France

I´ll bet you´ve never heard of St. Pierre and Michelon. It´s a little string of eight islands off of Canada´s Labrador and Newfoundland - with just under 6,000 souls - that´s actually an overseas "collectivité" of France, like St. Barts, St. Martin, and French Polynesia, and has been settled by the French since the late 1600s. An hour-and-a-half ferry ride or 45-minute flight from Newfoundland (or two hours by air from Halifax), it´s a chilly charmer, with cute small towns and villages as well as nature appeal. And why do I know about it? Well, even before I was a travel writer, in college I dated a girl from Cape Cod (well, until she introduced me to my husband, lol) whose family was actually from here. And lo and behold, tiny SPEM has made it onto CNN´s list of destinations for the year, because the residents of the village of Miquelon-Langlade (pop. 600) are discussing relocation due to fears of sea-level rise. CNN´s writer says, "Travelers may want to experience this historic village in person before it changes forever." (But as it will take a few years still, don´t feel the need to book it tomorrow.) https://edition.cnn.com/travel/where-to-travel-in-2026-the-best-pla...

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/where-to-travel-in-2026-the-best-places-to-visit?cid=ios_app

Corsica enthralls with ancient towns, jaw-dropping landscapes, beautiful beaches and epic hikes. Here's our guide to the best things to do when you g…

The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum and home to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, has requested urgent help from the French government to restor…

COLUMN. With 100 days to go before the start of the Olympic Games, security and budget scares are casting doubt on the state of preparation for the e…

Comments

David Paul Appell June 11, 2026 at 5:12pm

I´ll bet you´ve never heard of St. Pierre and Michelon. It´s a little string of eight islands off of Canada´s Labrador and Newfoundland - with just under 6,000 souls - that´s actually an overseas "collectivité" of France, like St. Barts, St. Martin, and French Polynesia, and has been settled by the French since the late 1600s. An hour-and-a-half ferry ride or 45-minute flight from Newfoundland (or two hours by air from Halifax), it´s a chilly charmer, with cute small towns and villages as well as nature appeal. And why do I know about it? Well, even before I was a travel writer, in college I dated a girl from Cape Cod (well, until she introduced me to my husband, lol) whose family was actually from here. And lo and behold, tiny SPEM has made it onto CNN´s list of destinations for the year, because the residents of the village of Miquelon-Langlade (pop. 600) are discussing relocation due to fears of sea-level rise. CNN´s writer says, "Travelers may want to experience this historic village in person before it changes forever." (But as it will take a few years still, don´t feel the need to book it tomorrow.) https://edition.cnn.com/travel/where-to-travel-in-2026-the-best-pla...

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/where-to-travel-in-2026-the-best-places-to-visit?cid=ios_app
Maria de los Angeles December 26, 2025 at 9:07am

I´ve always been intrigued by Corsica! https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/top-things-to-do-in-corsica

The 11 best things to do in Corsica

Corsica enthralls with ancient towns, jaw-dropping landscapes, beautiful beaches and epic hikes. Here's our guide to the best things to do when you g…
Ed Wetschler December 24, 2025 at 5:10pm

If you love flea markets, the marchés aux puces of Paris are some of the world´s best! https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/shopping/flea-markets-in-paris

The best flea markets in Paris for 2025

Designer gems, bric-a-brac, vintage books and more
José Balido March 23, 2025 at 8:34am

Mon dieu, I had no idea... https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/paris-louvre-museum-dire-state...

Paris' Louvre museum, in dire state, cries for help

The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum and home to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, has requested urgent help from the French government to restor…
Jorge Carlos Tejada Sobrino December 7, 2024 at 12:48pm

Notre Dame Cathedral finally reopens today after five years of restoration following the horrific fire that destroyed it, and these photos are breathtaking! https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/29/style/gallery/photos-notre-dame-...

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/29/style/gallery/photos-notre-dame-restoration-intl/index.html
Max Pesling July 26, 2024 at 11:41am

As the Games´ opening ceremony is about to get underway, according to this report, it turns out Paris isn´t quite so packed as everyone thought it would be: https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/paris-fewer-olympics-tourists-exp...

Paris has fewer Olympic tourists than expected: Here are a few last-minute deals

With fewer visitors than Paris first predicted, there are still some travel deals available for the Olympics host city.
Dave Acton April 23, 2024 at 9:31am

Le Monde looks ahead at the upcoming Paris Olympics: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/sports/article/2024/04/17/paris-2024-100-...

Paris 2024: 100 days from the Olympics, should we rejoice or worry?

COLUMN. With 100 days to go before the start of the Olympic Games, security and budget scares are casting doubt on the state of preparation for the e…
María José November 12, 2023 at 1:08pm

France and food - what could be better? One excellent way of getting beneath the surface of both is to travel for its many food festivals, and the Guardian clues us in to some of the best: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/feb/15/10-best-food-festiva...

Mange tout: 10 of the best food festivals in France

From a 15,000-egg omelette and four courses of figs to a famous lemon carnival, here’s a foodie tour de France
Riccardo R October 3, 2023 at 8:01pm

Several weeks ago UNESCO announced its 42 newest World Heritage Sites, and one was here (and shared with Belgium): the funerary and memory sites of World War I´s Western Front. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1567

Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front)

This transnational serial property encompasses sites along the First World War Western Front, where war was fought between the German and the Allied…
David Paul Appell September 29, 2023 at 11:00am

In its look at best foliage destinations outside the USA, the Wall Street Journal cites the Loire Valley: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/where-to-see-fall-foliage-inte...

New England, New Schmengland! Where to Find the Most Stunning Fall Foliage Outside the U.S.

Would you fly overseas to do some world-class leaf-peeping? Before you answer, consider these six dazzling destinations—and factor in post-hike hot-s…