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About a year ago, I made the decision to move from the middle of the country, a place where I was born and raised, and, like fellow Americans in covered wagons before me, head west. I landed in Seattle on a little bit of a fluke and have not regretted my decision to become neighbors with Macklemore in the slightest. I arrived on the west coast in June and can honestly say I don’t think I’ll ever leave.
Everyone is partial to a certain place in the country, whether it be where they grew up or the place they get to choose as their home. But you guys, it fucking rocks over here. The big three (California, Oregon, and Washington) are the greatest places to live by far. Katy Perry and the Beach Boys made us all sing about California girls, as my man Ben said about Seattle, “My city’s filthy,” and the general consensus is that we’re just way more chill over here than anywhere else State-side.
There are a lot of reasons why everyone says, “West Coast, Best Coast.” And they’re right. Every single one of them.
Landscape
You’re ridiculously close to pretty much any type of terrain you could want. There’s skiing, beaches, lakes, cities, National Forests, the ocean — your options are endless. Only on the west coast can you go from hiking in the mountains where there is still snow, to taking a short drive and ending your day kayaking on the water in 80-degree weather with a beer in hand. Drive Highway 1 — it will literally take you anywhere and is one of the most stunning drives you will ever see.
Music Festivals
We have Coachella, Outside Lands, Bottle Rock, Paradiso, and Sasquatch to name a few. Essentially any type of music that you are particular to has a celebration dedicated entirely to just that genre during our epic, epic summers. I could just say, “We have the Gorge,” drop the mic, and leave it at that. In fact, I will.
We have the Gorge. *mic drop*
Trader Joe’s
Everyone’s favorite grocery chain was started in California back in ’67. Now known as the home to Hawaiian shirts, cheap (but amazing) food, Cookie Butter, and Charles Shaw, we really owe the state of California and Joe Coulombe a big thank you for filling our lives with $2 guac and $1.50 burritos.
Beer
While the Seattle area is credited with giving us everyone’s daily dose of Vitamin R (Rainier Beer, ya dummy), Portland has more breweries than any other city in the US as of 2014. Think of the brewery tour possibilities. Think of the hops. Think of the day drinking. Just THINK about it.
Golfing
Now this is just from what I’ve heard, because the last time I held a golf club was under serious protest when I was 14 and moody. According to the Huffington Post, half of the best golf courses in the USA are in California. Given that Pebble Beach is the go-to for so many PGA heavy-hitters, and the undeniably beautiful weather our states boast, it makes sense that smacking golf balls around on the west coast would be far more enjoyable than anywhere else.
Wine Country
Drinking beer, drinking wine. Whatever your poison is, the west coast has got you. From Napa, to Sonoma, to 2-buck-Chuck, you have California to thank for some of the best American made Vino you’re going to find.
Mentality
The west coast is, as I mentioned above, known to be far more “chill” than the east coast or midwest. Whether it be because we don’t have to deal with the Polar Vortex or Hurricanes like Sandy that put sharks into the streets, we just don’t have the same level of anxiety as the rest of the country. We’re incredibly diverse, and our Pride festivals are legendary. It makes for a more harmonious and fun place to live. I would be willing to bet that if you were to compare our Scaries to the Scaries of someone in say, NYC, our’s would be remarkably lower.
Weather
Bend, Oregon is known for having 300 days of sunshine a year. It is sunny 88 percent of the time in the Sacramento Valley. All that rain you’ve heard Seattle gets pounded with? Yeah, that’s pretty much just a myth being pushed by Grey’s Anatomy for drama. Meredith’s fights with Christina look WAY more dramatic in a downpour. Chicago, Dallas, and Miami all get way more rain if you actually want to talk about statistics. But that’s boring! Instead, I’ll leave you with this:
Super gross. Not picturesque at all.
Actually strike that. It totally rains all the time. You grumpy, grumpy people definitely don’t want to move here..
Image via Shutterstock
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Kendra Syrdal
Once in college John Cusack asked Kendra to sing for him. She said no. Visit her website to ogle at her face and send hate mail // kendrasyrdal.com
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Nope
I avoid Seattle so I can avoid people like you.
If I wanted to see 8 shitty reasons for something I would read buzzfeed. Also, you’re gross.
Buzzfeed is certainly more civilized
You calling us uncivilized? THIS IS A HOUSE OF LEARNED DOCTORS
I don’t think he cares.
I came here for the comments.
Brian hated the west coast.
Brian loved Kansas City and Brian was right. Kansas City > Seattle
Midwest best west.
Even for Kendra, this one was a doozy.
Do you ever wonder if everyone in Austin sits in the conference room and laughs at all of us hating on Kendra?
No, not really
The worst part is everyone who read this was hoping it was deFries. But we got Kendra instead. And it was the most Kendra article she’s written in a while.
Look at the fun bags on that hose hound
Leaving the people’s republic of california was the best decision I’ve ever made.
If California fell into the ocean, the rest of America would secretly high-five each other.
It would not be in secret.
A lot of places are like this. Denver, Atlanta, Austin, Asheville to name a few.
Denver is awesome.
Agreed. It’s apparently changed a lot in the past few years since I’ve left. Not sure if they’re good or bad changes, though.
I’ve only been here for a few months but apparently It’s gotten a lot more expensive in the past couple years.
$1500 for a 1 br vaguely in the downtown/ballpark/cap hill area.
Denver? Georgeous!