Newton the golden retriever exuberantly greets guests to this big yellow house that dates back to the late 1700s. It was originally built as a boarding house for out-of-town travelers, and still serves the same purpose, pleasing tourists with its proximity to Lake Winnipesaukee, as well as its relative tranquility, surrounded by rolling fields and forestland. Among the half-dozen rooms are two suites designed for families, each with a queen-size bed wrapped in a colorful quilt and a separate room with a queen-size pullout sofa. Note that the inn is only open to children age 10 and over.

In the mornings, innkeepers Brian and Lynn whip up big breakfasts with banana French toast and Italian strata and are known to serve cookies and other treats in the afternoons as well (which Newton is always willing to share). The property opens up onto conservation land with hiking trails, and the inn is only a five-minute drive from downtown Meredith. Weirs Beach and Funspot are only a few minutes farther.