BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS

Every June through August, the quaint Provencial countryside becomes a purple patchwork of olfactory delight. Stretching from the plateau of Sault to the Buëch River in the foothills of the Alps, the lavender route is peppered with — you guessed it — lavender bushes, as well as sweet medieval villages. Traveler tip: Be sure to try the local culinary delights infused with the "Soul of Provence," which is a heady aromatic flower used in everything from muffins to ice cream to honey. (