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I'd say North Carolina. It's one of the most well-rounded states in terms of mountains and beaches. Virginia is another contender, but it's natural offerings seem to be overshadowed by North Carolina.
To my surprise, North Carolina has a much flatter interior than most coastal states.
For example, Bay Minette, Alabama, which is approximately 20 miles away from Mobile Bay, has an average elevation of 269' above sea level. On the other hand, Smithfield, North Carolina, which is well over 100 miles away from the Atlantic Ocean coastline, is still less than 200' above sea level.
New York is fairly similar to Alabama in this regard. The average elevation of Rye Brook, New York is 249', despite being only 3-5 miles away from the Long Island Sound.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outer_Bluegrass
To my surprise, North Carolina has a much flatter interior than most coastal states.
For example, Bay Minette, Alabama, which is approximately 20 miles away from Mobile Bay, has an average elevation of 269' above sea level. On the other hand, Smithfield, North Carolina, which is well over 100 miles away from the Atlantic Ocean coastline, is still less than 200' above sea level.
New York is fairly similar to Alabama in this regard. The average elevation of Rye Brook, New York is 249', despite being only 3-5 miles away from the Long Island Sound.
The coastal plains of the East Coast are continuous from the low country of SC all the way up to south Jersey and encompass most of the Delmarva peninsula. By contrast, it's interesting how hilly Connecticut gets pretty close to the shoreline with rugged New England granite features on the shoreline. The drive from Old Lyme to East Haddam goes from salt marsh to steep hills and waterfalls (Devils Hopyard) on a windy back road drive in 20 minutes.
To my surprise, North Carolina has a much flatter interior than most coastal states.
For example, Bay Minette, Alabama, which is approximately 20 miles away from Mobile Bay, has an average elevation of 269' above sea level. On the other hand, Smithfield, North Carolina, which is well over 100 miles away from the Atlantic Ocean coastline, is still less than 200' above sea level.
New York is fairly similar to Alabama in this regard. The average elevation of Rye Brook, New York is 249', despite being only 3-5 miles away from the Long Island Sound.
Lol, you seem to be confusing elevation for topographic variation.
Denver sits what, a mile above sea level? It's flat. Pretty infamously so. On the contrary, Atlanta is less than a fifth of Denver's elevation, but noticeably hillier.
The Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains are not nearly as different as you seem to be implying.
Also, "flatter interior than most coastal states" is just flat-out inaccurate... taking even a cursory glance at a topographic map, you're trying to claim that NC is flatter than NJ, Delaware, SC, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas?
Pretty much everything east of the Rocky Mountains is flat. Including North Carolina which seems to be a favorite here.
Florida still has some nice lakes and forests.
Ok, lol? You also picked the wrong state as the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi is in North Carolina.
I don’t doubt Florida has many nice inland lakes and forests (I’ve been to Big Cypress National Park, FWIW) but I’ll take my in-laws lake house in the Adirondacks over anything I’ve seen inland in Florida any day.
And while I’ve never been to North Carolina (or South Carolina), I’ve been to Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia, and would take many of their interiors over Florida’s as well.
Ok, lol? You also picked the wrong state as the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi is in North Carolina.
I don’t doubt Florida has many nice inland lakes and forests (I’ve been to Big Cypress National Park, FWIW) but I’ll take my in-laws lake house in the Adirondacks over anything I’ve seen inland in Florida any day.
And while I’ve never been to North Carolina (or South Carolina), I’ve been to Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia, and would take many of their interiors over Florida’s as well.
14 states are less flat then North Carolina including all in the Mountain West.
Virginia and Maine jump out to me. Virginia has some great mountain areas, foothills, lots of great corners to find. Maine is arguably the most wild state besides Alaska, and I’d love to go. Many of these other states have a lot to offer, but not to the extent of these two.
I’d have to go Maine, North Carolina, and Virginia in that order. But would understand if someone chose Georgia over Virginia in that third spot.
Yeah, that would be my exact order as well.
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