Our Stay in Meredith, NH

New Hampshire

October 2025

Trading Green for Granite

Today was a relatively short driving day. Luckily, we could check out later than anticipated. I could even get a 5-mile walk in before we left. We were leaving “The Green Mountain State” behind and headed into New Hampshire, “the Granite State.”

Thanks to our late departure and a quick stop for groceries, we arrived right around check-in time at our next destination. When we parked the car, we immediately loved the Airbnb in Meredith, NH. It was beautifully situated on a hilltop under the trees. Inside, we felt warmly welcomed.

When a Run Becomes a Hill Workout

As always, upon arrival at a new location, we try to find suitable running trails. After searching several websites and finding no trail options close to the Airbnb, we were eager to check out a park my husband had finally found, the Hamlin-Eames-Smyth Recreation and Conservation Area.

With high hopes, we drove to the park and started with a walk to get a feel for the terrain. The first few hundred meters seemed encouraging, with a flat, pleasant, unpaved forest path. However, soon enough, the trail began to climb over rocky sections. It took us two and a half hours to hike just five miles; a run would’ve only taken about an hour.

When we returned to the car, I decided to call the running part quits for the day. I figured that this challenging hill workout with plenty of elevation gain would also serve as an excellent running-specific exercise.

An Autumn Afternoon in Historic Meredith

In the afternoon, we also paid a visit to downtown Meredith. Meredith has a long history, dating back to 1768, when it was a mill town. While the mills are long gone, this classic New England town has skillfully preserved its small-town charm while successfully transitioning into a prosperous destination, with tourism now being an essential part of its economy.

We started at the boardwalk on the waterfront on this perfect day! The views across Meredith Bay were breathtaking. The bright blue skies made the fall colors, painting the surrounding hillsides in brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows, even more spectacular.

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We also wandered uphill to explore the walkways, with cute shopping streets, vibrant murals, and an abundance of public art structures. Following a local flyer, we did part of the artistic Meredith Sculpture Walk. I especially loved the playful geometric metal cow and the elegant bronze diver sculpture balancing near the water’s edge, as if she were really diving into the lake.

We also realized the flat waterfront trail was our best option for a morning run. It wasn’t very long, but it was the only flat route we could find nearby.

Finally A Suitable Running Route

So, we returned this morning for a quick run along Meredith Bay. Knowing the rain was on its way, I started my easy three-mile jog around 8 o’clock. About forty minutes later, I was back in the car just in time to escape the heavy rain.

The combination of running along the Bay, the local boardwalk section, and the main sidewalk worked out perfectly. The terrain was less challenging and the path less busy than I had anticipated. Finding this doable running route meant I could easily continue my running program for the rest of our stay here in Meredith!

From Jogging to Sogging

In the afternoon, I did my last run along Meredith Bay. The weather looked good at first, so I set a simple goal: to jog 3.5 miles in 40 minutes. I was on track for about 30 minutes when the dark clouds opened up and a downpour started. The trail/boardwalk got slippery, and I got soaked and cold. So frustrating, I had to let go of my goal just minutes before the finish.

3 Hours, 3 States, and Never-Ending Foliage!

The comfortable week at the Red Roof Retreat in Meredith, NH, flew by far too fast! We could have happily stayed in this Airbnb and the area a bit longer.

Nonetheless, we checked out late, locked the door around noon, and hit the road for a 3-hour journey to Enfield, Connecticut.