Golden

Little more than a truck stop in the early 1990s, Golden, a town of 4,000 residents that serves a regional population of about 7,000 people, today has hotels, restaurants, and tour operators. While the town retains its role as an active service center for the lumber and trucking industries, there's summer sightseeing from the 924-foot gondola ascent and alpine skiing in winter. Many fine alpine lodges, most offering hiking and cross-country skiing right out the door, dot the hills and mountains around Golden, especially at Kicking Horse where resort development can barely keep up with demand as people discover the area's splendor. You still have to scratch below the surface a bit to get past the industrial history of the town, but the effort will be rewarded with some hidden gems, minus the crowds found in the towns of the national parks. wwwgo2rockies.com is a good resource.