Nestled in the heart of South Africa’s Cape Winelands, Franschhoek is a charming village renowned for its exquisite vineyards and rich history. Founded by French Huguenots in the late 17th century, the village’s French heritage is palpable in its architecture, cuisine, and local culture.
Dominica, known as the “Nature Island of the Caribbean,” is a haven for eco-tourists and adventure seekers. Nestled between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, this lush island boasts a remarkable landscape of volcanic mountains, dense rainforests, and stunning waterfalls. Dominica’s most iconic natural wonder is the Boiling Lake, the second-largest hot spring in the world.
About halfway down the Oregon coast, the picturesque Yaquina Head Lighthouse welcomes you to Newport, a town known for its Dungeness crab and glorious harbor under the graceful Yaquina Bay Bridge. The historic Bayfront offers a mixture of shops, galleries, canneries and restaurants that serve fresh clam chowder, shrimp, oysters, crab and salmon.
Guadeloupe's major center is Pointe-à-Pitre, a conglomeration of old and new buildings clustered around the bustling harborside market. Pointe-a-Pitre is Gudeloupe's most popular city--explore the beaches of Grand-Terre and the French fort ruins and volcanic mountaintop of Basse-Terre.
Barbados, an idyllic island in the Caribbean, offers a delightful blend of natural beauty, vibrant culture, and rich history. Known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and year-round warm climate, Barbados is a paradise for sun-seekers and adventure enthusiasts alike. The island’s western coast boasts the famous West Coast Beaches, including Payne’s Bay and Sandy Lane, where soft white sands and turquoise waters provide the perfect backdrop for relaxation or water sports.
Collioure, just before the Spanish border, aims its charms at its own people. It's the ideal small town-without-the-glitz antidote to condo city Riviera. Like an ice cream shop, Collioure offers 31 flavors of pastel houses and six petite scooped-out beach-sprinkled lightly with beachgoers. This sweet scene, capped by Collioure's winking lighthouse, sits under a once-mighty castle in the shade of the Pyrenees. The ambience of Collioure is what was so charming about the Cote d'Azur back before the introduction of the paid vacation turned the Riviera into France's holiday beach.