Why You Should Move Out West

An increasing number of people are making their way out west, according to some of the latest figures on fast growing counties. The fastest are Maricopa County in Arizona, Clark County in Nevada and Riverside County in California. If you haven’t thought about making the move too, here’s why you should.

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The Jobs

In a recently released report, Colorado Springs was named the country’s top city for employment growth and its fifth-best place to find a job, with lots of openings for marketing managers and aerospace engineers. Colorado Springs real estate tends to be less pricey than larger cities like Denver, making it more affordable too. Those who work in tech might want to think about Washington State, Oregon or California. Of course, the Golden State is home to Silicon Valley but there are plenty of jobs in Southern California too, including San Diego, Irvine and Los Angeles. In Portland, there’s a cluster of tech companies referred to as the Silicon Forest. The Seattle metro area offers plenty of tech jobs too, with Redmond home to Microsoft.

Alternative Lifestyles are Welcomed

Generally, the West has a more open-minded attitude, welcoming alternative lifestyles of all kinds, and we’re not just talking LGBTs, but everyone from entrepreneurs to surfers and ski bums. Here, there is more focus on achieving a dream lifestyle rather than simply moving up the ranks at a corporate company, although there is plenty of that too.

Fresh Food

While places on the east coast do have some great food, it’s hard to beat the west, especially when it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables. Most are grown in California, which means if you’re out west you’ll be able to enjoy easy access year-round. Pick up ripe avocados, try artichokes and enjoy some of the best Mexican fare outside of Mexico, particularly in the southwest.

Outdoor Adventure Abounds

No matter where you are out west, you’re likely to be surrounded by opportunities for outdoor adventure. Here you can still find remote wilderness areas for getting away from it all, including camping in solitude. It’s also home to some of the most breathtaking national parks, from Rocky Mountain National Park to Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Yosemite national parks – all offer incredible scenery, abundant wildlife and endless recreational activities.

Just some of the options for getting out in the Great Outdoors include fly fishing, hiking, climbing and mountain biking, surfing, whitewater rafting and just about every other water sport imaginable. With all those opportunities, people out west tend to be more fit and health conscious, so if you’re hoping to up your own game by improving your health and perhaps trimming that waistline, it’s really a great place to be.

It’s More Laid-Back and Welcoming

The west is known for its more laid-back atmosphere, much more conducive for relaxing and just chilling out. People tend to be friendlier too, and with so many moving from other places, you’ll probably find it much easier to make new friends.