Tropical Francophone Get-Aways

Summer may coming to a close, but for those of you looking for a warm slice of paradise this coming winter, look no further! At these spots, you can have your fill of french-speaking culture while enjoying time in the balmy sun year-round.

St. Barthélemy

Tucked away in the Lesser Antilles, St. Barts has long been a destination for celebrities, including Jimmy Buffet, David Letterman and Steve Martin. That doesn't mean, however, that you won't find your average joes' there as well!

La côte de St. Barthélemy

St. Barts is a "separate overseas collectivity," meaning that it is still technically part of France while retaining small freedoms. The French influence, however, is undeniable. Most inhabitants on the island speak French, and the high-end French cuisine is what attracts many visitors to the island each year.

A fisherman shows off freshly caught lobster on St. Bart's

Sushi from Le Bête à Z'Ailes, a renowned restaurant

St. Martin

View of Marigot, the island capital

St. Martin is split into two regions: French in the north, Dutch in the south. Much like St. Barts, St. Martin is an oversea collectivity, albeit with a slightly more European vibe. Still, vacationers will have no trouble finding natural destinations such as the Cupecoy Bay and Loterie Farm's tree-to-tree zip-lines.

Zip-lining in St. Martin

Martinique

A view of mountainous Martinique

Going further south in the Caribbean, we find Martinique, an island first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Natural beauty is the name of the game in Martinique, with rugged mountains in the north and calm white sand beaches in the south. Mont Pelée, the dominant volcano towards the north of the island, provides stunning views at the summit as well as a daunting challenge for anyone daring enough to scale the sides of the mountain!

Mont Pelée and the surrounding area

Another more historic, yet equally fufilling destination in Martinique is the Schoelcher Library, which was shipped and reassembled in Martinique after being presented in 1889 at the World Fair in Paris. The library is famed for its unique and impressive design as well as for its name, given in honor of French abolitionist Victor Schoelcher.

Schoelcher library