A great lake day has a shape: a calm start, a swim when it gets hot, real food, and a good ending. Here are three plans we hand to guests, built around our dock at West Cove Marina in downtown New Milford on Lake Lillinonah. Use them as written, or mix and match.
Lake Lillinonah is long, wooded, and quiet, and it has no restaurants on the water, so the best days here are built around a picnic. Go early for calm water, plan a swim stop when it's hottest, and save the last hour for the light on the water.
Itinerary 1: The family morning (ages 3 and up)
| Time | Stop |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast and coffee in downtown New Milford, a short walk from the marina |
| 9:30 a.m. | Board a 2-hour pontoon charter. The water is calmest now |
| 10:15 a.m. | Slow cruise down the lake under the wooded hillsides. Watch for herons and hawks |
| 10:45 a.m. | Swim stop and a gentle tube ride for the brave ones |
| 11:30 a.m. | Back at the dock before the midday heat and the nap meltdowns |
| Noon | Lunch in town, then a quiet afternoon |
Planning with little kids? Read how to plan a family boat day.
Itinerary 2: The all-day watersports and picnic
| Time | Stop |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | Pick up sandwiches and drinks in town and pack the cooler |
| 9:30 a.m. | Start a watersports charter. Morning glass water is the best for skiing and wakeboarding |
| 11:30 a.m. | Wakesurfing and tubing rounds as the day warms up |
| 12:30 p.m. | Anchor in a quiet cove for a picnic lunch and a long swim |
| 1:30 p.m. | Back to the dock |
| 3:00 p.m. | Optional: drive up to Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford for a short walk and a view over the lake |
See what to pack for a day on the lake so the cooler's ready.
The picnic is the part people remember. Pack more food than you think, freeze half your water bottles so they double as ice packs, and bring something the kids can eat with one hand while their hair dries.
Itinerary 3: The sunset evening (adults or teens)
| Time | Stop |
|---|---|
| 5:00 p.m. | Pick up appetizers and drinks for the boat |
| 5:30 p.m. | Board a private pontoon. The day's heat is breaking |
| 6:00 p.m. | An evening swim in water that has warmed all day |
| Last hour of light | Drift and watch the sun drop behind the hills |
| After | Dinner in downtown New Milford |
In fall, swap the swim for a foliage cruise and a thermos of something warm.
Doing these on your own boat
If you have a lake house with a dock, you can run any of these itineraries every weekend. A weekly or seasonal rental puts a boat at your dock with the tube, ropes, and life jackets already aboard. On a lake we don't run charters on? Book a captain for the day and we'll bring the boat to you.
Quick FAQ
Pick your lake day
Captained pontoon and watersports charters from downtown New Milford on Lake Lillinonah. Bring the picnic and we'll handle the rest.
Book a Charter Pontoon Charters