Today Heather and I pick sides and head into battle.
A battle for the ages.
Which coast is the best coast?
From the food, the weather, and the traffic we debate all the factors that might make someone want to live on either side of the country.
Let us know why we were right (or wrong) and let us know why where YOU live is the best part of the country! We did after all leave out whole regions!
Right-click to download this episode directly
Check out the entire library of EPoP Travel Podcasts on iTunes
In This Episode:
- What makes the East and West coast so different.
- The lifestyle difference between the coasts.
- The coast with healthier food.
- Free Museums.
- Historical values.
- Architectural differences.
- The closeness of nature.
and much more!
Links Discussed in This Episode:
Help Us Catch Tim Ferriss on iTunes!
We just hit our original goal of 100 reviews on iTunes, which means we are the top-rated travel podcast (and which means I’m giving out $100)!
Now, we’re gunning to catch Tim Ferris’s new podcast and I have a surprise in store if we do. Help out and leave a review on iTunes:
- Click this link: Leave a review on iTunes
- Hit “View in iTunes” on the left-hand side under the picture.
- Leave an honest review.
- You’re awesome!
To Heather & Travis:
I love to travel too. I was born & raised in the Midwest(Chicago). I lived in Chicago the first 30 years of my life. Then I moved to the West coast (Phoenix Arizona for the weather). I lived in Phoenix for 9 years. Also, I lived in the South (Columbus GA, Atlanta GA). Now I have been living in Winston Salem NC for 18 years.
I can say the West coast has friendlier people – the vibe is better more laid-back. The economy is expensive in the West coast. I was born with a mild case of Cerebral Palsy. My calling is working with other disable individuals. In Winston Salem I am helping other individuals who have disabilities. On the East coast you can find many disable individuals because I find the economy is alot cheaper here and disable individuals can afford these prices. Another thing, on the East coast people do spend their time working instead of enjoying life. I life the food on both coast. When I reach retirement age I may retire in Florida or stay here. I don’t know because my mom is still living in Chicago…..
@Patricia – I think you’re right – the vibe is more laid back on the west coast but unfortunately, the cost of living is usually higher. And I’d definitely take Florida over Chicago…especially in the winter!
People don’t realise how big the US is? Same for Australia – takes days to drive across the Nullabor. Living in Perth we have to fly 5 hours before we leave Australia if flying East.
We visited the US for 9 weeks over the holiday period in 2015 and some comments were very strange – do we celebrate Christmas in Australia and do we have our own currency? We visited for the history – Philadelphia, Washington, Williamsburg so my vote is definitely East Coast. We have driven PCH and visited Hearst Castle, Monterey, San Francisco which we loved, but loses points for LA – not a fan.
Only just found your podcast so working through the episodes – great job!
@Joanna – Awesome, so glad you like the podcast. As I’m writing this, I’m sitting on a plane going from the East Coast (Baltimore) to the West Coast (Portland) and I’m on it for over 5 hours! Sooooooo big!
I personally think that the East Coast initiates this feud between both coasts. Being raised in Los Angeles, California, I can honestly say that most people here mind their own business and try to live their lives with happiness. A lot of us are extremely proud of the West Coast and we enjoy expressing our love for the place we call home. I rarely ever here anyone talk anything bad about the East Coast because people are just too busy to care. If people do happen to mention the East Coast, it’s usually because they want to travel there. But then I often come across travelers from the East Coast and most of the time they spend their time bragging or making fun of certain things we’ve accommodated to. They spend their time bragging about how much better the East is when a lot of people from the West really don’t care because we’re just happy and proud of our lifestyle.
@Elizabeth – You could be right. I personally don’t see any real animosity between the coasts, more of a friendly rivalry type thing. But I will agree that it seems to be more a rivalry in East Coast minds than West Coast ones.
Without a doubt, WEST COAST.
The few times I went to the East I found people to be really rude and everything to be really overrated and the food suckd.
@Tristan – Rude…definitely, especially if you’re in the Northeast (which I can say, since I’m from here). But I definitely don’t think the food sucks. Come to Philly or NYC, I can change your mind about the bad food on the East Coast.
east coast is better because the United States wouldn’t be a country without it, hip hop wouldn’t exist, the San Fran Giants, La Dodgers, and Golden State Warriors wouldn’t have a chunk of their wins on the east side, the Yankees, the celtics, more history and more people rather stay up late in NYC, Boston, and Miami than a place like Oakland or LA and more people on the east coast may be tough but they’re more successful and we have better colleges like Ivy league schools, two of the three military schools are on the east side etc.
@Alex Lupetin – All great points, for sure. There’s definitely a case for each coast, so I love hearing the opinions!
For the average American, the East Coast is a much worse place to live than the West Coast. The benefits of living on the East Coast are reserved exclusively for elitists that can provide accumulating advantages to their offspring. Bankers, Lawyers, and Lobbyists earning over $350K per year can afford to live in segregated enclaves and send their children to the best schools which gives them huge life long advantages over everyone else.
That is the ONLY reason to live on the East Coast. The average Joe six pack family earning $50K-$200K per year would be much better off living in Portland or Denver where there is at least some natural beauty and outdoor amenities.
The upper middle class families earning between $200k-$350K are in the trickiest position. You can technically leverage your income and savings and be able to get your kids into the elite school districts, but your savings rate and relative quality of life will be worse than two school teachers in Portland.
I’ve found myself in a position where I need to decide if I want to have an amazing lifestyle on the West Coast and retire before 50 or stay grinding away on the East Coast so that my children can network with the country’s elite. My instincts are telling me to give my children every advantage they can get, so we will stay on the East Coast. If we made 20% less money, we’d be on a plane tomorrow to be just average Americans living an awesome life. Not a bad alternative.
@JP – Interesting take on it, but I’m not sure it’s that simple. I, like you, love Denver and Portland, but the West Coast can definitely be just as pricey as the East Coast. For example, I’d love to buy a place in Portland but it’s definitely more expensive than Philadelphia.
I think on both coasts you can find affordable options…I do agree that the lifestyles are drastically different though. And I tend to like the lifestyle of the West Coast more.
I was raised in NJ, lived in Boston for college (and the few years that followed) and then moved to NYC where I worked for 9 years. My immediate family lives in DC and Charlotte and my mom used to live in St Augustine, FL (and, don’t forget grandparents who are legally required to move there). I really know the East Coast, specifically the north half of it. 14 years ago, I moved to the Denver area. Business and pleasure travel have taken me to the West at least 40 times. The show did such a GREAT JOB highlighting the incredible strengths (and some of the weaknesses) of both coasts. One biggie I wanted to comment upon was the difference between the people. I find that residents of the New England and mid-Atlantic regions are SO MUCH FUNNIER than anywhere else in the U.S. While my life is much more chill now, I do not find myself surrounded by hysterical quick-witted people as much. Life here is incredible but it’s a trade-off. While East Coasters may not be friendlier, they are very “real”. They tell you like it is and I love that. Flaky isn’t cool there and neither is keeping your opinion to yourself. That is a huge turnoff to many, but just as much a turn-on to others.
@Amy- That’s a great point…especially from someone who has seen both sides. I definitely think that it can be either abrasive or hysterical (or both), just depends how you look at it!
Also! My boyfriend and I love your podcast on this topic! We’ll be listening to more :)
I was born in Ventura, California and moved to Reading, PA when I was 10 for my parents’ jobs. Most of my family lives on the West Coast and of course it has BEAUTIFUL weather. I like that it’s easier to go outside and have fun. It’s certainly not as humid as here! However, I will say that I feel like the East Coast feels more family-friendly and family-oriented to me. I also love the traditional feel of it. I’d like to move back to the West for a few years, but then possibly move back to the East because the environment might be overall better for children (school wise).
A concise explanation of the difference between the East Coast and the West Coast: http://theoatmeal.com/pl/minor_differences5/suit
@Matt- Haha, that’s awesome! Guess I didn’t have to record a podcast…that says it all right there!