Maine: Coastal Area
Score: 72

Populations explode along the southern coast in summer. "The farther north you go, the better preserved the region." Overall, Maine's coast strikes "a good balance of tourist and local" interests. Prospects look good, with tourism run by many locals "who realize their future lies in preservation."

Here is a representative sampling of additional anonymous comments from the panelists. They are not necessarily the views of the National Geographic Society:

"The Maine coast, long a vacation destination, retains a high degree of scenic beauty and cultural integrity. The coastal towns and offshore islands are enchantingly laidback during the short summer season. The coastline is dotted with grand old resorts, charming B&Bs, and many rental homes. Tourism industry appears to be in the hands of locals. Some towns in southern Maine are overrun with too much traffic and tourism, and there has been an influx of wealthy outsiders, some of whom have ostentatious and out-of-character summer homes. More worrisome has been the growth of large-cruise tourism. The atmosphere and tranquillity of Portland and Bar Harbor are dramatically altered when ships arrive."

"A tale of two coasts really. South of Portland, you have the long stretches of sand and crowded beaches at York, Ogunquit, and Old Orchard. North of Portland, you have long inlets that jut out into the Atlantic like fingers on a hand. With these rugged shores overlooking lobster boats and land so vast, it's impossible not to feel lost in a Winslow Homer painting."

"Doing well—and actually seems on the verge of a renaissance, as locals realize their future lies in preservation."

"Dependent on the sea for its identity. Lobster traps line the backroads mid-coast. Each year it seems another lobster shack disappears. But the small towns seem to be thriving on a combination of tourism and community. We hit the local farmers market in Brunswick every year we go, and wild berries are still sold by the roadside. Reid State Park is still fairly untouched. Head out to the smaller towns on the midcoast and skip the big tourist centers like Bar Harbor."