Holderness

A small town of about 1,000 people in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, Center Harbor is the kind of sought-after community that acts as a peaceful getaway for visitors and a lifelong dream for residents. “I always said that I would retire to a little public library overlooking the water, and that’s exactly what I did,” says Linda Verge, Director of James E. Nichols Memorial Library. “When I walk out the library door at 5 o’clock, I can hear the church bells pealing from Center Harbor Congregational Church a couple of doors down. The town is very special and pristine, like a step back in time.” A quiet, slow-paced atmosphere coupled with serene views of Lake Winnipesaukee and White Mountain are why John Greenleaf Whittier felt compelled to write a poem about Center Harbor. Whitter’s poetic sentiment can be seen on a boulder outside of the Center Harbor Gazebo in the downtown area, where the library, supermarket and a few local restaurants are located. Fittingly, Whittier Highway is the two-lane road through the town’s center, and U.S. Route 3 weaves around the more rural sections of the community and connects residents to the city of Laconia about 15 miles south. Center Harbor attracts lifelong residents and seasonal visitors alike, thanks to the abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities surrounding this small town. “We're one of the Lakes Region towns that swells in the summertime with visitors,” Verge says. The eastern border kisses the shores of the glacial Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest and deepest lake in the state. While known for its salmon and trout fishing, people enjoy their summers swimming and boating on this lake. Center Harbor residents have private access to their own beach, but the public and popular Weirs Beach is about 10 miles south on U.S. Route 3. The north side of town opens to several scenic bays and coves that lead to the spring-fed Squam Lake, the state’s second-largest lake. Just north of Squam Lake, White Mountain National Forest provides 1,200 miles of hiking trails, 400 miles of snowmobile trails and 23 campgrounds. In addition to offering something for every season, this mountain has one of the highest peaks in the New England area, making it a go-to stop for travelers. More sought-after hiking destinations nearby include Belknap Mountain and Mount Major, located about 20 miles south of Center Harbor. Homes in Center Harbor reflect the lifestyle of the town, from mountain chalets with picturesque vistas to waterfront properties with private docks. Architectural styles include Farmhouse-inspired, colonial influences and contemporary builds, some houses tucked in the woods with long driveways on multiple acres and others providing direct or walking access to one of the surrounding lakes. Typically ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 square feet in size, homes in Center Harbor are priced anywhere between $825,000 and $3 million. Many of Center Harbor’s shops and diners can be found along Whittier Highway, or New Hampshire Route 25, which runs along the town’s center. On the north end of this downtown area, Lemongrass Restaurant & Sake Bar serves Thai cuisine. A half mile down the two-lane highway, Center Harbor Diner is the local spot for classic American breakfast food. A few blocks from there, Gusto Italian Cafe is a counter-serve Italian bakery and deli with a produce market that sells wine. Another half mile down Whittier, Canoe Restaurant & Tavern offers upscale tavern food and beers on tap in a rustic boathouse atmosphere. For convenient grocery runs in Center Harbor, there’s E.M. Heath Supermarket. Where the town center reaches the water, Center Harbor Town Beach is a resident-only sandy beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. Across town on the west side, Chamberlain-Reynolds Beach Cove offers hiking trails and calm kayaking coves on Squam Lake. Also on the west side, Fogg Hill Conservation Area provides quiet and woodsy trails around Bear Pond. Close by, Waukewan Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course that’s open to the public. To the north, Proctor Preserve features an almost 2-mile loop that follows a brook, and nearby, Red Hill Summit is a trail that leads to an old fire tower. Back in town on Main Street, the historic Nichols Memorial Library has been operating in the same building since 1910. “Right outside the library, there’s a band that plays every Friday night during the summer months,” Verge says. Highly anticipated in the community, the annual Fourth of July Celebration also happens across the street from the library. The festivities begin with the Annual Footrace on Main Street, followed by a parade and a concert in the gazebo, ending with a fireworks display over the bay. The Inter-Lakes School District serves students living in the Center Harbor, Meredith, and Sandwich communities. Inter-Lakes Elementary is a kindergarten through sixth-grade school with a B-minus grade from Niche. Inter-Lakes Middle School, also graded a B-minus, is in the same building as Inter-Lakes High School, which Niche grades a C-plus. The high school boasts a well-accomplished robotics team called the Lakerbots, and the Varsity girls volleyball team won the state championship for the 2023 season. Along with Whittier Highway weaving around the eastside shoreline, U.S. Route 3 is the major thoroughfare that cuts through the center of town and leads Center Harbor residents to the city of Laconia less than 15 miles south. This highway offers one Concord Coach Line bus stop, and it connects to Interstate 93 about 10 miles to the west.