Located a stone's throw away from six Canadian national parks, Golden, BC is an outdoorsy paradise. While this southeastern BC community's roots as a logging and railroad town are still apparent—the two largest employers are Canadian Pacific Railway and Louisiana Pacific—its gorgeous surroundings mean that tourism has been a fast-growing industry.There are ample opportunities to explore, whether it be via an extreme method, like whitewater rafting down the Kicking Horse River or paragliding off of Mount 7, or a more leisurely activity such as fishing in one of the area's many stocked lakes or enjoying a round of golf. There's plenty to do in the winter, too; snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and ice climbing are all popular pastimes, and with Kicking Horse Alpine Resort in Golden's backyard and several heli-skiing operations in business, you'll have no shortage of ways to hit the snow. Golden may have a population of less than 4,000, but make no mistake: it's a lively community.