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Miami is the only Metro that's bordered by two national parks: The Everglades and Biscayne National Parks.
Riverside-San Bernardino, CA(Joshua Tree, Death Valley) , Visalia, CA (Sequoia, Kings Canyon) and Fresno, CA (Yosemite, Kings Canyon) all border or totally contain two. Seattle borders three (see post above).
National Forest wise (which as posted should be included), I'll add Phoenix as one that seems to have close proximity to a lot of outdoor recreation - not to mention GC National Park further north. Not saying it is #1 for this category but it seems to have enough to keep one busy.
Another smaller metro not mentioned I'll add is Boise, ID.
Riverside-San Bernardino, CA(Joshua Tree, Death Valley) , Visalia, CA (Sequoia, Kings Canyon) and Fresno, CA (Yosemite, Kings Canyon) all border or totally contain two. Seattle borders three (see post above).
More specifically, two in the same county…MiamiDade
I think Minneapolis and St. Paul would do good on this one, not win it, but do well. Once you leave MSP, which is very large and spread out (13th largest CSA), you hit praries to the west, more praries to the southwest and south, southeast and east it is very rugged, hilly and forested, to the northeast, north, and northwest it is all hills, forests, and small mountains, (the sawtooth mountains). And of course in all directions there water. Lakes, rivers, huge lakes, marshes, streams, waterfalls, etc. The city of Minneapolis has two decent sized waterfalls within its borders, one being directly in downtown. And to the point, MSP is bordered by hundreds of state parks and forests, and beyond, national forests, grasslands and far north a national park. Inside the metro there are two national scenic riverways. So although alot of the parks are state parks, MSP has a TON of forests all around it.
Although, Duluth-Superior Metro Area, which isnt too large, issurrounded by complete wilderness and small mountains, lakes etc, so that would beat MSP. But for such a large netro, MSP does well.
Phoenix
All the Native American Reservations (If you consider those to be federal lands, i know some do and some don't)
Tohono O'odham, Pima, Gila River, Maricopa, Fort Mcdowell, Salt River, Pinal, Among others
Superstition Mountains, Lost Dutchman State Park
Sonoran Desert NM
Hohokam NM
Casa Grande Ruins
Agua Fria NM
Lake Pleasent Regional Park
Tonto National Forest
Prescott National Forest
Lake Roosevelt
Bartlett Lake
Apache Lake
Canyon Lake
Saguaro Lake
Not to mention all the municipal parks and mountain preserves that are in and around the city :
South Mountain Park
North Mountain Preserve
Lookout Mountain Preserve
White Tank Mountain Park
McDowell Mountain Preserve
Dreamy Draw/Shaw Butte
Thunderbird Park/Deem Hills Preserve
Camelback Mountain/Echo Canyon
Among Plenty Others
Using your question: largets metro surrounded by the largest amount? California metro areas no question. Any other western cities after that, only because they are smaller. No where in the eastern half of the country comes close.
Not saying its at or anything but Indianapolis-Marion County has 3 state parks in its limits. White River, Ft. harrison and Eagle Creek. Not too shabby.
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