Top Ten France Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures

Remote and heavily regulated, western Corsica's Scandola Nature Reserve is nevertheless worth the effort it takes to visit. How remote is this place? Well, the only easy access is by boat, and you're allowed to stay moored for no more than 24 hours. But with its strict attention to marine and terrestrial wildlife, Scandola's a one-of-a-kind in France, with unique plants and sea prairies, along with 400 varieties of seaweed. Its peaks, domes, caves, and isolated islands lend a mysterious air to the region, and its rocky beds house a rich supply of coral, sea fans, lobster, and shellfish. Look up to spot the Corsican finch, blue rock thrush, warblers, and rock doves, then check out the cliffs for peregrine falcons.