The 3 Top Places To Live If You Are Outdoorsy

If you consider yourself a nature lover, it will make sense that you would try and live somewhere with easy access to the outdoors. Choosing a place to live is a big decision, but you can quickly narrow down your choices if you know you want to be able to enjoy the scenery and environment. The United States has a vast selection of amazing states filled with incredible mountain ranges, desert land, and ocean vistas. Depending on your preference, you can pick a destination filled with invigorating hikes, refreshing lakes or rivers, or lush greenery as far as the eye can see.

While there are a lot of states to choose from, some soar above the rest regarding their outdoor offerings. If you're planning to move or considering relocating and love being outside, these spots offer incredible opportunities for the nature lover in you. Montana, Colorado, and California all have their own unique attributes, but they also have one thing in common: they are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Far & Wide notes that each one offers unique elements, which is what makes them special and desirable. To discover more about your new potential home, check out why these three states are so coveted by anyone searching for a piece of paradise.

Does your soul sing when it gets near the ocean? If you answered yes, then California is the place for you. According to Far & Wide, this state boasts nine stunning national parks, which is any nature lover's dream. One of the best parts of California is the mixed terrain, which varies from desert to forest to beaches, creating an "all in one" concept that will tick any explorer's box. If you start at the bottom of the state, you can find barren desert landscapes that make you feel like the first person to set foot there. Death Valley is a collection of lonely mountains, sand dunes, and salt flats, each portion contributing to the feeling that there is so much in this world to still understand.

While the bigger cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles are hubs of humanity, you can still find peace and quiet on the beaches or enjoy the outdoor architectural views. Take a drive along the coastline up the Pacific Coast Highway, and you'll pass incredible vantage points through the rocky Malibu beaches and Big Sur, known for its stunning sights. The further north you go, you'll find yourself engulfed in towering trees and moody shorelines, giving you that breath of fresh mountain air you crave. There is no end to the outdoor opportunities, and you won't ever get bored of the scenery.

If hiking, swimming, snowboarding, skiing, or any other outdoor sport calls to you, then Colorado is the perfect place to lay down some roots. Filled with crisp pine trees, refreshing temperatures, and a plethora of nature-filled areas, this state is something to behold. Jump from the towering Rockies to the long stretches of Colorado River canyons, and you'll feel like you've gone back in time to the days of settlers and explorers. According to Travel Away, the state offers visitors and locals a multitude of sparkling lakes to choose from, with hidden gems dotted throughout the landscape that you have to hike, bike, drive, or otherwise travel around to find.

While Colorado is known for its mountain peaks and endless tree lines, you can also find pink sand dunes that stretch for miles and miles. You can spend your weekends wandering through the woods or trying to visit all of the random ghost towns that still keep watch over the terrain after all these years. During the summer, there are many hiking paths to cover, and in winter, you can sail down glistening white-powdered slopes — what's not to like?

There are so many places that contend for an outdoor lover's top spot to live, but this state offers something that few others do. If you've ever craved wide-open spaces that don't feel crowded by the state's population, Montana is the place for you. According to CruiseAmerica, you can find more places to stargaze without light pollution than there are actual towns or cities, which is saying something in this day and age.

Montana is also home to one of the most well-known state parks, Yellowstone, but it also has Glacier National Park, which covers more than one million acres of land. Turquoise lakes, ancient glaciers, and lush meadows await you in this incredible place, and you'll feel a sense of solitude and peace that not many other states can offer. When you're outside exploring, you'll feel immersed in the natural landscape, unencumbered by buildings, technology, or crowds. That is something truly majestic and perfect for anyone who loves nature with a side of tranquility.