Mill Falls Marketplace is one of those places where you can easily tell yourself you're just going…read moreto stop for a few minutes, and then an hour later you're still wandering around looking at things. It is a quaint little collection of shops in Meredith, and the setting is what really makes it special. You have the lake right there, the waterfall running through the property, little walkways and gardens, and all these small shops tucked around it. It has a very distinctly New Hampshire feel.
There is a surprisingly good variety considering how compact the Marketplace is. There's a candy store that feels like a step back in time, a bakery, clothing and gift shops, a bookstore, ice cream, coffee, and places to pick up souvenirs and Lake Winnipesaukee-themed shirts and other local items. I especially like that you can browse without feeling like you're walking through some generic shopping center. Everything feels connected to the lake and the town.
The candy store is particularly fun if you're with kids, although I'll admit you don't really need to be a kid to enjoy walking into a place filled with candy and old-fashioned treats. There are also plenty of places to find a shirt, gift, or little souvenir that actually reminds you where you were. That's much more appealing to me than buying some anonymous souvenir that could have come from anywhere.
And then there is the waterfall. Take a few minutes to walk over the bridge and look down at the falls, then wander toward the lake and take in the view. The combination of the water, the shops, the older architecture and the little paths gives the whole place a wonderful back-in-time feeling. It's easy to imagine spending a summer afternoon here years ago, browsing a small shop, getting something sweet, and then sitting near the water for a while.
The shop owners and people working in the stores were friendly and welcoming, which also adds to the experience. Nobody made browsing feel like a chore or pressured us to buy anything. It felt much more like wandering around a small local marketplace where you're welcome to look around and enjoy yourself.
This is a particularly good stop for families because there is enough here to keep kids interested, especially the candy and ice cream, while adults can browse the clothing, books, gifts and local merchandise. You can make it a quick stop to see the falls, or spend considerably longer wandering around the different shops.
If you're visiting Meredith, I'd definitely put Mill Falls Marketplace on the list. It's not a giant shopping destination, and that's precisely the point. It's charming, local, scenic and just a lot of fun to walk around. Grab a treat, look at the shops, take a picture by the waterfall and enjoy the lake. Sometimes the little places are the ones that end up being the most memorable.
