Today the most unusual thing happened: I found myself with an hour and a half completely free…

Naturally, I considered doing something productive, like errands; I even considered going into work early.   And then I realized Secret Spot #2 was calling my name.  (Secret Spot #1 isn’t so secret anymore; I’ll tell you about it some other time.)  SS#2, one of my favorite places in Camden, is a short distance down a discrete path through the woods.  The path is marked by buoys, and after about a five-minute walk it opens onto a span of the quintessential Maine coast - all rocks, seaweed, mussel shells, and sea glass.  I encountered exactly one canine and one human, the latter remarking that she’s usually alone on the beach.

It was absolutely delightful, a deliciously unplanned escape.

Leave a comment or email me at pictures@camdenmaineexperience.com if you have a “secret spot” in the Camden, Maine area. I may even be persuaded to tell you how to find SS#2…

-Elizabeth

Well, it’s a different world since my last post: as I write, it’s a measly 9 degrees plus a windchill; we’ve officially had our first two snowstorms; Thanksgiving has passed, Hanukkah is winding down, and Christmas is less than a week away. And, most personally important, this is my first posting since becoming a new mom!

As you might imagine, the holiday season is feeling extra special for me this year–my family has NEVER taken so many Thanksgiving pictures (I’m not sure we’ve really ever taken any, come to think of it). One of my favorite Camden holiday traditions is the star on Mt. Battie. This giant lit star sits on the top of Mt. Battie’s tower. It’s lit on Thanksgiving night and every night through the new year. Remarkably, the generator has been fired up by hand each night for forty years, through all kinds of Maine weather. You can see the structure of the star in one of my pictures below. Most nights it’s impossible to see the outline of Mt. Battie, therefore our star often looks magically suspended in the sky, twinkling over our beautiful town.

The day following both storms was bright and brilliant, allowing everyone to enjoy the fresh snow (or, if “enjoy” is overstating things, at least shovel in the sunshine). I’m pleased to say that even with a new baby, I was able to get out and do a little easy winter hiking. The key is, of course, dressing for the weather and taking it slow. The pictures below depict my adventures: after the first storm we walked up the Mt. Battie road; we did Bald Rock after the second storm.

Finally, a reader asked a few months ago for some kid-friendly ideas for her visit…now, instead of having only word-of-mouth knowledge–and the somewhat dusty memories from my childhood–I’ll have some first-hand info. Stay tuned for a “Activities for Kids” page in the future!

Happy Holidays!
-Elizabeth