Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, France

Mere miles off Newfoundland lies a tiny French archipelago, the legacy of the once-vast North American empire. Breton, Norman and Basque fishermen settled on a great natural harbor, and their descendants still live here today. The narrow, winding streets of Saint-Pierre are a delight of boulangeries, lively bars, wine shops, restaurants serving classic Gallic and locally-sourced fare, and boutiques that close at noon for a leisurely lunch. Discover local history, including the bootlegging heyday, at the Heritage Museum and the Arche Museum and Archives. A short ferry ride brings you to peaceful l’Île aux Marins, a former fishing community with walking trails and another museum. Even more tranquil and scenic are the sparsely populated islands of Miquelon and Langlade, linked by the Dune, a 7.5-mile-long sandy isthmus.