It is nearly impossible to talk about St. Mary's Bay (or 'Baie Sainte-Marie') without noting the importance of the Acadian Shore, the Acadian coastal communities between Weymouth and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and one of the largest french-speaking regions in the Maritimes.

It was here in the summer of 2004 that the World Acadian Congress met to celebrate Acadian and Cajun culture and history in North America. The event was the largest gathering of Acadians in Nova Scotia history. The 4th World Acadian Congress will be held from August 7th to August 23rd, 2009, on the Acadian Peninsula, in northeast New Brunswick.

The Acadian Shore is an important travel destination in South West Nova Scotia attracting thousands of visitors every year. There are unique museums and art galleries to visit, craft fairs and live concerts to attend and other cultural events. The Festival Acadien de Clare is held on the French Shore every summer and is the oldest Acadian festival in North America.

A kayaking or canoeing adventure in South West Nova Scotia can reveal a variety of birds, mammals and plants. A camera is a necessity on any trip.

A complete list of bird species would be difficult to compile. Here are a few of the common and not so common birds observed - Bald Eagles, Kingfishers, several species of Woodpeckers (including a Pileated Woodpecker), Plovers, Pheasants, Blue and Grey Jays, Blue Herons, and numerous Thrushes, Warblers, Finches and Wrens A variety of small and large mammals are commonly seen on many tours and adventures, among them White-Tailed Deer, Red Foxes, Mink, Black Bears, Moose, Bobcats, Turtles, Coyotes and Beavers. As for plant life, several rare and protected species can be photographed including Ladies Slippers and Pitcher Plants. Other species include Royal Ferns, Sandew, Rhodora, White and Yellow Lillies, Bog Rosemary, and several varieties of Orchids (Trillium, False Lilly of the Valley).