I’m 23 years old and I’m going to be dead within a year(I don’t really want to go in depth about it)
I’m from Canada and have always been obsessed with wildlife and the beauty of states like Wyoming / colorado / montana / Washington. I’ve been enamoured with wildlife documentaries since I was a child.
I’m hoping to spend some time there before it’s too late.. for a nature/wildlife lover what would your top 3-5 states be? I was thinking Wyoming because they’re all close. Any recommendations would be appreciated
Thankyou:)
28 comments
Washington, Alaska, some state along the Appalachian Trail.
Alabama is one of, if not the most, biodiverse states.
Yellowstone in Wyoming is always recommended. Southern Utah for an entirely different feel.
Cali, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico
Howdy! Wyoming is very open, vast and rugged. You can get so far away from people and deep into the wild. The Tetons, the wind river, and Yellowstone (it’s gorgeous and unique but a lot of tourists). The wind river is gorgeous and take my mind somewhere else.
I wish you all the best.
Utah and New Mexico. And sorry.
Hands Down, you should come and get off the beaten path and enjoy some time with nature, wherever you travel.
My #1 recommendation: Crater Lake National Park
https://www.travelcraterlake.com/lodging-camping/crater-lake-lodging-experience/?&mkwid=smX440ZoF&crid=444966723554&mp_kw=crater%20lake%20national%20park&mp_mt=e&gclid=CjwKCAjwgqejBhBAEiwAuWHioBmCZTHjAvTD-W5niFpeidaoGuzE6BeSv8FFcUW1BL1_v9DrZRWw7RoCwWgQAvD_BwE
Deception Pass in Washington
Depending where you are, the Boundary Water Canoe Area on the Minnesota/Ontario border is such a peaceful and beautiful place. Itasca State park in central northern MN is also gorgeous.
Since you want to see wildlife you could just go to the bigger national parks and camp for a bit. Yellow stone is absolutely massive for example
Adding for consideration, the Adirondacks in NY. It’s huge, and the alpine mountains are extremely beautiful in the winter and very nice in the summer too, gets well into the 80s and 90s at points in the summer. Lake Placid is a small town but populated well enough not to be isolated. And big town Watertown and Ft. Drum are nearby, and major city Syracuse with extensive medical community is a few hours away. Actually a few celebrities have homes or live in Watertown which really surprised me, but the area is so beautiful. It’s also very close to Canada. A few hours south of Watertown, not even an hour from Syracuse, there’s the finger lakes, which is a series of long skinny mountainous lakes with small local wineries at almost every mile. If you love wine, you must go!
Visit the Grand Canyon before it gets too hot, and move closer to Crater Lake.
You have my sympathy.
In all honesty I would suggest you visit the Adirondacks in New York state.
Take some time out to visit the Strong museum in Rochester on your way.
Enjoy yourself!
I just returned from visiting my 50th state, Alaska. Having officially seen them all, I’m gonna have to recommend: Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado, and Wyoming.
Utah. If I had one state left to go to it would be there 100%. Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, and the Grand Canyon is right there as well. If you want to feel alive and in nature there is honestly no better place.
Colorado is a lovely state. Of course the obvious destination is Rocky Mountain National Park, but I would also highly recommend the Sand Dunes National Park
I’ve been to about 75% of the US States – multiple cross country fun road trips, lots of camping, work travel, etc.
Since you’re looking into the outdoorsy feel – Sequoya National Park would be amazing. Those them trees are something unmatched, anywhere.
I’d also look into the vast open space of New Mexico. Summer or winter, the way the sunsets on the desert scape is breath taking.
More nautical views; anywhere in New England for a sunrise view with a light house. So many light houses in Maine. Prefer a coast sunset, out by Bandon Dunes golf course.
Want a city experience? Personally love Boston and Chicago, prefer them both over New York. It’s baseball season, why not catch a game at Wrigley or Fenway and enjoy the crowds after the game. Something you can’t match anywhere else in the states.
Can you go in the water ? If so – snorkel in the Hawaii or the Keys down in Florida. Hawaii might a great place for an overall experience. The hiking, water falls, etc. pretty good out door area and a place that’s just in general – breath taking. Just skip the tourist traps. Check out the big island for some lava and head over to the smaller ones.
There are so many options. If you really only have a year – go all out and get what you can out of each place.
Can’t beat Alaska for scenery and wildlife!
Northern Nevada is a pretty great place. You can gamble a little, pan for gold, visit some ghost towns, and just enjoy the beauty. There are some amazing hot springs here as well. If you’re here in the winter, Elko, NV has a nationwide Cowboy Poetry contest. There is nothing like it anywhere else.
I’ll buy you a beer if you make it this way.
If you go to Rocky Mountain National Park sometime from May to September and spend a full day there, like 8am to 8pm, I can almost guarantee you that you’ll see elk, deer, and marmots. You’ll have a high chance of seeing moose, turkey, and big horn sheep.
Do you have any physical limitations on what you can and cannot do during your travels?
Otherwise, I also do like Hawaii, but specifically the Big Island if you’re looking for nature. Very nice snorkeling spots, volcanoes, waterfalls, and black sand beaches.
A little less adventurous, but the San Diego Zoo has an extremely extensive collection of species that you could see in one spot. While not exactly nature, you’ll be able to see some animals from other regions of the world you wouldn’t be able to see otherwise.
Sorry for your situation. I hope you get to enjoy the things you love soon
Visit glacier and the park on the Canadian side, then drive down to Colorado and back up through the Dakota’s.
California has alot to offer. SanFrancisco /Yosemite mountains/ Sacramento /santa cruz/Monterey bay are all within a few hours of each other. Alot of really cool outdoora stuff. SF can be hit or miss but they have alot to do. Giants game, go across the golden gate bridge.
Of course Yosemite is always amazing and sounds like you would enjoy that the most.
Colorado is awesome! Lots of places to go, things to do and see. Utah and Arizona are also really cool if you like the desert or really unique geologic formations. California is gorgeous, but has soooo many people. All the western states have something to offer!
Don’t sleep on California. It has the most national parks in the country with incredible diversity of biomes: desert, mountains, forests, ocean etc.
Top five for nature in my book are Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Washington and Arizona, with Idaho and Wyoming not far behind.
I’m thinking Mesa Verde in Southwest Colorado, plus Arches in Utah. Also Saguaro National Park in Tucson was really memorable to me.
Washington and Oregon are close to the border and contain some the greatest natural beauty I’ve ever seen.
Oregon, California, and Montana are the only states I’ve been in long enough to recommend. As for the rest, that really depends on what you’re looking for, every state has at least something.