estate.** If you prefer hiking along running water, head to Moultonborough to explore the 5,200-acre Lucknow Estate. The family-friendly Brook Walk follows Shannon Brook through a cool hemlock gorge, passing seven waterfalls including the fifty-foot Falls of Song. The trail is free to access, while optional tickets let you tour the 1914 Arts and Crafts mansion overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. ### Eat & rest Dine on the breezy patio at Walter's Basin in Holderness, enjoying fresh haddock sandwiches, lobster rolls, and local draft ales overlooking the Squam Lake boat channel. *Book morning admission at the science center to beat midday crowds, leaving early afternoon open for a relaxed lunch and the drive home.* Day reference: 3 ## Family Planning Notes A few practical considerations before heading up to the lake with children. - Saturday morning breakfast cookouts at Rocky Point run weekly from late June through Labor Day weekend; check resort dining schedules for midweek lobster bakes. - Bring water shoes for the lake beach and bug spray for shaded forest trails along the Audubon sanctuary. - Squam Lakes Natural Science Center tickets should be reserved online in advance during peak July and August weekends to guarantee your entry window. ## Plan this trip with your group [Start from this plan in WonderKit](https://wonderkit.app/start?city=Lakes+Region&source=premade_trip&vibe=family&wk_src=itin-lakes-region-nh-family-lake-getaway&itinerary=lakes-region-nh%2Ffamily-lake-getaway&wk_cta=markdown): invite your group with one link, everyone votes on what stays, and the plan is rebuilt around your dates in about a minute. Free to start; a person completes it in the web app. ## Keep exploring - [All Lakes Region itineraries](https://wonderkit.app/itineraries/lakes-region-nh) Every place on this page is verified — [how we check](https://wonderkit.app/itineraries/how-we-verify) --- Content from WonderKit public guides. Trip planning accounts are human-only at https://wonderkit.app.