Alaska

Capital, Juneau. Largest city, Anchorage (see AnchorageAlaska). There are places in Alaska that are just BLM land or National Forest land but they're more spectacular than many national parks in the the Lower 48. Every Alaska state park would be a national park in the lower 48.

On the other hand, it's cold, like Russia.

Largest state in the United States in terms of land area.

At the instigation of Secretary of State William Seward the United States Senate approved the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000 on April 9th, 1867, and the United States flag was raised on October 18th of that same year. (info from www.senate.gov)