The most beautiful states in the U.S. combine dramatic landscapes, natural variety, and scenery that makes you stop the car just to take it all in. From rugged coastlines and towering mountains to deserts, forests, waterfalls, and alpine lakes, these 16 states showcase some of the most spectacular scenery in America. Narrowing the list down was not easy. I have visited all 50 states and lived in seven of them, so this ranking is based on the places I have actually experienced—not statistics or someone else’s list. I considered the variety of landscapes, iconic scenery, outdoor experiences, and how...