Wendy's Guidebook

Wendy
Wendy's Guidebook

Sightseeing

Go visit the mountain you see every day from the cabin. This state park has lots of hiking trails, streams & waterfalls, a pond with floating dock for swimming & catching tadpoles, snow shoe trails, and 360 view from the granite top of Mt Cardigan that’s worth writing home about. Use “Cardigan AMC Lodge” for GPS directions - less than 4 miles up our Mt Cardigan Rd. While hiking, just remember which trail you came up. It’s too easy to climb down on the opposite side of the mountain and find yourself lost.
26 locals recommend
CARDIGAN MOUNTAIN STATE PARK
658 Cardigan Mountain Rd
26 locals recommend
Go visit the mountain you see every day from the cabin. This state park has lots of hiking trails, streams & waterfalls, a pond with floating dock for swimming & catching tadpoles, snow shoe trails, and 360 view from the granite top of Mt Cardigan that’s worth writing home about. Use “Cardigan AMC Lodge” for GPS directions - less than 4 miles up our Mt Cardigan Rd. While hiking, just remember which trail you came up. It’s too easy to climb down on the opposite side of the mountain and find yourself lost.
During the pandemic they started taking reservations and capping the number of cars so good idea to book ahead.
38 locals recommend
Wellington State Park
614 W Shore Rd
38 locals recommend
During the pandemic they started taking reservations and capping the number of cars so good idea to book ahead.
The Flume is NH at its most beautiful and worth the hour + drive.
117 locals recommend
Franconia Notch State Park
Daniel Webster Hwy
117 locals recommend
The Flume is NH at its most beautiful and worth the hour + drive.
Head to cute village of Hebron NH then follow the signs to this beautiful gem. Waterfall/stream is super close to road so you can see in 10 minutes or stay the day.
Sculptured Rocks Road
Sculptured Rocks Road
Head to cute village of Hebron NH then follow the signs to this beautiful gem. Waterfall/stream is super close to road so you can see in 10 minutes or stay the day.
It’s possible to drive all around the lake with only a few areas without a view of the water. Most of the lake is private property so stick to the state parks to swim.
32 locals recommend
Newfound Lake
South Shore Drive
32 locals recommend
It’s possible to drive all around the lake with only a few areas without a view of the water. Most of the lake is private property so stick to the state parks to swim.
Friendly ski resort 20 minutes away. Great beginner lessons and rentals to reserve in advance.
66 locals recommend
Ragged Mountain Resort
620 Ragged Mountain Road
66 locals recommend
Friendly ski resort 20 minutes away. Great beginner lessons and rentals to reserve in advance.
Tiny Bristol has a cute town square with a few thoughtful shops, locally owned restaurants and second hand stores including the Bristol Community Services Center Thrift shop where we sometimes volunteer and often donate food & clothing. There’s also a lovely butterfly garden behind the library to enjoy a few minutes of Zen. visitbristolnh can be searched with lots of helpful links🌳
7 locals recommend
Bristol
7 locals recommend
Tiny Bristol has a cute town square with a few thoughtful shops, locally owned restaurants and second hand stores including the Bristol Community Services Center Thrift shop where we sometimes volunteer and often donate food & clothing. There’s also a lovely butterfly garden behind the library to enjoy a few minutes of Zen. visitbristolnh can be searched with lots of helpful links🌳
Fun, easy hike with great views of Newfound Lake. Sign is small so look carefully on the left past Wellington Park.
Little Sugarloaf
Fun, easy hike with great views of Newfound Lake. Sign is small so look carefully on the left past Wellington Park.
Great place to rent canoes & kayaks (call in advance) and support this charming little nature center.
6 locals recommend
Newfound Audubon Center
290 N Shore Rd
6 locals recommend
Great place to rent canoes & kayaks (call in advance) and support this charming little nature center.
About 25 minutes away. Recently opened in 2024, they advertise skiing $45 weekdays and $65 weekends & holidays. Snow tubing too go to website skitenney dot com
24 locals recommend
Tenney Mountain Resort
151 Tenney Mountain Rd
24 locals recommend
About 25 minutes away. Recently opened in 2024, they advertise skiing $45 weekdays and $65 weekends & holidays. Snow tubing too go to website skitenney dot com

Food scene

Open all year round. The main bar & fireplace room is cozy when it’s cold outside. In the summer there’s garden seatings out back. Good hearty meals that are so big you will need a to go box.
10 locals recommend
Homestead Restaurant
1567 Summer St
10 locals recommend
Open all year round. The main bar & fireplace room is cozy when it’s cold outside. In the summer there’s garden seatings out back. Good hearty meals that are so big you will need a to go box.
Carries a lot of NH locally made items including food and gifts. Their ribs in the summer are terrific. Limited hours so check ahead.
Cardigan Country Store & Orchard Bistro
231 Lake St
Carries a lot of NH locally made items including food and gifts. Their ribs in the summer are terrific. Limited hours so check ahead.
Great place for coffee, a GF sandwich or the occasional jazz concert in the center of Bristol, NH.
8 locals recommend
The Purple Pit Coffee Lounge
28 Central Square
8 locals recommend
Great place for coffee, a GF sandwich or the occasional jazz concert in the center of Bristol, NH.
Cute cafe with a great wine selection and adorable gift shop.
Crazy Cat Winery
365 Lake St
Cute cafe with a great wine selection and adorable gift shop.
Good place for ice cream; you can eat right at the foot of Newfound Lake. Open in summer only.
15 locals recommend
The Big Catch
150 Shore Dr
15 locals recommend
Good place for ice cream; you can eat right at the foot of Newfound Lake. Open in summer only.
It’s a long drive but the food is a click above the normal steak tips and fries that other local places serve.
62 locals recommend
Covered Bridge Farm Table
57 Blair Rd
62 locals recommend
It’s a long drive but the food is a click above the normal steak tips and fries that other local places serve.
On nights when you long for Chinese or Japanese food this is our pick. Please don’t hold to NYC or Boston standards- it’s NH after all.
26 locals recommend
Fugaky
646 Tenney Mountain Hwy
26 locals recommend
On nights when you long for Chinese or Japanese food this is our pick. Please don’t hold to NYC or Boston standards- it’s NH after all.
This gas station, gift shop, sandwich store isn’t much to look at on the outside, but if they don’t have it, you don’t need it. Open year round.
Newfound Country Store
408 Mayhew Turnpike
This gas station, gift shop, sandwich store isn’t much to look at on the outside, but if they don’t have it, you don’t need it. Open year round.
Bristol’s only full sized grocery store.
13 locals recommend
Hannaford Supermarket
505 Pleasant St
13 locals recommend
Bristol’s only full sized grocery store.
The best view of Newfound lake on a lovely summer night; upscale restaurant. Summer only.
9 locals recommend
Ledge Water Steakhouse
77 Ravine Dr
9 locals recommend
The best view of Newfound lake on a lovely summer night; upscale restaurant. Summer only.
Great antiques and generous ice cream cones all in one place! The benches overlooking the lake are a great people watching spot. Limited hours so check ahead.
Idle a while Country Antiques and Ice Cream(seasonal)
1177 Mayhew Turnpike
Great antiques and generous ice cream cones all in one place! The benches overlooking the lake are a great people watching spot. Limited hours so check ahead.
Date night spot in a cute college town.
65 locals recommend
Six Burner Bistro
13 Main St
65 locals recommend
Date night spot in a cute college town.
Mexican food that’s pretty good which is saying something in NH. Helpfully open 7 days a week all year long. Not far from several big box stores in Tilton, NH.
10 locals recommend
Casamigos
276 Main St
10 locals recommend
Mexican food that’s pretty good which is saying something in NH. Helpfully open 7 days a week all year long. Not far from several big box stores in Tilton, NH.
There’s not much in the name of service but the Thai food is fresh.
10 locals recommend
Asian Delight NH
330 Central St
10 locals recommend
There’s not much in the name of service but the Thai food is fresh.
On a pretty summer day it’s a great spot to get a tropical drink 🍹 and chill.
78 locals recommend
Town Docks Restaurant
289 Daniel Webster Hwy
78 locals recommend
On a pretty summer day it’s a great spot to get a tropical drink 🍹 and chill.

Drug Store

The only major pharmacy in town.
360 Summer St Bristol, NH 03222
Rite Aid
360 Summer St
360 Summer St Bristol, NH 03222

General Store

Pick up the little things you might have forgotten
Before driving 30 minutes to Walmart in Tilton (south of us) or Plymouth (north of us) head to the Dollar store in Bristol, NH less than 10 minutes away to see if they have what you need.
Dollar General
Before driving 30 minutes to Walmart in Tilton (south of us) or Plymouth (north of us) head to the Dollar store in Bristol, NH less than 10 minutes away to see if they have what you need.
You can practically walk to our local soap maker. There are so many all natural varieties to choose.
Cardigan Mountain SoapWorks
You can practically walk to our local soap maker. There are so many all natural varieties to choose.

City advice

Don't miss

Fall colors

NH PEAK FOLIAGE MAP can be easily searched on line for the best guess when the colors will peak. It’s a bit different each year based on the weather.
Customs and culture

Local Paper: NewfoundLakeLife.com

Lists upcoming Car Shows, Old Home Days, country fairs, local events & businesses.