With Father’s Day just around the corner, we’re here to help you ensure a Sunday celebration your dad won’t soon forget.
Whether the father figure in your life is happiest spending an afternoon by a quiet lake, discovering new local restaurants, or taking in sweeping nature views on a scenic hike, the Lakes Region offers endless ways to spend quality time together. Here are five recommendations for celebrating Father’s Day, Lakes Region-style!
1. For the thrill-seeking dad
Is your dad the type who wants to do anything but sit still? Choose from the Lakes Region’s wide variety of exhilarating activities for your Father’s Day itinerary. For starters, there’s OSG Paintball: the largest paintball field in New England, boasting 13 themed outdoor courses, advanced rental gear, and even an on-site food truck and bar to help you fuel up for a day of fun. Or, treat dad to the adrenaline-inducing experience of skydiving! Skydive New England has been in operation for over 35 years, helping adventurers reach pulse-quickening altitudes just after ski season comes to a close. To capture the memory (and so dad can show it off to his friends), choose from one of the video package options for selfie-style footage or a birds-eye-view of the experience.
2. For the history buff
Around the Lakes Region, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to world-class museums and fascinating exhibits. The Wright Museum in Wolfeboro recognizes and honors the legacy of World War II-era Americans, housing over 14,000 items and memorabilia (weapons, uniforms, photos, and more). You can also spend the day learning more about boating history and the heritage of New Hampshire’s iconic lakes and rivers at the New Hampshire Boat Museum, with locations in Moultonborough and Wolfeboro. If dad’s passionate about motorized racing, pay a visit to the New England Racing Museum in Loudon, where race cars, motorcycles, championship trophies, and other racing artifacts are on display across the 10,000-square-foot space.
3. For the Nature-Loving Pop
Help dad get nearer to nature this Father’s Day at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness. Take a self-guided stroll along the animal exhibit trail for a close-up look at river otters, raptors, mountain lions, birds, and more. Or, hit one of the center’s three hiking trails to travel through picturesque fields, forests, and wetlands. To spend the day admiring jaw-dropping landscapes, pop over to the Lost River Gorge in Kinsman Notch and the Polar Caves in Rumney. The former is home to a wooden boardwalk trail that takes hikers along the river to admire boulders, cascading waterfalls, and sweeping forest views. At the Polar Caves, you can wander and shimmy your way through a collection of nine granite caves formed during the last Ice Age.
4. for the foodie father
You can’t go wrong with treating dad to a top-notch meal — after all, nobody wants to cook and clean up on a day that’s all about them! Patrick’s Pub & Eatery, an Irish pub in Gilford, is a must for anyone who loves chowder or a juicy burger. If waterfront views are on your Father’s Day menu, plan a dinner at Lago, where dad can enjoy classic Italian dishes like alfredo and bolognese, sip old-world wines, and gaze out onto shimmering Meredith Bay. Another option for a quintessential New England meal? Morrisey’s Porch and Pub. The Wolfeboro eatery serves up fresh seafood plates — lobster pie, a fisherman’s platter, and more — plus pub classics like bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie. Once you’ve savored lunch or dinner, end the experience on a sweet note with one of the restaurant’s 30-plus premium ice cream flavors.
Visit the Deals section of our website for more details on local Father’s Day specials, from $1.75 off pints at Woodstock Inn Brewery to prime rib meals at Dox on Winnisquam.
5. for the dad who prefers the scenic route
From narrated lake tours to picturesque train journeys, the Lakes Region offers a whole host of activities that provide a front-row seat to the area’s natural beauty. At the EKAL Activity Center, located inside Bay Point at Mill Falls at the Lake, you can rent out an “aqua trike” and pedal around beautiful Meredith Bay or book a 90-minute cruise to be whisked off to the stunning islands of Lake Winnipesaukee on a pontoon boat. Make sure to bring a camera and capture the sights! Wild Meadow Paddlesports also makes it easy to spend the day out on the water with kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals available at the Moultonborough shop. If an aquatic adventure isn’t the best fit for dad, consider a rail journey along the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. The one- and two-hour rides take travelers from Meredith to Weirs Beach (where you can get some fresh air on a boardwalk stroll) to Lakeport and back.
Looking for more ideas and inspiration for your Lakes Region Father’s Day celebration? Browse our events calendar for the best June happenings, from live music series to trivia nights and so much more!