Okanagan Mission, Canada

With a population of just 38,374, Okanagan Mission is a small, quiet enclave that hardly lives up to the region's reputation as a sunny, prosperous oasis. While the area enjoys a mild climate, the bureaucratic headaches of navigating band-governed land development are a persistent nuisance. And despite the abundance of fruit orchards and vineyards, the reliance on 3,000 temporary migrant workers annually hints at the challenges of sustaining agriculture in this remote corner of Canada. Those seeking a tranquil, rural lifestyle may find Okanagan Mission a suitable fit, but the region's charms are easily overstated.