2011 HBS Creatin' Contest: Revolution Avenue, Thorny Coast, ME

Welcome to Thorny Coast—Maine's Smallest Big Treasure!

On Revolution Avenue, in the heart of tourism and shopping mecca Thorny Coast, Maine (practically invisible on every map but ours), sits a very special street of tiny shops.

Niall 9, the high-end dressmaker's shop, is full of gorgeous gowns for every taste from traditional to modern; if you're hungry after trying on finery, head next door to the Thorny Rock Candy Shop for treats from cakes and fudge to—what else?—rock candy. From there you can browse the selections of swimsuits, wetsuits, surfboards and skateboards at Wet Street Surf & Skate, where great colors and amazing graphics will keep you stylin' on the street or among Maine's choicest waves. The kids can even play around the play-lighthouse or at the indoor sandbox while you shop! The Candy Shop and the Surf & Skate began by sharing a converted garage, but Surf & Skate has become such a popular destination that it's expanded into the old brick building next door, where landlord Joe Olivette lives upstairs. From the looks of his desk, he's hard at work keeping the books and making sure all the shops are in ship-shape. Don't miss a stop at O'Crabby's Crab Shack when you're on your way down to the shore—enjoy the rugged coast, and don't forget to have your picture taken at the town's most famous landmark, Thorny Rock!

The idea and design of this entire street of shops—from the goose on the garage roof to the mice at the dumpster, and every detail in between—was the product of my 12-year-old daughter, who has been producing minis alongside me since she was seven, and has begged me to let her enter "Ernie's contest" for a couple of years. The building and months of handcrafting that went into Revolution Avenue were our joint project this year, and we've never had to waver from her amazingly complete plans for this gorgeous "little" corner of Maine!