There's something magical about having a place to yourself in the off-season. Staying at Hideaway Inn at Mt. Sunapee, I spent my days exploring the lakes nearby. 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 calmness.
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!
My favorite spot was probably Lake Sunapee Beach. I came back a couple of times before finally capturing a good sunrise. 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 gave me some beautiful homes to admire. 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, especially cool with the rocks around them glazed in ice.
March may be the off-season, but my Lake Sunapee adventure was very peaceful. It was beautiful and left me curious about what this corner of New Hampshire looks like when the whole area comes back to life in summer.
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