Canadian's Love Old Orchard Beach...why?
I've lived in Maine all my life, and one constant is that every summer, except during covid, Canadians, especially French Canadians will flock to Old Orchard Beach.
As a native Mainer, I've only been a few times because it's a tourist trap and all the people. I mean sure you have Pier Fries, which I think is fantastic and will hit them up at the beginning or end of their season. OOB has a Palace Playland amusement park, there's video games, food, shops, a very tourist driven place with tourist prices, which is the other reason I don't go.
Growing up it felt like a running joke about Canadian's going to OOB but it would be reported on the news, or every Quebec plate you saw on the turnpike in the Summer, someone will say out loud "must be going to OOB."
Over the years I've met several French Canadian's either at wrestling or when we are in Canada and when the topic of Maine comes it they all seem to have a memory of going to Old Orchard Beach as kids, or as adults with their kids.
This past week the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau made a statement about Trade war due to Trump's Tariff's on Canada. No this is not going to get political. I listened to Trudeau's speech and one part caught me off guard and made me laugh in disbelief.
"Canadians are hurt. Canadians are angry. We're going to choose not to go on vacation in Florida or Old Orchard Beach or wherever"
This was not an "inside joke" this confirms that it's legit. I mean geographically I guess it makes sense, a sandy beach on the Ocean only about 5 hours from Montreal, it's a scenic drive down, and the aforementioned tourist catering attractions.
It made me and my wife laugh so hard!