Shopping in the Lakes Region: Independent Shops and Makers

A trip to Lake Winnipesaukee is usually about the water, but the towns around the lake have a shopping scene worth planning a rainy day, or a slow afternoon, around. Most of it is independent: family-run boutiques, a country store, a candy shop and a gift shop with a long local story. This guide to shopping in the Lakes Region NH focuses on Meredith, where the most shops are clustered, and adds a few favorites in Gilford and Tilton.

Why Meredith is the place to start

Meredith sits on the northwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, with Lake Waukewan just behind the village. Its downtown has a feature that makes shopping unusually easy: a cluster of stores built around a waterfall in the middle of town.

That waterfall has a history. Between 1816 and 1818, John Bond Swasey dug a canal between Lake Waukewan and Lake Winnipesaukee, creating a drop of about 30 feet that powered mills on the site of what is now Mill Falls Marketplace. The mills are long gone, but the falls still run beside the shops, and the lakefront park and docks are a short walk away.

Mill Falls Marketplace

Mill Falls Marketplace is part of the Mill Falls at the Lake resort in Meredith. The resort describes it as a collection of open-air shops, restaurants and services set beside the waterfall, across from the lake. It is the easiest one-stop shopping in the region: park once, then wander between floors and storefronts without worrying about the weather too much.

Three directory businesses here show the mix.

Adornments and Creative Clothing

Adornments and Creative Clothing is a family-owned shop that has been in business since 1989. It is on the second floor of Mill Falls Marketplace, and it describes its stock as clothing, jewelry and accessories with a focus on items made in the USA. It is a good stop for a gift that does not look like it came from a souvenir rack.

603 Paws

Dogs are part of lake life, and 603 Paws is a pet boutique inside the marketplace at 312 Daniel Webster Highway. The name is a nod to New Hampshire's area code. If your dog is along for the vacation, or you want a gift for the one at home, it is worth a look.

Lee's Candy Kitchen

No shopping trip is complete without a sweets stop. Lee's Candy Kitchen opened its first location in Mill Falls Marketplace and later added a second shop in downtown Plymouth. The store advertises more than 100 candy jars, which makes it a favorite with kids and with anyone who remembers penny-candy counters.

Annalee: a Meredith original

Few businesses are as closely tied to Meredith as Annalee, the maker of the felt dolls and seasonal figures that many New England families bring out every holiday. Annalee's gift shop in Meredith is open year-round, and according to the company it is now located at 23 Foundry Avenue. One reason to visit in person is that the company says shoppers can see its designers at work. For collectors, it is a pilgrimage. For everyone else, it is a cheerful place to find a small, very New Hampshire gift.

Because the shop has moved, check the address on Annalee's website before you go rather than relying on an old map pin.

Gilford Country Store

Across the lake on the southwestern shore, the Gilford Country Store is the kind of place people stop at once and then make a tradition. The store describes itself as a Lake Winnipesaukee country store open year-round, stocked with New Hampshire made products. It has a few fun extras too: a big green chair that visitors photograph themselves in and share with the #BigGreenChair hashtag, and a nine-foot moose named Major.

It is a good stop on the way to or from the beaches and marinas on the Gilford side of the lake, and an easy place to pick up maple products, local foods and gifts.

Alan Soule Jewelers in Tilton

For a special purchase, head southwest toward the Winnisquam end of the region. Alan Soule Jewelers at 422 West Main Street in Tilton has been in business since 1981. The store says it handles repairs in-house and has a GIA Graduate Gemologist on staff, which matters if you are buying an engagement ring or getting an heirloom appraised or reset. Tilton is just off I-93, so it is easy to combine with a drive in or out of the Lakes Region.

How to plan a Lakes Region shopping day

Distances are short, but the roads around the lake are slow in peak season. Here is a loop that works:

1. Morning in Meredith. Park once and spend the morning at Mill Falls Marketplace: Adornments upstairs, 603 Paws for the dog, and a bag of candy from Lee's.

2. Annalee. Stop at the gift shop on Foundry Avenue before leaving Meredith.

3. Midday in Gilford. Drive around the lake to the Gilford Country Store for New Hampshire made gifts and a photo in the big green chair.

4. Afternoon in Tilton. If you are heading home via I-93, finish at Alan Soule Jewelers.

You can also do this loop in reverse if you are arriving from the south on I-93, starting in Tilton and finishing with candy in Meredith.

Tips for shopping in the Lakes Region

• Look for New Hampshire made goods. Several of these shops make a point of stocking local or American-made products, which makes for better gifts than generic souvenirs.
• Expect seasonal hours. Many lake businesses change their schedules between summer and winter. Check each shop's own website before you go. The stores mentioned here that say they are open year-round are the Gilford Country Store and Annalee's Meredith shop.
• Combine shopping with the lake. Meredith's shops are a short walk from the waterfront, so you can break up the browsing with a walk by the water.
• Bring the dog, but check first. A pet boutique is an obvious welcome, but each store sets its own policy on dogs inside.

Beyond shopping

If you are building a full weekend, our Meredith town guide covers the village's history, its playhouse, a fruit winery and places to unwind. The Lakes Region is also a great base for scenic drives, hiking and, of course, time on the water. If your travels take you toward the coast as well, our guide to shopping in Exeter and Dover covers the independent shops of the Seacoast, so you can compare the two regions and plan a second shopping day on the other side of the state.

Frequently asked questions

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

Meredith has the densest cluster of shops, centered on Mill Falls Marketplace beside the waterfall downtown. Gilford and Tilton add a country store and a jeweler within a short drive.

Is Annalee still in Meredith?

Yes. Annalee says its Meredith gift shop is open year-round and is now at 23 Foundry Avenue.

What is Mill Falls Marketplace?

It is a collection of open-air shops, restaurants and services beside the waterfall in downtown Meredith, part of the Mill Falls at the Lake resort. The falls come from a canal dug between Lake Waukewan and Lake Winnipesaukee in the 1810s.

Are Lakes Region shops open in winter?

Some are. The Gilford Country Store and Annalee's Meredith shop say they are open year-round. Check each shop's website for current hours.

Sources

• Meredith, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (Swasey canal, Mill Falls, Lake Waukewan): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith,_New_Hampshire
• Mill Falls at the Lake, Marketplace: https://www.millfalls.com/marketplace/
• Adornments and Creative Clothing: https://adornments-lady-of-the-lake.myshopify.com/ and the Mill Falls Marketplace directory: https://www.millfalls.com/marketplace/
• 603 Paws: https://www.603paws.com/
• Lee's Candy Kitchen: https://www.leescandykitchen.com/
• Annalee, Visit Annalee: https://annalee.com/visit-annalee-headquarters/
• Gilford Country Store: https://www.gilfordcountrystore.com/
• Alan Soule Jewelers: https://www.alansoulejewelers.com/