Visiting Sunapee Harbor -- New Hampshire
Sunapee Harbor Reflects The Beauty of New Hampshire
Sunapee
Harbor, N.H.
Article, photos by Eric Hurwitz
created for VisitingNewEngland.com on 10/28/2021. Find us on Twitter: @newenglandinfo
Editor's note: Many
of the places mentioned in this article are seasonal. Always call ahead
to find out latest business operation status before embarking on your
itinerary.
All I ever need from New England travel
is a lake or ocean setting, mountains or rolling hills, a country
store, town green, place to grab a bite, historic homes and buildings
and a sense of place.
Sunapee Harbor, located in the underrated Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region
of New Hampshire, more than meets that criteria starting with its
beautiful
harbor framed by gentle, rolling hills.
Tucked away about a half-mile from the main drag in Sunapee (Route 11),
this hidden gem of a harbor doesn't dazzle with heavily-advertised
attractions and tourist trap stores and restaurants. There are no
billboards or glitzy neon signs in sight nor lines of people stressed
out, all in the name of seeking relaxation. Traffic jams aspire
for higher elevations in towns
farther to the north that rely on the tourist trade. On a weekday in
autumn during the foliage season, my only delay at the harbor was
allowing two locals to cross the street with their dogs.
The atmosphere in Sunapee Harbor lends fresh, reviving New Hampshire
mountain air to breathe. A
quiet community allows one to hear that proverbial pin drop -- the
silence
rendered instantly with an inner sense of peace, rest and relaxation.
The views and vibe
creates a New Hampshire that we have expected to fall in love with
during
our anticipatory travel dreams at home.
Through our panoramic eyes, a wide view of Sunapee Harbor provides a
welcoming scene that you wish you could capture and bring home. Since
that isn't a possibility, the key is to take a deep breath and enjoy
the given moment.
A wide view of Sunapee Harbor.
All the bells and whistles that Sunapee Harbor provides is virtually
bereft of glitter and gold but, at the same time, offers a perfect fit
for a
wealthy soul gaining eternal sustenance through the innate brilliance
of
Mother Nature.
The feeling is genuine, laid back and with
scenic views that truly serve as traditional New England eye candy.
Case-in-point: the gazebo at Sunapee Harbor...
Sunapee Harbor Gazebo.
A harbor view from the gazebo.
While the harbor offers an idyllic place to begin your journey, I would
first recommend starting at The Riverwalk trail across the street. It's
like
having the most delicious appetizer before the memorable main course
meal.
Approaching The Riverwalk.
This half-mile
scenic stroll
along the sweet Sugar River combines history and scenery with sights of
the
old town hall, former livery stable, old factory and mill sites,
waterfalls and
the grace, flow and beauty of the river. The trail leads to the Sunapee Welcome Center where you can learn more
about this special
region.
History and waterfalls.
A Little Bit on Shopping, Dining and Lake Excursions
The Wild Goose Country Store.
Sunapee Harbor doesn't possess an abundance of shops but what they do offer greatly satisfies,
including stores that sell antiques, art and furniture. But wait,
there's more.
A&E Harbor
Shop across from the harbor is a store "run by kids!" as it states
on its web site. This
family-run shop with the kids at the forefront of the store's operation
sells souvenirs, beach stuff, tie dye, books, snacks and games.
The Wild Goose Country Store might just be the only country store
located on a lake in New England. The water views from the outside are
splendid, the experience on the inside full of old-time, traditional
New England shopping fun. This pleasant shop features many of the
requisite
country store merchandise including maple syrup, locally-made coffee,
nostalgic candies, jams, jellies, spices and mixes, decorative and
gift items, bath and beauty products, jewelry, earrings and
bracelets, toys, stuffed animals, games, puzzles and books. It's
not the biggest country store but they saturate the space with all the
things we love about this kind of retro New England shop.
Regarding a good
place to dine, I highly recommend the Anchorage at
Sunapee Harbor. This popular restaurant with wonderful harbor views
from the inside of the restaurant and deck is open-year-round (well,
not the deck). Soups,
salads, sandwiches, steak, chicken and seafood dishes highlight the
impressive menu. On my most recent visit, I enjoyed a delicious tuna
melt and ample and fresh Caesar salad that ranked amongst the best I've
ever tasted for these two types of dishes.
For scenic
boat excursions on one of New Hampshire's most clean and
beautiful lakes, climb aboard the MV Mt Sunapee II for seasonal daily
excursions and Mt. Kearsarge for dinner cruises...
The Mt. Kearsarge.
The MV Mt Sunapee II.
Conclusion
Another perspective of Sunapee Harbor.
Full disclosure: For a fleeting and
unwise moment, I almost bypassed Sunapee Harbor. When arriving there
after a two-hour drive I thought to myself, "Is that all there is?"
For the next 45 minutes I drove around to further explore the area and
discovered some truly beautiful towns like New London and Newbury. I
was also impressed by the small town charm in downtown Newport. During
that time, however, Sunapee Harbor stayed on my mind. Absence quickly
made the
heart grow fonder.
A sweet scene by the Sugar River.
When returning to Sunapee Harbor, I took a forever travel vow to keep
this little gem of a place in the upper echelon of my personal favorite
destinations. It might have taken 45 minutes to realize a lapse of
sound
travel judgment but ultimately proved that true love grows by the
minute. Such grand unions between the heart and soul of a person and a
destination lead to a connectivity that can only be experienced and
never fully described. Sunapee Harbor is that kind of spot.
They say the grass is always greener on the other side, meaning other
places seem better than the place most familiar with you. Sunapee
Harbor gives that cliche a run for the money, however, by just being
its authentic, genuine self in an idyllic location.
Where to stay near Sunapee Harbor? Check out the Mountain Edge Resort and Spa and the Maple Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast.
Additional reading:
Visiting Little Red Riding Hood's Grandmother's House
in the middle of the New Hampshire woods
This New Hampshire highway stop proves that service
centers don't need to be boring and mediocre
What's beyond this Copper Door in Bedford, N.H.?
New
England Gift Idea! Lake Sunapee Ornament
-- Your
purchase of
this Lake Sunapee Ornament helps
keep VisitingNewEngland
going. This pewter snowflake featuring a autumn foliage scene of Mt.
Sunapee State Park Beach in Newbury, N.H. is made in a high-quality
pewter construction and unique snowflake styling. It comes with a
silver-toned hanging string, perfect for holiday décor!
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if interested in forming a business partnership.
Explore
Massachusetts travel! Read
the Massachusetts
Town Greens book -- Discover New England's first travel
attractions:
town commons.
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