Top Ten France Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures

Okinawa in Photos

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Ever explored a nature trail... underwater? Do it off the coast of the southernmost tip of Provence in the Îles d'Or—islands preserved as a marine park. They're small but packed with beauty. Porquerolles, the largest of the three islands, measures only three miles (five kilometers) long and three miles wide and is considered the most stunning. Beaches flank the northern side, while at the southern end calanques, gorges, cliffs, and rocky bays make for first-rate snorkeling. Port-Cros is where to find that underwater nature trail, complete with signs, starting from La Palud beach. And if naturism is your cup of tea, hang out in the buff on Levant Island. All three islands are reachable from the port at Hyhres and are within an hour of the mainland.