Most Beautiful State in the Lower 48

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by tysmith95

Just wondering what everyone thinks. In my opinion it would be California followed by Oregon, Montana, and Maine. I apologize for making the poll so long but I didn't want to forget any states that people might see as beautiful but I don't.

I set up the poll so that you can only vote for one state.

I voted for Colorado, because I'm from CA, and so much of it is beautiful, but it's very familiar to me. I wanted to exclude my home state, to be objective.

But of course, in beauty, CA is #1. But it also depends on your preferences: if you like beaches and redwood forests, obviously, CA is it. But CO IMO runs a close second, in spite of the absence of beaches and redwoods.

[jjbradleynyc]

If I had to pick a top 10, here are mine:

10. Tennessee: the hills and the rolling vistas and the smoky mountains. Quaint untouched countryside in a lot of areas.
9. Virginia: Stunning hills and foothills give way to beautiful valleys that seem to go on forever. Tidewater region is gorgeous
8. Washington: Mostly beautiful coastline with stunning temperate rainforests. Mountains that are unforgettable.
7. North Carolina: Some of the best mountain peaks and stunning vistas in the east. Beautiful shoreline.
6. Montana: Just amazing wilderness, stunning peaks, beautiful meadows and wildlife that is unforgettable.
5. Oregon: The coastline is incredible in places. The mountain range and the temperate rainforests add to the beauty.
4. Colorado: Rocky Mountains with their incredible peaks just take your breath away.
3. New Mexico: Something spiritual about the desert here. Add in the mountain peaks in many areas and it is gorgeous.
2. Arizona: The Sonoran Desert in the south, the valleys of desert surrounding the cities. Sedona. Grand Canyon. Painted Desert. The desert peaks and mountains up north near Flagstaff. Incredible mountain country meets desert--incredible
1. California: Has every geographical stunning feature--no state other than maybe Hawaii can compare, imo. Magnificent coastline, stunning wine country, amazing redwood forests, Lake Tahoe peaks, Yosemite, Death Valley, the list goes on...


(my 11 to 20 spots
20 West Virginia
19 Florida
18 Alabama
17 Kentucky
16 Georgia
15 Utah
14 Wyoming
13 South Carolina
12 Maine
11 Idaho

[sean1the1]

I think California is the most beautiful, and if SoCal were a state it would still be the most beautiful.

After California would be Washington, Oregon, Montana, Florida, North Carolina, Utah, New York, Missouri, and Maine.

When I initially voted in this poll I hadn't yet experienced all of California, but since then I changed my mind.

[BatedPenguin]

7 way tie between Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, California, Oregon, Washington, and Montana.

Runner ups include Idaho and Arizona. The west just has such a diverse landscape and ecology that it cannot be beat.

Of the Eastern states I say Maine, Vermont, and Virginia are the prettiest.

[SunGrins]

Originally Posted by boulevardofdef

Uh, isn't that a photo of El Capitan in California?

Nope...It's just barely in Texas -- another couple miles or so and you are in New Mexico. I have to admit that if you've been lookin' at a cow all day that looks pretty good.