State with best National Parks & National Monuments (populations, states, south)

[nadnerb]

For National Parks and National Monuments that crossed state lines, I included both states, and I only included states that have at least one of each.

Best doesn't necessarily mean most dramatic scenery. Feel free to use whatever criteria fits best.

[TheTimidBlueBars]

For their small populations, Alaska and Montana are really good, and the natural sites are what they're most known for.

[jjbradleynyc]

I'm not sure if you just picked and listed your favorites, but there are some states you are missing.

Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina are not listed.

TN/NC have the nation's most visited national park, The Great Smoky Mountains. While South Carolina has a relatively newer park, Congaree.

[nadnerb]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

I'm not sure if you just picked and listed your favorites, but there are some states you are missing.

Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina are not listed.

TN/NC have the nation's most visited national park, The Great Smoky Mountains. While South Carolina has a relatively newer park, Congaree.

I only picked states with both national parks and national monuments. TN, NC, and SC don't have a national monument.

[Heel82]

Originally Posted by nadnerb

I only picked states with both national parks and national monuments. TN, NC, and SC don't have a national monument.

I don’t get your segregating monuments and memorials.

[nadnerb]

Originally Posted by Heel82

I don’t get your segregating monuments and memorials.

I'm more interested in natural and ecological sites than historical ones. A good portion of the National Monuments are National Park worthy, in my opinion, and I wanted to highlight those as they often get overlooked. I get that a decent number of monuments are historical sites as well, but it would've been more work than I wanted to to go through all of them and pick and choose which ones should be included in the poll.

[LINative]

How many can we vote for? Alaska, California And Washington are among the tops but I want to vote for 5 lol.

I envy you guys out West.

[TTracerJeff]

Sorry, but I vote for Michigan, which has one National Park and two outstanding National Lakeshores.

[Willamette City]

Crater lake in Oregon is gorgeous, but very seasonal; late spring, summer and early fall.

[nadnerb]

Originally Posted by Willamette City

Crater lake in Oregon is gorgeous, but very seasonal; late spring, summer and early fall.

I've been wanting to visit Crater Lake. It is the background of my license plate.

John Day National Monument looks amazing too and like it could easily be a National Park.