Fodor's Expert Review Parc National d'Anticosti

Blue water meets white cliffs on the edge of this study in contrasts, where diverse wildlife and rich waters attract hundreds of hunters and anglers each year. The island, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 35 km (22 miles) offshore from Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, hosts so many animals that seeing deer and other creatures is common. Fossils, rare plants, and a major bald eagle breeding site are protected. But, there’s oil here, too, and profit seekers covet the riches in the island’s reserves. Hike to the tremendous Vaureal Falls, crawl through a tight cave, and visit an abandoned turn-of-the-century settlement complete with a lighthouse, all of them developed by a French chocolate mogul. Access to Anticosti Island is by boat or plane from Havre St. Pierre. Accommodations and restaurants are available on the island, but may be limited outside the main season (late June–mid-August).