Calais sits in the far northeastern part of Maine, surrounded by Canada on three sides.
This small city of 3,000 people ushers thousands of international travelers back and forth between New Brunswick and Maine at one of the largest crossings in the state.
The St. Croix River splits the two countries, with some of the most historical parts on the American side.
The tides strongly influence the river, and as a result, this is one of the most volatile tide areas in the country, rising and falling as much as 50 feet a day from the Bay of Fundy.
No matter which side of the river you are on, this is a fairly remote region, with St. John being the largest nearby Canadian city, about an hour away, and Bangor, Maine, on the American side, about two hours away.
Two-lane, somewhat torn-up highways lead the way to Bangor or the Maine coastline, so winter travel can be treacherous.
Calais (“callous” – rhymes with Dallas) is still a city with quintessential New England charm.
Nearby Moosehorn National Wildlife Area provides plenty of outdoor adventures for all seasons.
The wonders of Bar Harbor and Arcadia National Park are just two hours away.
This region is home to the first French settlers, who eventually abandoned the settlement after a year due to a harsh and deadly winter.
It would be another 150 years before it was permanently settled and turned into a shipyard town.
Calais was also one end of the first international telephone exchange with a call to St. Stephen, New…
