Calais sits within the far northeastern a part of Maine, surrounded by Canada on three sides.
This small metropolis of three,000 folks ushers 1000’s of worldwide vacationers forwards and backwards between New Brunswick and Maine at one of many largest crossings within the state.
The St. Croix River splits the 2 international locations, with among the most historic components on the American facet.
The tides strongly affect the river, and in consequence, this is among the most unstable tide areas within the nation, rising and falling as a lot as 50 toes a day from the Bay of Fundy.
Regardless of which facet of the river you might be on, this can be a pretty distant area, with St. John being the biggest close by Canadian metropolis, about an hour away, and Bangor, Maine, on the American facet, about two hours away.
Two-lane, considerably torn-up highways prepared the ground to Bangor or the Maine shoreline, so winter journey may be treacherous.
Calais (“callous” – rhymes with Dallas) remains to be a metropolis with quintessential New England appeal.
Close by Moosehorn Nationwide Wildlife Space gives loads of out of doors adventures for all seasons.
The wonders of Bar Harbor and Arcadia Nationwide Park are simply two hours away.
This area is dwelling to the primary French settlers, who ultimately deserted the settlement after a yr resulting from a harsh and lethal winter.
It might be one other 150 years earlier than it was completely settled and changed into a shipyard city.
Calais was additionally one finish of the primary worldwide phone trade with a name to St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada.
Warnings & Risks in Calais
OVERALL RISK : LOW
Calais hasn’t seen greater than six violent crimes in a yr since 2014, and also you’re extra prone to see a moose than be a criminal offense sufferer. It is a nice feat, contemplating how many individuals cross this border every year.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : LOW
You may want a car right here as taxis, rideshares, buses, and trains are scarce on this area. Calais itself is not large enough to have public transportation, and getting wherever exterior the town would value an arm and a leg in taxi fares anyway. Use warning on the winding, slender roads and be careful for potholes and torn-up sections of roadway.
PICKPOCKETS RISK : LOW
One purse snatching was reported in 2021, however there’s nonetheless a low threat when you use the essential security precautions. When you’re crossing the border for the day, restrict what you carry and assessment the principles for objects that aren’t allowed throughout the border.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : MEDIUM
Winters may be intense, with greater than six toes a yr on common, and flooding is at all times a priority, particularly with the unstable tides. Hurricanes can occur however aren’t as frequent as in southern components of Maine or the japanese seaboard. Bitter chilly is one other threat, as wind chills can drop to harmful ranges.
MUGGING RISK : LOW
Calais has seen one theft since 2015, so there’s one other low threat for you. Theft charges are pretty low throughout the complete state of Maine.
TERRORISM RISK : LOW
Whereas border crossings might at all times be thought of a terrorism entrance level, the actual threat right here is unlawful medication crossing the border as America faces an opioid and fentanyl disaster. In truth, among the most up-to-date crimes on this space are associated to medication. There is a low threat for vacationers, however do not ever carry one thing throughout the border for another person, it doesn’t matter what the sob story is.
SCAMS RISK : LOW
There are not any vacationer advisories about rip-off warnings, however do not attempt to sneak something throughout the border. U.S. and Canadian Border Patrol are very thorough and do not give warnings.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : LOW
It is a secure area for girls, however in winter, they need to pay attention to the continuing chilly for months at a time and gown accordingly. Wilderness survival expertise are essential, and you need to have a working data of easy methods to work together with wildlife (for instance, do not. Moose can simply stomp you to demise).
TAP WATER RISK : LOW
The 2021 Water High quality Report exhibits full compliance and no violations. In 2022, residents have been warned a few water high quality violation ensuing from extreme ranges of trihalomethanes. Prolonged publicity to this byproduct can result in liver most cancers. As of June 2022, Calais was as soon as once more assembly all water high quality requirements.
Most secure Locations to Go to in Calais
VisitMaine.com has a bit on Calais with issues to do, the perfect eating places, resorts, and campgrounds.
For details about visiting New Brunswick, Canada, go to tourismnewbrunswick.ca.
The “.ca” signifies it’s a Canadian web site handle.
The part of the St. Croix River from Milltown to Calais is filled with rapids and whitewater adventures throughout the hotter months.
This two-mile stretch has rafting good for rookies and reasonable rafters.
Waves as much as three toes make the journey thrilling however not too harmful.
The Maine Customer Data Heart is situated in Calais with one of the crucial strong alternatives of brochures and tourism concepts.
From there, the Calais Waterfront followers out in every course, hugging the curve of the town on the American facet of the border.
The St. Croix Island Customer’s Heart is a stupendous and historic spot the place you possibly can be taught concerning the indigenous folks of this land and European settlement makes an attempt.
Whereas the encompassing park is open yard-round, the statues alongside the path are lined, and the customer’s middle is closed throughout winter.
The island itself will not be open to the general public.
Moosehorn Nationwide Wildlife Refuge holds 30,000 acres of assorted ecosystems to discover and gorgeous wildlife interactions.
You can even expertise the extraordinary rise and fall of the tides right here or discover a marsh or lake.
The refuge is open all year long, however winter temperatures may be dangerously low, so gown in heat layers and don’t overexert your self.
For a smaller out of doors expertise, Satan’s Head park is simply over 300 acres of woods and marsh, monitoring the river till it joins Passamaquoddy Bay.
You’ll see throughout the river into Canada whereas having fun with rocky cliffs and wildlife.
Debating when you ought to cross the border into Canada the place St. Stephens sits?
Right here’s a candy cause why you need to – it’s Canada’s Chocolate City.
Since 1873, the Ganong household has flourished with sweet and chocolate concoctions.
A chocolate museum is connected to the store, and when you time your journey proper, you possibly can go to throughout Chocolate Fest.
Locations to Keep away from in Calais
Relating to crime, you don’t want to fret about areas which might be too harmful or sketchy to go to.
You need to keep off the personal property alongside the water.
I’m certain the householders are uninterested in listening to, “However that is my first time in Maine!” or different causes for trespassing.
There are many public waterfront locations.
Whitlock’s Mill Lighthouse is the final lighthouse inbuilt Maine whereas being the northernmost lighthouse within the nation.
Appears like a fantastic place to go to, proper?
Properly, you possibly can’t.
It’s on personal property, and the proprietor goes to nice lengths to maintain trespassers away.
You will get a fantastic view of it from the close by relaxation space if the bushes have shed their leaves.
Highly effective tides and chilly water make swimming or scuba diving harmful.
The present is swift sufficient to hold away a novice boater or swimmer.
You simply haven’t skilled present and tide volatility like this earlier than.
That is about as distant a area in Maine as you will discover.
One of many few causes folks come this far north is to cross the border or get as far-off from huge cities as doable.
You’ll should be rugged, robust, and outdoorsy to have any hope of having fun with your time right here.
Once you’re trying to find details about this small city, remember to add “Maine” to the search, as there’s a Calais in Vermont and France.
Security Suggestions for Touring to Calais
- Calais does have its personal police division, and you may attain the chief at (207)454-2752 you probably have questions. You name 911 in an emergency and 1-800-432-7303 for non-emergency dispatch calls.
- You’ll want a four-wheel drive car in Calais. The rationale in winter is clear, however spring brings a number of mud on this distant space with filth roads and out of doors areas that may have mud a number of toes deep.
- Keep on high of the tide schedule. With fluctuating heights of 24 toes, you might cross a bit of rocks that shortly turns into lined in swift-moving water. These rocks are additionally lined in slippery algae, and you might find yourself in chilly water and threat your physique going into shock. When you don’t know easy methods to examine tide schedules on-line, you possibly can name the ranger station at (207) 454-3871.
- Use bug spray right here that incorporates DEET, and examine the web site for every park you go to for alerts about probably harmful bugs. Ticks are prevalent on this area and might carry Lyme Illness. Mosquitos can carry West Nile Virus.
- One in every of Maine’s most harmful stretches of roadway is between Calais and Macias. This two-lane street has many hidden driveways and semi-trucks. Automobiles crashing after veering out of the lane are frequent right here. Preserve your eyes on the street, and don’t use your cellular system whereas driving. Use New England 511 to examine street situations earlier than you enterprise out wherever. This stretch of street shall be present process a $33 million rehabilitation, so you may additionally need to take care of building delays.
- Anglers want a fishing license from the Maine Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Looking licenses can be found however require extra schooling and security coaching. You’ll want a non-resident license. You should purchase that on-line or on the Calais Metropolis Constructing.
- Ferry Level, Milltown, and Worldwide Avenue have border crossings into Canada for passenger visitors, however Worldwide Avenue is the biggest and most superior one. All of the crossings are open 24 hours a day aside from Milltown, which is open from 6:00 am to six:00 pm.
- Be ready with the right paperwork on the border; the U.S. is way stricter with required documentation. Verify the border patrol web site for every nation, so you possibly can safely get to Canada and again. Any trusted traveler program like NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST is a most well-liked method to expedite your crossing directly. Rental vehicles may be topic to further screening since stolen vehicles are inclined to make their manner throughout the border, and brokers are at all times searching for drivers who don’t personal the automobile they’re in. Extra questions? Name the Canadian Border Data Service (CBIS) at 800-461-9999 from inside Canada or 1(204)983-3500 or (506)636-5064 from exterior the nation. For U.S. data, name the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol INFO Heart at (703) 526-4200 or (877) CBP-5511.
- When visiting St. Croix Worldwide Historic Website, don’t park near the shore due to the steep grade and threat of driving tide flooding your automobile.
- Moose roam freely on this a part of the state and will find yourself crossing the road or milling in a area on the wildlife refuge. Take pleasure in these huge animals from a distance. They’re typically docile and received’t mess with you, but when they cost, it could occur shortly. The accidents that moose trigger to folks often contain them stomping on the individual. You’re most definitely to see a moose from Could by means of June and within the fall when they’re breeding (and have totally grown antlers that shall be shed within the winter).
So… How Secure Is Calais Actually?
Calais is known as a secure metropolis by crime requirements and comes with the additional security bonus of Customs and Border Patrol having a powerful presence right here.
The persons are pleasant, and also you’ll meet many worldwide vacationers.
Simply don’t overshare private data with new mates.
You’ll be able to by no means be too cautious.
The rapid-rising tides and swift water pose the largest dangers to individuals who don’t use frequent sense or fundamental water security techniques.
Regardless of how skilled you might be on tidal waters, this can be a distinctive spot on the planet the place tides rise and fall so drastically.
The wilderness right here is actually the good open air with few very facilities or methods to name for assist.
Cell phone service is spotty, and when you can’t navigate out with out your GPS, you’re in bother.
Driving on roads and highways include the danger of moose or deer working out in entrance of the automobile, and also you’ll be sharing the street with semi-trucks heading to and from the border, so at all times permit loads of house.
Don’t take northern Maine winters calmly.
You’ll want insulated layers of clothes with waterproofing and equipment to cowl all uncovered areas of your pores and skin.
Even the hotter summer time days hardly ever get above 80°(F).
Carry out of doors and indoor sneakers, so that you don’t observe mud or snow into native companies.
How Does Calais Evaluate?
Helpful Data
- Visas – You may want a Visa with a passport to get into the USA, and the U.S. State Division points these. The method can take a number of months, so begin planning early. You need to name the Canadian Border Patrol to search out out the precise journey guidelines to your dwelling nation when you’re visiting America after which Canada and returning. You would possibly want an elevated stage of safety or need to carry a beginning certificates. Do not go away it as much as likelihood.
- Forex – Use the U.S. Greenback (USD) in Maine and the Canadian Greenback (CAD, Can$, or C$) in New Brunswick. Whereas there may be companies on either side of the border that settle for every, the acceptance charges are dwindling. Even Walmart on the U.S. facet now not takes Canadian {Dollars}. Regardless that this can be a small city, you possibly can trade foreign money right here and store duty-free.
- Climate – Be informal and comfy with clothes that may get moist or muddy. You may want boots with traction and ankle help. When you’re going rafting, carry water sneakers to guard your self from the river rocks. You’ll be able to lease fishing and water sports activities gear in Calais, however you will wish to carry your personal sunscreen and bug spray.
- Airports – There are two airports in New Brunswick, every about 90 minutes away. Bar Harbor’s airport in Maine affords flights to Boston. Bangor’s Worldwide Airport has extra flight choices domestically and internationally, and that is about two hours away.
- Journey Insurance coverage – You may need journey insurance coverage to guard your flight funding and may contemplate rental automobile and wilderness insurance coverage in case of an accident or harm. Verify together with your journey insurance coverage firm how a lot safety you get when you cross the border. Be trustworthy together with your automobile rental company when you plan to cross the border.
Click here to get an offer for travel insurance
Calais Climate Averages (Temperatures)
-9° C
-7° C
-1° C
6° C
11° C
16° C
20° C
19° C
14° C
8° C
3° C
-5° C
Common Excessive/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | Could | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excessive °C |
-3 | -1 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 1 |
| Low °C |
-14 | -12 | -6 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 3 | -2 | -10 |
| Excessive °F |
27 | 30 | 39 | 50 | 63 | 72 | 77 | 77 | 68 | 55 | 45 | 34 |
| Low °F |
7 | 10 | 21 | 34 | 41 | 50 | 57 | 55 | 46 | 37 | 28 | 14 |
