On the border of Canada and the U.S. is the warm, friendly town of Calais, Maine.  People may find themselves passing through on their way to New Brunswick, perhaps heading to Halifax, St. John, Yarmouth or Prince Edward Island.  A stop in Calais can be a delightful day trip, with charming scenery and pleasant people to meet.  Coastal Maine is referred to by the locals as the Downeast region; “Ay-uh!” 

Its namesake was decidedly a combination of French and English heritage, as European settlers first inhabited the territory in 1770.  They called it Calais because of a city in France with the same spelling that is directly across from the English Channel, although they purposefully changed the pronunciation to make it more Americanized.  Nearby Red Beach on St. Croix Island boasts home to the first European settlement north of Florida in 1604.  Calais sits immediately across the St. Croix River, with two bridges providing access to the Canadian town of St. Stephen.  Most of the locals are bilingual.  

As with many coastal Maine communities, Calais was once a thriving port city with prosperity in the lumber industry, which is still one of Maine’s most sought-after resources.  Elegant colonial homes still line the streets of Calais as a reminder of that era.  Many of those houses have become historical landmarks that may be viewed with a map from the Historical Walking Guide.  Among those most visited include:  the Holmes Cottage; the Gingerbread Houses; and the Library.  People can also learn about the history of boatbuilding and early settlement at the Downeast Heritage Museum - formerly transitioned from an operating railroad station in Washington County. 

Calais is the kind of town that everyone knows everyone, with a population of only about 4,000 at its peak.  There are plenty of young people there because it is a great place for young couples to raise a family.  Low crime and easy access to our Canadian neighbors make it an appealing place to call home.  There’s just enough of everything, including duty-free stores, a big Mardens and of course Wal-Mart. Canadians shop primarily in Calais because of its proximity to the border.  Agricultural products like Christmas trees and wreaths, blueberries and some seafood are harvested and distributed throughout the United States. 

You can lose yourself in the middle of nowhere, amid tall pine trees or on a small spot overlooking the shoreline of Maine’s coastal paradise.  New Year’s Day brings tourists to see the sun for the first time in a new year, as it rises from the Eastern-most point in the U.S.  Unless you’re on a mountain in Acadia National Park, this is where you will see the first sunrise.

Calais is near Whitlock Mills Lighthouse, which is the most northeastern lighthouse in the U.S. Although it sits on privately-owned land, the lighthouse is owned and kept up by the St. Croix Historical Society and the Coast Guard. On any given day you may spot many fishing boats in the harbor. Hunting is also a big sport in the area.  There is a multitude of wildlife that live in the deep woods of Maine, including:  deer; moose; bears; birds (like partridge and wild turkeys); and others.  However, hunters must be licensed to shoot wild game in the State of Maine. 

During the month of August, the locals and “fromaways” look forward to the International Festival, which is an extended week and a half celebration between the communities of Calais and its neighbors in Canada.  What used to be just a long weekend event has grown in popularity to include more festivities and activities.  Among the pageants, parades, concerts, educational activities and kids’ events that take place is a chance for families to reunite through reunions.  Class reunions and family gatherings have been organized in conjunction with the festival.  Thus, the new name as “Homecoming Festival” will bring old friends and family members together, ending appropriately with a spectacular fireworks show.

Admittedly, Calais is not much to look at while passing through on the way to Canada, but one cannot deny the certain charm and quiet lifestyle that the personality of the community has.  The city is clean, well-loved and undeniably inviting as a place to visit… as those who live there will likely agree.