Every summer, as the hordes amass along France's Mediterranean coast, savvy travelers head southwest to the Atlantic and the relative quiet of the Bay of Biscay. There, in the region known as Basque Country, flat beaches give way to the soaring Pyrenees, which separate France and Spain. Those willing to forgo the glitz of the Cote d'Azur will be rewarded with splendid outdoor activities, including some of the best fly fishing to be found.
Visitors should make their base in the seaside town of Biarritz--as chic as Cannes but less flashy. Biarritz is blessed with wide beaches, fashionable boutiques, bustling bistros...