Bethel, AK, United States

With a population of just 5,471, Bethel is a remote Alaskan outpost where the long, bitterly cold winters and lack of road access make for a tough existence. The town's sole paved road supports a taxi industry of 93 drivers - more per capita than any other city in the US. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the protracted rebuilding of the Ayaprun Elitnaurvik School after a 2015 fire. But Bethel's rugged isolation also draws those seeking an authentic, off-the-grid Alaskan lifestyle, with recreational activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling, and wilderness river floating.