Spring St. Homebase

…And time for a break. After moving every few days for the last few weeks, a much needed stoppage was in order for everyone. We booked an Airbnb in Camden, ME and settled in for the week. First off, the home we booked was awesome and very close to downtown. Camden is a quaint harbor town on the mid-coast of Maine. At this time of year, the crowds are not bad and it has been unseasonably warm. We aren’t complaining. Spending a week on the Maine coast with 70-80 degree weather is pretty awesome.

Welcome to the yellow house

always great to have a parking spot to fit our big ride

beautiful stained glass

decorated to perfection

comfy bed makes happy people

Sails and Views

From the edge of the harbor you can look out onto peaceful water and still sailboats sitting majestically in their beauty.  It is a site to be remembered and I could sit and stare off in absolute peace here for hours.  If you look up you will see Mt. Battie and from up top the completely opposite view is equally as breathtaking.  A beautiful slice of Maine from sea to sky.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Library Love

Sometimes you need to get out of the house to study and we were so lucky to have the most amazing library a short walk away.   I wish I had more photos because it is the most beautiful space, but I suppose we were too busy with our nose in the books.  All the kids loved library time and I discovered much less whining happens while teaching in public spaces.

Crack anyone? (Oh I mean candy)

If there are tourist there is usually some sort of sweet indulgence but this straight out of Willy Wonka’s wonderland and I’m sure it’s no coincidence that the name of this gem is Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe.  The kids were literally screaming when they walked in, observers were laughing because every step lead to another exclamation of “oh my! They have this!” “Come look at this!” “I’m in heaven!” “Wow!” “Wow!” “Wow!”  Such joy followed by the extreme pain of having to decide on what to fill a small bag with when faced with 10 million options.  We made it out with happy children, who soon were hyper children on sugar OD.  It’s really bad stuff, (as I chomp on a delicious malt ball) Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe  57 Bay View St., Camden, Maine

Uncle Williy’s Candy Shop

Salt Water Taffy in barrels

sweeeeeeet

decisions, decisions…

Jelly bellies for miles

sugary sugar skulls

going old school

flavors anyone?

“Schooner Surprise”

It’s hard to believe growing up on the water I’ve never actually sailed on a boat bigger than a hobie cat.  Well, if you’re going to sail I’m guessing this is like starting in a dream.  The beautiful “Surprise” is a 99-year-old schooner that has been meticulously up-kept.  As we left the dock we experienced a close-up view of hundreds of amazing boats moored in Camden’s Harbor, WOW!  the most amazing treasures.    Soon we were raising the sails and letting the wind take us away into the Penobscot Bay.  The ocean waters made a warm day brisk but the air felt fresh and sailing was both calming and invigorating if that’s possible.  Our hosts Nicole and Ramiro were charming, full of stories about the boat, history and their lives sailing.  It took me away to the romance of sailing and for a brief moment I thought to myself, we should totally live and travel on a sailboat, that passed seconds later when I realized I would have no clue what I was doing.  Haha…  Schooner Surprise

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Owl’s Head Lighthouse

Maine lighthouses…. yes, although we have been in Maine for awhile we actually haven’t seen that many lighthouses.  It was exciting to venture out to Owl’s Head which overlooks the Penobscot Bay.  Whoa, do my Midwestern roots come out when faced with pronouncing these “east words” it makes me feel like I’m learning a new language or butchering the only one I truly have.  Back to the lighthouse, a few things which make it really cool is it is working and you get to climb up into it to see the prism light in action.  So neat to see the shape and the way it projects light.  Another amazing thing was what seemed like millions of lobster buoys dotting the ocean.  It is mesmerizing and hard to imagine how many lobsters must be crawling around down beneath.  What a beautiful view of Penobscot Bay from the lighthouse and after a short walk away was a great little beach.

up…up…up

Sienna in the sky

Owl’s Head Lighthouse

three and a half…Lennox isn’t a fan of photos

the prism light

Colette ready to climb

rare selfie

Power!

rock climbing man

Sienna perched

Matt always venturing onto something

walking sticks make everything better

snapshot of the personalities

it doesn’t take long before everyone is wet

beautiful ocean

balancing act

and this is my Maine

Adventures in Boothbay Harbor

Oh Yeah!

Look at this catch!

Wicked Whoopies!

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

I don’t know if the rest of my family was as excited as I was to go the botanical garden but I had heard it was amazing and something intrigued me about it, so off we went.  Let me tell you, the kids would surely return for an entire day.  The gardens were beautiful even in the early fall but the children’s area was as if you stepped into a fairytale.  Small houses full of wonders, boats, gardens, rope bridges, it was a small curated adventure land.

Exploring the ocean and wicked whoopie pies

The ocean is quickly becoming the place the kids love most, so much intrigue in what they will find next, from sea glass to small creatures.  The slippery craggy rocks offer even more adventure as we try to navigate a path and the warm fall days have made our time even more desirable.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.