Little Squam Lakefront Retreat - Beach, Dock, Sleeps 10, Kayaks/SUPs & Firepit

Wake up to calm water, spend your days on a private sandy beach, and end the evening around the firepit under the stars -- this is the Little Squam lake experience guests come back for year after year.

Twin Pines is a fully renovated 4-bedroom, 3-bath lakefront home located on Little Squam Lake in Ashland. Designed for comfortable living with everything you need for a perfect getaway, Twin Pines lets you enjoy a quieter, more relaxed setting while still being close to local dining, hiking, and access to the White Mountains region. Whether you’re planning a family vacation, a group getaway, or a peaceful lakeside retreat, this home offers the space, setting, and amenities to make it unforgettable.

What makes this home special:
• 100 feet of private sandy beach with gradual entry—perfect for swimming and kids
• Private dock for boating, swimming, or simply enjoying the view
• Kayaks, paddleboards & canoe included for enjoying the lake
• Expansive deck with beautiful lake views and outdoor dining
• Firepit for evenings under the stars
• Multiple ski resorts nearby
• Twin Pines is intended for families/groups who respect the lake as a peaceful place. Do NOT book our house if your group plans to play loud music or "party". We certainly want our guests to have fun, but Twin Pines is located in a quiet lakeside neighborhood and our guests must respect our neighbors at all times.

Inside the home:
The house comfortably sleeps up to 10 guests across four well-appointed bedrooms. A renovated kitchen with modern appliances opens to a bright, welcoming living area -- ideal for gathering after a day on the water. Air-conditioning, comfortable furnishings, and thoughtful touches make this a true home away from home. Detailed house description below!

Outdoor living:
Spend your mornings with coffee overlooking the lake, your afternoons swimming or paddling, and your evenings dining on the deck or relaxing by the firepit. The combination of private waterfront, open space, and incredible views creates a setting that’s hard to match.

Summer: Lakefront vacations are truly magical at Twin Pines. The gradual entry into the sandy-bottom lake is ideal for children. Guests can moor their boat at our private dock (rebuilt in 2023) and a boat shed rebuilt in 2026 contains many extras to enhance your fun, including a canoe, kayaks (rigid and inflatable), stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), a floating mat, inner tubes, life vests in a variety of sizes, and beach toys for the kids. The grassy yard near the lake offers space for frisbee, cornhole, Bocci, volleyball, and other activities.

Fall/Winter: Twin Pines is the perfect spot to view the New England foliage and enjoy a wide variety of activities including antiquing, wineries, hiking, apple-picking, craft fairs and festivals. A number of popular ski resorts are within easy reach. Enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and skating immediately outside your door (and on nearby trails), or try your hand at ice-fishing. There are many other winter activities available in the area, and there's no better place to get cozy with a hot beverage than sitting by the fireplace in the great room.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:

* Our house is located in a small "neighborhood" of local homeowners. The houses are fairly close together and noise travels easily. EXCESSIVE NOISE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, including on the deck and in all outdoor areas (e.g., dock, beach, and firepit). Guests must keep music, conversation, outdoor activity, and other noise at a level that does not disturb neighbors at any time. Parties, events, and disruptive gatherings are prohibited. Excessive noise at any time and/or violation of quiet hours (after 10pm) may result in termination of the reservation and/or charges for documented costs, fines, damages, or additional cleaning resulting from the violation.

* Saturday or Sunday check-in with 7 night minimum required in July & August.

* There is no municipal trash service at the house. Guests _must_ sort their recycling into the bins provided in the garage, per instructions you'll find at the house. Our housekeeper will remove your trash & recycling after your departure. HOWEVER, if the trash/recycling bins become full during your stay -- which is certainly expected for groups staying a week or longer -- you will need to make a trip to the Ashland dump (less than 10 minutes from the house). Instructions for making a "dump run" are provided at the house, and guests report that it's a fun opportunity to experience local life on Squam. ** Please do not book a vacation at Twin Pines if you aren't willing/able to sort the recycling and make a potential dump run during your stay. **

* People with mobility issues should be aware that the beach is accessible via a staircase with about 50 steps or a grassy hill that’s fairly steep.

* One side of our dock is rented to a trusted local family from May to October. They may go to/from their boat during your stay, but they are very quiet and discreet and they won't interfere with your experience. Please contact us if you have any questions/concerns.

* All-wheel drive vehicles are highly recommended for winter guests. The road down to our home is quite steep and can become temporarily challenging during snow storms. A team maintains our road by plowing & sanding during and after storms, but guests should be prepared to hunker down during major storms until the snow ends and the team can complete their work. We strongly encourage guests to stock up on food and other supplies ahead of time if winter weather is expected. ** Guests should _not_ rent Twin Pines during the winter months if the prospect of being temporarily "stuck" at the house during a winter storm is a problem. **

HOUSE DESCRIPTION:
Arguably the best place to hang out at Twin Pines is on the deck overlooking the lake. A loveseat and chairs are arranged around a cocktail table, and the outdoor dining table comfortably fits eight people. Best of all, the elevated location keeps the deck free of mosquitoes even during the summer months.

Indoors, Twin Pines offers plenty of room to spread out. Two "great rooms" provide multiple options for lounging, eating, and enjoying each other's company. The upstairs great room is focused around a large wood-burning fireplace, with a comfortable seating area and two large tables with ample space for meals, games, and puzzles. The downstairs great room includes a beautiful (but non-functioning) fireplace, two futon couches, bean bag chairs for extra seating, and a television.

There are four bedrooms in the house:
* Upstairs primary bedroom #1 (with deck access): King bed and ensuite bathroom with walk-in shower
* Upstairs primary bedroom #2 (with deck access): King Bed and ensuite bathroom with tub/shower combination
* Downstairs bedroom #3: Queen bed
* Downstairs bedroom #4: Two full-size beds

For additional sleeping space, the two futon couches in the downstairs great room convert into full-size beds. Also, one of the quirks at Twin Pines is an extra twin bed affectionately known as the "kitchen bed". Located in the secondary kitchen downstairs (which is generally used as storage space), the comfy kitchen bed is useful for folding laundry or for extra guests.

The updated kitchen on the main floor includes a refrigerator & freezer, gas stove & oven (new in 2025), microwave, toaster oven, dishwasher (new in 2026), programmable coffee maker, Ninja blender, and standing mixer. There is an outdoor gas grill for your use and the kitchen is stocked with all of the pots, pans, utensils, and spices you need to create gourmet meals -- or feel free to check out the local restaurants!

A full-size washer and dryer (both new in 2025) can be found downstairs just beyond the extra kitchen. Through the laundry area is a mud room where you'll find beach towels, personal flotation devices (i.e., life jackets), wetsuits, and a work bench. After a fun day in the lake, we encourage you to rinse off using the hose outside the mud room and ditch your wet bathing suit on the clothesline before heading inside to a warm shower. In winter, the mud room offers the perfect place to peel out of your boots and snow gear.

On rainy days -- or when you're finished playing in the lake -- you can enjoy a game of ping pong in the upstairs (unfinished) level of the garage. It isn't fancy, but it's fun! (Note: the ping pong room is available for use from approximately April-Oct.)

We strive to make your stay at Twin Pines as comfortable and convenient as possible. In addition to the various amenities described above, we also provide portable fans, room-darkening shades, a Pack ‘n Play, a toddler air mattress, a twin air mattress, and children's books & toys.

Other than asking that you treat our home with kindness and consideration, we have the following rules:
* Our neighbors are accommodating about the fact that we rent our house when we aren't there. With that in mind, EXCESSIVE NOISE AT ANY TIME WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
* Absolutely no smoking
* No pets (no exceptions -- sorry!)
* Maximum 10 guests
* Trash & recycling must be sorted (and taken to the dump if full)
* All boating laws must be followed (details are provided to all guests)

Please keep in mind that vacationing on a lake in NH is an outdoorsy experience. We keep the house very clean, but you can expect to see cobwebs in outdoor corners, the garage, and the boat shed. Also, please understand that Twin Pines is our home during part of the year, not just a rental property. Although we put away most of our personal belongings when the house is rented, please expect to see evidence of us throughout the house (e.g., photos, items stored on upper closet shelves, etc.).

Thank you for visiting our home. We hope you enjoy the magic of Squam Lake as much as we do.