re: maple

If your going with a natural finish then tung oil is a good option. You could also use boiled linseed oil (blo). Lightly sanding between coats to build up a nice finish.

If you’re going to darken the wood, don’t use stain (minwax etc…), this will not pop the grain. Use a water based dye. Dye will pop the grain. You can then use a lacquer as a top coat (spray cans work great.) You can then use multiple coats to build a nice finish that really shows off the grain.