Things to do / Travel Guide
The Maine Coast populace is an interesting mix of descendants of the original Algonquian tribes that migrated from the north and of descendents of various European cultures that took root here starting in the late-1600s. Key among these groups are the French-Acadians, whose persecution and dispersion in the 1700s had a profound effect on the region. While English is the predominant language, French is still spoken in many Maine Coast communities, and the communities' cultural contributions are wide and varied; from music to cuisine. The collective descendants of the native Indian tribes do a fair job of keeping close to their roots, both in language and art.
Also, most recently arriving to live in the region are war refugees from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Somalia, Sudan, and Ethiopia. The dominant lifestyle in the region today is of course influenced greatly by the natural resources at hand - namely fishing, farming, textiles, timber, quarrying, and, of course, tourism.
The local flavor in the Maine Coast is very community oriented and congenial. Locals understand and appreciate the importance of tourism to the area, and lend a hand wherever possible. The local crowd has many options available for entertainment and dining, and generally frequents the same establishments that tourists do. Also, having such a magnificent natural surrounding environment makes it easy for the locals to take part in all those related activities, like fishing, kayaking, pleasure boating, and others.
When you visit the Maine Coast, many times it's the locals who add the color and flavor that you will remember most. There are some great fish tales to be heard in the many bars and pubs along the shore, so stop in for a drink and a dozen oysters and keep your ears open … you never know what tall tale or fish story you might hear!
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