Fort-de-France, Martinique

France’s “Isle of Flowers,” Martinique enticingly combines tropical beauty, distinctive Creole culture and Gallic sophistication. Its mountainous north is volcanic – where gray and black sands separate blue seas from the lush greens of the rainforest – and dominated by Mont Pelée. The towering volcano last exploded in 1902, prompting the move of the capital to the scenic port on Martinique’s deepest natural anchorage. Fort-de-France today is the island’s biggest city, home to elegant boutiques, a traditional covered market, cafés, patisseries, and restaurants serving fine island cuisine and classic French fare. Many key sights are close to the revitalized waterfront park of La Savane, the city cathedral and historic Fort Saint-Louis among them. Just outside the capital are Sacré-Coeur de Balata – a small-scale replica of the Parisian church – and an acclaimed botanical garden. On the far side of Fort-de-France bay, the Caribbean seascapes begin to change into the white sand beaches that distinguish Martinique’s southern half.