Nelson, B.C.

Four hundred miles and hoooours from Vancouver, British Columbia—Spokane, Washington, is the closest “big city,” 150 miles south—this quirky-quaint town in B.C.’s Selkirk Mountains is truly in the middle of nowhere. In a good way, say the outdoorsy types, off-the-grid pot growers, and entrepreneurs who call Nelson home. Up here, it’s all about community: Networking takes place on the sidelines of the kids’ soccer fi eld, folks tend to boycott big chain stores, and if you choose work over family here, you stick out. There’s killer powder skiing (at two resorts, Whitewater and Red Mountain), snowcat skiing (with five outfitters, including acclaimed Baldface), hiking, and expert-level mountain biking. Plus, western Canada wants more immigrants, so newcomers with business ideas are welcome.
Population: 9,800
Median home price: $306,343
discovernelson.com