Visit one of these locations in France to experience life as the people do.

The French are adept at traveling. If you travel to Greece, Italy, or Israel in August—when most people take a monthlong vacation—you'll undoubtedly hear plenty of "bonjours" and "au reservoirs." Naturally, this year was a little different. The "Cet été, Je visite la France" (This summer, I visit France) campaign urged locals to stay near home while the epidemic grounded airlines and imposed challenging quarantines.

Les Ponts, when a national holiday falls at the conclusion or beginning of a week, enabling residents to "build a bridge" with an extra long weekend, are when the French typically reserve domestic travel. No matter where the residents go—whether to the snow-capped mountains, the vineyard-dotted countryside, or the rocky coasts—it will be gorgeous. Where they go depends on several variables, including the season, distance, and cost. I've had the amazing fortune of lifting my jaw off the floor several times since moving to Paris about six years ago because of France's diverse topography, which is nothing short of spectacular. I spent the first few years traveling to some of the larger cities, including Strasbourg, Bordeaux, and Lyon, before gradually expanding my horizons and seeing smaller villages that are rarely featured in travel guides. The following locations have been deemed worthy of a quick getaway or a longer vacation by a few French natives.

Île de Ré

This 32-square-mile island in the Atlantic is noted for its salt marshes, oyster beds, and bike trails, which are the best way to travel around. It is situated off the west coast, south of Normandy. From La Rochelle, which is three hours from Paris by train, it takes 40 minutes by bus or automobile to get there. On the island of Ré, there are several little villages, each with its character, beaches, seasonal markets, and seafood eateries. It is preferable to explore these communities on two wheels through vineyards and the occasional field of donkeys. The most prevalent is Saint-Martin-de-Ré, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a historic fortress and vibrant harbor where, depending on the tide, the docked boats occasionally wind up tied. There are a few charming hotels and bed-and-breakfasts on the island, but this is the kind of place to rent a house and enjoy backyard barbecues and oysters grown nearby.

Ardèche

The French are huge fans of chestnuts. Les marrons glacés, or candied chestnuts, are the best gift to offer if you've been invited to spend Christmas at someone's house. The southeast region of Ardèche produces 5,000 tonnes of the spherical, prickly-cased fruit each year, which is often picked in the fall. It is also well-known for its national park, Monts d'Ardèche, where half-day loop treks from the small hamlet of Laviolle through the Volume Valley, past the ruins of a centuries-old farm, are the ideal autumnal pastime. In the summer, kayakers, canoers, hikers, and swimmers congregate in the southern gorge, which features a natural bridge that spans the river. The gateway village of Vogüé features cobblestoned alleys, ochre rooftops, and ivy-covered facades—everything you'd expect from a town tucked within the limestone cliffs of a medieval castle.

Island of Hyères

The French Riviera is much more than just Cannes and Antibes, and when they're in the mood for some pristine blue water, some of them take a boat out to one of the Hyères Islands, which are situated between Toulon and Saint-Tropez. You'll know you've arrived in the correct area as soon as you get off the ferry and inhale the salty sea air and cedar-like aroma. Naturalists and hikers choose the island of Port-Cros for its rugged topography, while snorkelers and sunbathers prefer Porquerolles for its five soft-sand beaches. (Both can only be reached on foot or on a bicycle.) The olive orchards and vineyards are crowded in the summer, but because the season starts in May and ends in late October, there are plenty of opportunities to appreciate them without the crowds. When there are a few tiny hotels on each island and an increasing number of captains who offer their boats as lodging choices (while docked), Hyères town on the mainland has a wider range of accommodations, which makes day visits there much simpler.

Le Luberon and Les Alpilles

Les Alpilles on the west and le Luberon on the east are two national parks in the northern region of Provence that the French adore for their dry valleys and arid limestone peaks. Cities of all sizes, including Arles, are scattered around them, along winding roads and in fields bursting with lavender in the early months of July (Baux). My first multilevel cheese cart experience in the cozy Bistrot du Paradou, as well as my trip to the Carrières de Lumières, a disused quarry where musically-animated works of art are projected onto cave walls, will never leave me. It was amazing to watch Van Gogh's "Starry Night" come to life in an underground environment that was both literally and metaphorically cool—especially in the summer. Since driving is as enjoyable as the destinations themselves, it is advisable to explore the area by automobile. Additionally, even though Google Maps estimates it would take 90 minutes to arrive at the three-tiered Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct across the Gardon River, the journey will seem much shorter with the windows down and the music playing.

Arcachon Bay Bassin

This location is where all the vignerons go to unwind before and after harvest or just for the weekend and are about 40 minutes west of the city of Bordeaux. There are numerous oyster beds in the basin (bay), which are visible at low tide and available for tasting from a variety of harvesters, some of whom have picnic tables on the water for a late-afternoon slurp. This region of the coast has fine, soft sand beaches, thus it is a must to explore the famous Dune du Pilat, which is the greatest landslide in Europe and resembles the Sahara. The little but charming town of Arcachon has a mountainous historical quarter with mansions from the 19th century and a beachside promenade with bike lanes for a scenic commute. For those with larger wallets and extra cash to spend, Cap Ferret across the bay, which is accessible by ferry from the Arcachon port, offers an even quieter, more upscale refuge.

Méribel

You would put on your gloves and travel to the Alps if your nation had the biggest "white carpet" on the planet. The French go skiing in February as if it were a holy obligation. I'm not a snow bunny, but if you give me a fireplace and some cognac, I'll join in the après-ski fun. Méribel, which is situated in the middle of three valleys, is a favorite among families because of its expansive, sunny environment and beginner pathways. While Val Thorens on the right is renowned for its black diamonds and Courchevel to the left is more about Champagne and caviar, Méribel in the center provides a more relaxed attitude to alpine life. But since this is ski-in/ski-out terrain, you might be able to sample all three over a few days, depending on your skill level and level of energy. Méribel is the most charming architecturally, with numerous settlements made entirely of classic wooden chalets tucked amid pine woods.

Route of Wine in Alsace

Around 70 tiny towns dot the 170 kilometers between Strasbourg and Colmar, also known as the Alsatian wine road for sampling rieslings and gewürztraminers, and they remind me of Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" in a really good way. You'll see pastel-hued timbered homes, flower boxes dangling from window sills, and 12th-century churches with bell towers and winding canals from Eguisheim to Riquewihr. Christmastime is filled with dazzling lights, sleigh bells, and marketplaces selling mulled wine, spiced gingerbread, and Pommes d'amour (candy apples). How can you take in all that Muscat is the best? Flammekueche is a thin, crispy pizza with cream, cheese, and bacon bits that is often referred to as tarte flambée or Alsatian pizza. The French typically spend at least four days touring the vineyards and villages here, frequently sleeping in chambres d'hôtes (bed-and-breakfasts) or hotels along the way, considering its location in the northeastern region of the country near Germany.