I meant to visit the Château d'if on a Monday but it was closed and ended up at Îles du Frioule…read morehiking around and viewing amazing sights. I'm not sure what used to lay beyond the harbor but the seemingly old military buildings are all but crumbled. The hike around the island requires comfortable boots and if the seas are rough being a wind breaker. I was soaked by a rogue wave on the boat ride over! There isn't much beyond the initial row of restaurants except for a few abandoned basketball and tennis courts. Most of the restaurants have similar food and wifi available. Don't expect much in the off season for quality but you will find a friendly host. If you're an outdoor adventurer be sure to add Îles du Frioule on your list of things to see!

This tiny archipelago consists of four islands: Omègues, Ratonneau, If and Tiboulen and is right…read moreoff the shore of the Vieux Port, only a short 45 minute boat ride away. The islands (and the whole coastline of Marseille) are beautiful with their white cliffs, crystal-clear blue water, breathtaking calanques (rocky inlets), and sandy beaches. It is really a paradise. My first day in Marseille, I was lucky enough to get on the last ferry of the afternoon leaving Quai des Belges. I arrived on the main island just in time to run to where I could catch the last rays of the sun setting through a heart-shaped hole in the rocks. What a picture! However, my most lasting memory is from the pier, where I waited for the ferry to take me back to Marseille. It was evening and dozens of men were on the pier with their lanterns fishing for squid. I had never seen anyone catch squid before! They must be easy to catch, because the pier was just covered with squid writhing and gasping their last breaths. What a noise. I'll never forget the sight and sound of hundreds of squid, illuminated by lanterns, gasping for breath.

One of those gorgeous marvels of nature you find in this part of the world, memorable for me, up…read morethere with Bodrum, the Greek isles, Croatia. The Calanques are rugged cliffs and pebble beaches with the most vivid turquoise water. We took the ferry from the Old Port headed for the Frioul archipelago. You can jump off at Chateau d'If and get back on going to the main island. The one hour ferry ride is chock full of sights from the hilled city of Marseille, a great view of the Pharo Palace, tooling through the harbor past cruise ships and pleasure crafts alike with everyone waving at you. Marseille has beaches, but the locals will jump off any rock into the water and hang out all day and night. The beaches on Frioul are breathtaking. We walked a couple hours Calanque de la Crine aka Tahiti Beach, because it's so lovely. You'll have to wait a while for the return trip, because there are so many day trippers by that time. The ferry runs every 30 minutes. But it's worth it to go, even a short visit.

If you're ever in Marseille, you must must must see the calanques. The limestone Massif des…read moreCalanques are located in the Parc National des Calanques and include the Calanque de Sormiou, the Calanque de Morgiou, the Calanque d'En-Vau, the Calanque de Port-Pin and the Calanque de Sugiton. Be sure to take the ferry , make a day out of it, and relax. The sea was rather choppy on the way over , but the views couldn't be beat. On the way out you also get terrific views of Chateau D'If. Treat yourself after a long day and grab some of the famed bouillabaisse at one of the local eateries.