St-Pierre and Miquelon

The islands of St-Pierre and Miquelon, France's only territory in North America, are a ferry ride away if you crave French cuisine or a bottle of perfume. Shopping and eating are both popular pastimes here. The bakeries open early, so there's always piping-hot fresh bread for breakfast, and bargain hunters can find reasonably priced wines from all over France. An interesting side trip via boat takes you to see seals, seabirds, and other wildlife, plus the huge sandbar (formed on the bones of shipwrecks) that now connects formerly separate Great and Little Miquelon. Visitors to the islands must carry proof of citizenship—even U.S. citizens must have a passport, and Canadians should have a passport or a government-issued photo ID. Because of the ferry schedule, a trip to St-Pierre means an overnight stay in a hotel or a pension, the French equivalent of a B&B. Note that St-Pierre time is a half hour ahead of Newfoundland, so make sure you adjust your watch for the ferry schedule.