Craft and Gift Shops of the Lakes Region

A summer on the lake usually ends with a bag of something to take home. In the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, the best of those somethings are made nearby: pottery, jewelry, wood, glass, maple and fiber. This guide covers gift shops in the Lakes Region NH that are worth a stop, organized around the towns that ring Lake Winnipesaukee, so you can fold a little shopping into a drive you were going to take anyway.

The shops below are drawn from our directory. Inclusion is editorial and does not mean any business sponsors or endorses this site. Hours change with the seasons around the lake, so check each shop's own website or call ahead before you plan a trip around one stop.

Why the Lakes Region is good for gift shopping

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire. It is about 21 miles long, holds at least 264 islands, and has roughly 288 miles of shoreline. The driving loop around it is about 63 miles. That geography matters for shoppers: the towns on the lake, including Meredith, Gilford, Alton and Wolfeboro, each grew a downtown or a roadside strip that serves both year-round residents and summer visitors. The result is a scattering of small, independent stores rather than one big shopping district.

That spread rewards a slow loop. If you are staying on one side of the lake, pick two or three towns, pair each with a meal or a swim, and make the shopping part of the day rather than the whole of it.

Gilford: New Hampshire-made goods by the water

Gilford sits on the southwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee and is home to Ellacoya State Beach, Gunstock Mountain Resort and the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, a seasonal outdoor concert venue. It is an easy place to combine a beach morning with an afternoon of browsing.

The Gilford Country Store describes itself as a gift shop right next to Lake Winnipesaukee, with a focus on New Hampshire-made products from local artisans and consignments. Its online catalog gives a sense of the stock: lake map coasters and wine bags, framed prints, drinkware, puzzles and games, books, home decor and apparel. The shop says it is open every day, all year, which makes it a useful stop on an off-season weekend when some lake businesses are closed. Look for the big green chair out front and the store's 9-foot moose, which have become a photo stop in their own right.

What to look for here:

• Lake-themed home goods, especially anything printed with a Winnipesaukee map.
• Products from New Hampshire makers, which the store groups as an artisan marketplace.
• Small, packable items if you are traveling home by plane.

Meredith: fine craft on Route 3

Meredith is one of the major resort towns on the lake. Meredith Village, its commercial center, sits at the head of Meredith Bay where U.S. Route 3 meets Route 25, and the town is home to the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. If you want a single town that does shopping, dining and lake views within walking distance, Meredith is a strong choice.

The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery is the anchor for anyone who cares where a piece was made. The gallery is on Route 3 and says it represents more than 250 New Hampshire artists and craftspeople, with an emphasis on home decor. The range is wide: pottery, jewelry, glass and stained glass, wrought iron, fiber art, mixed media and garden art. The gallery also offers craft education workshops and lectures. The League itself is a long-running craft organization; the gallery notes it has thrived for more than 80 years.

A fine craft gallery is a different kind of gift shop. Prices reflect handmade work, and many pieces are one of a kind. If you are buying a wedding or housewarming gift, this is the stop where you are most likely to find something no one else will bring.

Also in Meredith, Cackleberries Garden, Gift and Antique Shops is listed in our directory as a combined garden, gift and antique shop. We could not confirm current details online, so call or stop by to see what is on the shelves.

Wolfeboro: a downtown built for browsing

Wolfeboro is a resort town on the eastern side of Lake Winnipesaukee, in Carroll County. Its downtown sits by the lake and is compact enough to cover on foot, which makes it a pleasant place to spend an afternoon going in and out of shops.

Black's Paper Store and Gift Shop is on South Main Street in downtown Wolfeboro. The store says it has been offering fine gifts since 1867, which makes it one of the longer-running retail names you will find in the Lakes Region. Its online catalog lists clothing, maple and specialty foods, gifts and souvenirs, including chocolates named for local lakes and islands. A box of those makes an easy gift for someone back home who knows the lake.

The Kalled Gallery and Jennifer Kalled Fine Jewelry studio is also in Wolfeboro. The gallery's website says it carries boulder opal jewelry designed and made by Jennifer Kalled, along with work from more than two hundred small American studio artists. Beyond jewelry, the gallery's catalog includes wall art, pottery and ceramics, glass, fiber, lighting and mirrors, wood and sculpture. It also offers custom-made jewelry, so if you are thinking about a commission, ask about the process when you visit.

Alton: a small stop at the southern tip

Alton sits at the southern end of Lake Winnipesaukee. The village of Alton Bay is a long-time resort beside the lake, and the town is home to Alton Bay State Forest and Mount Major State Forest. That makes Alton a natural place to pair a morning outdoors with an afternoon of errands.

Gifts of Grace Jewelry Shoppe is listed in our directory in Alton. We were not able to confirm its current offerings online, so call ahead before making a special trip.

How to plan a Lakes Region gift shopping loop

A loop around Lake Winnipesaukee is about 63 miles by car, which is easy in a day but more fun over two. A few ways to structure it:

• The west side day. Start in Meredith for the fine craft gallery and the village, then drive south to Gilford for the Gilford Country Store and a swim at Ellacoya State Beach.
• The east side day. Spend the morning in downtown Wolfeboro, which is walkable, then continue around the southern end of the lake to Alton Bay.
• The rainy day. Lake weather changes quickly in summer. A gallery and a couple of shops make a good backup plan when the boat stays tied up.

Some practical notes:

• Parking. Downtown Meredith and Wolfeboro both get busy on summer weekends. Arriving earlier in the day usually makes parking easier.
• Shipping. Larger pieces, especially pottery, glass and furniture, travel better if the shop ships them. Ask before you buy.
• Season. Many Lakes Region businesses shorten their hours after Labor Day. Shops that are open year-round, like the Gilford Country Store, are the safer bet in late fall and winter.
• Buying local. Ask where something was made. At the craft gallery the answer is New Hampshire by design; at general gift shops, staff can usually point you to the locally made shelf.

What makes a good gift from the Lakes Region

The most meaningful souvenirs here tend to fall into a few categories:

• Something with the lake on it. Maps and topographic prints of Winnipesaukee are popular because people who love the lake like to point out where their camp or favorite cove is.
• Something handmade. Pottery, glass, jewelry and woodwork from New Hampshire makers last far longer than a T-shirt.
• Something edible. Maple products and local chocolates are easy to pack and easy to give.
• Something for the camp. Many visitors return to the same cottage every year, and a piece for the camp kitchen or porch becomes part of the tradition.

FAQ

Where is the best place for gift shopping in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire?

Meredith and Wolfeboro are the most walkable shopping towns on Lake Winnipesaukee. Meredith has the League of NH Craftsmen gallery on Route 3, and downtown Wolfeboro has several independent shops close together.

Are there shops that sell New Hampshire-made products?

Yes. The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery represents more than 250 New Hampshire artists and craftspeople, and the Gilford Country Store focuses on New Hampshire-made products from local artisans.

Are Lakes Region gift shops open in winter?

Some are. The Gilford Country Store says it is open every day, all year. Others shorten their hours after the summer season, so check each shop's website before you go.

How long does it take to drive around Lake Winnipesaukee?

The driving distance around the lake is about 63 miles. Plan a full day if you want to stop and shop in several towns.

Sources

• Lake Winnipesaukee, Wikipedia (size, islands, shoreline, driving distance): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Winnipesaukee
• Gilford, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (Ellacoya State Beach, Gunstock, Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilford,_New_Hampshire
• Meredith, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (Meredith Village, Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith,_New_Hampshire
• Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfeboro,_New_Hampshire
• Alton, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (Alton Bay, state forests): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alton,_New_Hampshire
• Gilford Country Store: https://www.gilfordcountrystore.com
• Black's Paper Store and Gift Shop: https://www.blacksgiftsnh.com/
• League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery: https://meredith.nhcrafts.org
• Kalled Gallery: https://www.kalledjewelrystudio.com/