There's something magical about having a place to yourself in the off-season. The quietness and stillness feed directly into my photography.
Staying at Hideaway Inn at Mt. Sunapee, I spent my days exploring the lakes and searching for spots worth returning to with a camera.
On my first evening in town, I set out to find somewhere along the water to shoot the sunset. I was drawn to a dock that opened up to a view of a small lighthouse — one I hadn't expected to find there. I hit the brakes the moment I spotted it. A handful of beautiful lake houses lined the shore, and the whole scene had that quiet, unhurried peace.
On my way to Mt Sunapee, I passed Newbury Beach in Newbury Harbor. There was a small beach but covered in snow and ice. I enjoyed the scenery from here despite the cold and overcast skies. The highlight? Spotting a river otter running across the ice then diving into the water.
On my way to Mt. Sunapee, I passed through Newbury Harbor and pulled over at Newbury Beach. The small beach was blanketed in snow and ice. There was something quietly beautiful about it. I stood there in the cold, taking in the stillness.
Then came the highlight: a river otter darting across the ice before plunging into the water.
My favorite spot was probably Lake Sunapee Beach. I came back a couple of times before finally capturing a sunrise worthy of the visit. The view of the lake houses was lovely, and the lake was still frozen solid — enough that a man ventured out to ice fish. It was something to watch. I even braved the ice myself (only about 50 feet from shore, if I'm being honest) and found myself suddenly wishing I'd brought skates.
Driving around Lake Sunapee turned up all kinds of unexpected sights. I loved the stone barn-style residence crowned with a chicken weathervane, a classic red barn with a cow weathervane, and one property with a charming collection of retro gas pumps. A few roadside waterfalls broke up the drive, the rocks around them glazed in ice.
March may be the off-season, but my Lake Sunapee adventure was very peaceful. There's something with having a place nearly to yourself — and if anything, it left me curious about what this corner of New Hampshire looks like when summer and fall roll in and the whole area comes back to life.
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