The fog! The rain! The chill in the air! Ah, it must be summer in Maine.

Not fair you say? Well, clouds over the rocky coast drenched us utterly during the entire week we spent there around the 4th of July.

We ventured up as far north as Camden. Great town. Skip the souvenir shops along the main drag and wander into Harbor park. Designed by Olmsted (of Central Park fame) it features a gorgeous amphitheathre. I won’t waste time describing it. See for yourself. Check out this great slideshow of Camden Harbor Park and Amphitheatre. After you take in that lovely spot, stroll down the hill and enjoy standing beside the great, crashing waterfall that spills out right beneath Main Street and into the harbor. Maybe during a drier season, it’s less dramatic (did I mention that it RAINED every day?).

TIP for coffee and wine lovers: If you’re headed up to Camden via Route 1, turn right on West St (at junction with 90). There’s a lovely wine shop at the end of the road, where you can also score a delicious espresso. Don’t miss out! Then head up Chestnut to drive north into Camden. If you do, you’ll see striped cows: Belted Galloways. Search Google Images for a preview.

We stayed on Pemaquid peninsula near New Harbor where we ate lobster at Shaw’s almost every day. We love Shaws. Make sure you have your lobster there. If there’s a crowd, don’t be daunted. Just score a drink at the tiny but sufficient bar to get you through the wait.

Pemaquid is famous for the Pemaquid lighthouse, of course. It’s a classic and appears on the back of the Maine quarter. The rocks around the light are terrific. Scamper over them, watch the surf and get some photos. BUT before you do, tour the keeper’s house and read the cautionary tale of the man who ventured down the rocks too close to the waves and got swept away into frigid October waters. (Pescadoo promotes wise adventuring through reading.)

The sun finally came out as we left and crossed the border into New Hampshire. So I’m sure the sun will shine on your Maine vacation. (But just in case, you can always refer back to this post and devote particular attention to the tips on procuring a comforting beverage or two.)

Gloucester, MA - Probably this site’s Homes on the Water category should be titled Houses We Covet. Here’s one I’ve admired for years:

Mansion McDreamy: The Birdcage House on Sherman Point

Perched on a rocky point overlooking Gloucester’s magnificent Good Harbor Beach, this house was built by Judge Edgar J. Sherman in 1878. It was actually bolted to the rocks to keep it from being swept away. Not sure if that’s in line with today’s building codes, but it’s kept house and cupola in its gorgeous location for years. The structure even withstood the 1938 hurricane.

There’s a great mention of it in the September 1891 Edition of The New England Magazine:

…the judge not only founded his house on the traditional rock but placed it so that a pebble might be dropped from the piazza into the restless surges directly below. Perched high above the ocean though it is, for it is nearly seventy feet at low water, the spray moistens the windows at times, and not infrequently an angry wave comes startlingly near the door.

Can you put a price on such a location and lovely structure? Well, sure. It was listed for sale last year at $8 million.