Situated just off the coast of France on the edge of the English Channel, the beautiful Channel Islands, a British Crown dependency since 1066, are fiercely independent and justifiably proud of their history and traditions. They're in fact, famous for stoic resistance during the German occupation in World War II, with remnants of that war still dotting the landscape. This popular tourist destination is also an attractive offshore tax haven (for many companies), and as a result, the islands have a thriving financial industry. In addition, they're known worldwide for locally grown flowers and for their prized purebred Guernsey cows. The local language and pubs may be English, but the islands were once a part of Normandy, so many of the place names and roads, as well as the food are decidedly French.