The American West Coast

Some years ago I had the opportunity to spend half a year in the USA, in Portland (Oregon). When I think back on that time of my life, the first thing that comes to mind is the feeling of freedom. As weird as it may sound, I never felt that exact same feeling anywhere in the world, not before my trip there and not after, until the present day.

I can’t put my finger on what exactly triggers this unique sense of freedom, but there I felt the whole world was mine, that I could go wherever I want and do whatever I please.

The West Coast is said to be “greener”, more open minded and chill than the rest of America. Here there is a whole concept around living a healthy life: eating habits that revolve around sustainability, hiking and camping in those many green mountains, kayaking on large rivers like Europe has never seen or in the still bays of the Pacific, surfing and cruising the deep waters of the ocean.

The states of Oregon and Washington are considered the greenest states in America, because of their lush woods. It’s really like entering the Cretaceous period, you expect a dinosaur to pop out at any time between the wild vines and the gigantic trees covered in moss. Well, don’t fret, no T-Rex is coming out…maybe just a 2 meter long cougar or a black bear. The two states also have some of the most spectacular waterfalls I have ever seen and huge rivers that slice through the high hills and mountains. So it’s a paradise for people who like to spend time outdoors, that don’t mind the humid and rainy weather, nor the wild animals lurking around the corners. The restaurant lodges on the highway at the bottom of the forest are really inspired by fairytales, with huge fires in their hearths and rugged wooden tables, chandeliers made of antlers, furs on the creaking floors, all of them serving stakes as huge as half of my arm.

What I liked the most about Oregon and Washington is the coast. The Pacific coast is as wild as the mountains and forests in these states. The wilderness here is something so refreshing that it can’t even be described. I don’t necessarily refer to all the sea lions or harbor seals that you can see resting on the beach, nor to all the different kinds of birds circling the pointy rocks rising from the water, nor to the whales that are swimming in the vicinity. What enchanted me the most was the high coast, sharp cliffs, the forest running right into huge waves and the lighthouses that are spread all over the coast. In between the wilderness of Oregon and Washington, there are also the charming coastal towns with golden beaches larger than anything I’ve ever seen. They all have that cosy feeling of small American towns, with tiny restaurants serving dungeness crab, clam chowder, ahi tuna, seared scallops, fish ‘n chips and stuffed Portobellos with shrimp or lobster.

There are also amazing, very civilized cities all over these two states, cities that each deserve their own article, like Seattle for example in Washington, or Portland in Oregon. They are fresh and different from the rest of the country, each with its own culture and history, both very tightly tied to the indigenous population and the “Gold rush” era, both very open minded and free.

California is the last state to the south on the West Coast. It’s very different from the two mentioned above, but also very much alike in thinking and vibe. California is hot, less wild and “hipster”, it’s posh and has the very well-known “celebrity” atmosphere. The resorts along the beach are all everything you could desire and more: beautiful villas inspired by Mexican architecture, large beaches with fine sand, palm trees, huge malls and trendy restaurants. I forgot to mention all the hot Baywatch people running around in their red bathing suits along the shore.

The desert area is full of theme parks like Disneyland, Universal, Sea World, Legoland and many others. So, it’s really an ideal summer destination for a holiday, fun in the sun.

The big cities here are renowned all over the world: San Francisco and Los Angeles. Although I haven’t visited the former, the latter certainly left an impression on me. It’s not really my type of city, but it’s overwhelming with all the luxury, Dubai style. It’s diverse also in architecture, but also in people, from very poor to the opposite. LA is definitely something to visit at least once in life.

I would go back in a heartbeat to visit some of the things I’ve missed in those 6 months of being there and to revisit all my favorite places. About those corners that made my life more beautiful and the West American experience worthwhile, you will find out in other articles.

That precious feeling of freedom is intoxicating and I hope I get to experience it again in the future.