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Outside of Hawaii, the answer is without a doubt, New Mexico. There is almost no border culturally between northern Mexico and New Mexico. You have some of the best green chile in the world, the oldest capital in the U.S. (Santa Fe) the largest hot air balloon festival in the world, murals on nearly every old building in downtown Albuquerque, route 66 go's through the heart of the states largest city, the four corners, rocky mountains, rio grande river, Indian/Spanish cultural mix, some of the best skiing in America, one of the most unique histories, first settled in the late 1500's, nearly every city has a Spanish name (Rio Rancho, Las Lunes, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Las Vegas, Santa Rosa, Albuquerque,) White sands missal range, Los Alamos (first atomic bomb test site,) one of the few places in the U.S. where the separation between church and state is almost nonexistent, Oldest church in the U.S. outside of Puerto Rico, Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County Wars, Roswell alien sightings, Carlsbad Caverns, A STRONG catholic influence, Albuquerque is bordered on 3 sides by Indian pueblos, Georgia O'Keeffe's inspiration for her paintings, the worlds longest Tram, and last but not least some of the most unique food in the U.S. Probably the only place in America where you could walk into a McDonald's and order green chile on your burger
As this thread has been resurrected, I'll take a bite.
Michigan: it's shaped like a mitten.
I recall playing a name that state game when I was in the Army, years ago. Most could identify their state and bordering states. Beyond that, the other states were more obscure. Most people were able to pick out Michigan because of its unique shape. Much like most people can identify Italy.
I went with California. It seems to have a bit of everything -- deserts, mountains, volcanoes, forests, farms, beaches, etc.
Certainly, I think it's silly to vote Hawaii up.
I agree that California is the best state. Its hard to argue that.
But this thread is about the most unique state. That goes to Hawaii. There really is not another state remotely close to it, whether geographically, culturally, in terms of demographics, etc.
Unique is not the same thing as geographically diverse, nor is it a synonym for great. The question wasn't about anyone's favorite place, it was about a place you can go that cannot possibly be mistaken for any other location within the US. It's also not about the most unique city (and would be much, much harder to answer if it was!)
My vote goes to Hawaii. It is the only state in the US with two official languages, one of them already unique in its own right. Lots of states have a large percentage of Spanish speakers, or are heavily influenced by Mexican food, culture, and cuisine, but to hear Hawaiian, you must go to Hawaii.
That alone makes it a pretty unique place, but let's consider some other factors, as well. First of all, it is the only US state that consists entirely of islands. It has no true racial majority. It has regulations about what flora and fauna can be brought into the state that rival those of a foreign country, for obvious reasons.
I live in Alaska, and Alaska would be my second pick for this distinction, for many of the same reasons, and a few others that are not major considerations in Hawaii. But overall, I really think there is no contest here.
Other states I would point out as truly unique, or with unique features, as opposed to diversity, would include Louisiana and Pennsylvania, the only place you will find speakers of old Pennsylvania Dutch (actually a form of German.)
Here is just one, among many things, that makes California unique: it contains the lowest elevation point (at Death Valley) AND the highest elevation point (at Mt. Whitney) in the contiguous United States, and these points are only separated by 85 miles.
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