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Get your fun-in-the-sun time in before summer sun slips away
ÃŽles de la Madeleine
Remote, beautiful, and altogether unique, these stellar islands some 130 miles off the coast of Quebec are the ultimate off-the-path end-of-summer escape. Of the dozen isles that comprise this windswept archipelago (known in English as the Magdalen Islands), only seven are inhabited, six of which are connected only by sand dunes and long grassy reeds. Largely settled in the 1700s by French-speaking Acadians, many of whom had been in exile in New England, the islands today boast nearly 200 miles of virgin beaches, stupendous fresh seafood, and an otherworldly, uncomplicated aura that make them a joy to visit. Given their northern location, summer is, not surprisingly, the best time to go – and with Labor Day marking the end of the season, there's no time like the present. Of all the settlements here, Île du Havre aux Maisons is our favorite, for its colorful houses, charming boardwalk, and character-rich pubs and restaurants.
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