The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: August sixth, enjoying the Channel Islands.

Five tiny islands poke up from the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. Though Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Herm and Alderney all lie closer to France, they've been linked to England since 1066, when William the Conqueror deeded them to his knights.

Yet, in many ways, the Channel Islands are, well, islands to themselves, with their own legislatures, language, money and stamps. Thanks to a mild climate, the local economy thrives on growing vegetables and flowers. The purebred cows of Jersey and Guernsey are famous around the world. Since WW II, a benign tax structure has made the islands havens for wealthy English exiles and multi-national corporations. Eighty banks shelter 200 billion dollars of deposits in Saint Helier, Jersey's petite but fashionable capital.

Twelve miles long and seven wide, Jersey's the largest of the islands, and the most developed. It retains a relaxed, rural air, with lavender fields, quiet lanes, panoramic coastal walks and sandy beaches. Guernsey's half as large as Jersey, and proportionally slower paced. Beachy bays and coves scallop its western shore, rising to steep, shrub covered cliffs along its southern coast.

Herm and Alderney are even smaller and less populated. The size of both actually doubles when the tide is out. And Sark is a tiny feudal realm, remote and unaffected by time or modern realities. All the Channel Islands are quaint, quirky places to visit, especially this time of year when wild flowers abound. Tomorrow: we take a Jersey jaunt.

FMI For Channel Islands tourism: 800-617-333 or www.jersey.com

For the Atlantic Hotel - www.theatlantichotel.com

For Guernsey - www.tourism.guernsey.net

For Old Government House Hotel www.oghhotelguernsey.com

Jersey annual garden festival - August 9 and 10 Jersey's so-called Battle of the Flowers, a century old competition of flower carpeted floats.

There's also a special card which provides discounted admissions to six of Jersey's best museums.

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