The US is made up of six main regions: New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the South, the Midwest, the Southwest, and the West. Over the next few months, we are going to focus on a region and share some of its unique attributes.
The West is a region covers the western portion of the United States and consists of five states: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. The terrain of the west varies greatly and includes the Pacific coastline, mountain ranges and deserts. The climate is considered semi-desert, but is less predictable than other parts of the country and sometimes changes dramatically from year to year.
While much of the West is filled with small towns, farms, and forests, there are a few big port cities that our world leaders in entertainment and technology. The region’s largest city is Los Angeles, which is best known for Hollywood, the symbolic center of the American movie industry. Other large cities include San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, and Portland. The West is often associated with images of cowboys and a frontier mentality as a result of the region’s history during America’s expansion west. While these associations may not be as true today as they once were, the West has been shaped by immigrants from all over the world and continues to be one of the most rapidly growing parts of the country.
The West is a wonderful place to visit during your time in the U.S. Whether you like big cities, mountains, or oceans, there is plenty to explore!