A quintessential coastal Maine village set at the foot of wooded Camden Hills on a picturesque harbor that no Hollywood movie set could improve, the affluent village of Camden has attracted the gentry of the eastern seaboard for more than a century. The elaborate mansions of the moneyed set still dominate the shady side streets (many have been converted into bed-and-breakfasts), and Camden is possessed of a grace and sophistication that eludes many other coastal towns. The best way to enjoy Camden is to park your car as soon as you can--which may mean driving a block or two off Route 1. The village is of a perfect scale to reconnoiter on foot, allowing a leisurely browse of boutiques and galleries. Don't miss the hidden town park (look behind the library), designed by the landscape firm of Frederick Law Olmsted, the nation's most lauded landscape architect. On the downside, all this attention and Camden's growing appeal to bus tours are having a deleterious impact, say some longtime visitors. The merchandise at the shops seems to be trending downward in appeal to a lower common denominator, and the constant summer congestion distracts somewhat from the village's inherent charm. If you don't come expecting a pristine and undiscovered village, you're likely to enjoy the place all the more.