One of the advantages that the United States enjoys as a nation is that it is so geographically diverse. A person who grew up in Washington state had a totally different experience from someone who was raised in Florida. There are several geographical boundaries that create these distinctions but one of the most important is the line that divides the east coast from the west coast. The interior of the U.S. is sparsely populated, so the majority of U.S. citizens live on the two coasts. Two unique cultures have arisen in these two areas and recently, the debate about which coast is better has become heated. There are several arguments in favor of either coast but why not let the pictures speak for themselves? This article will discuss the 12 pics of the East Coast that'll make any American proud and 12 West Coast pics. But these pictures won't be limited to the landscapes of either coast. I have tried to use these pictures to best highlight what it is about these two areas that make the people that live there think that their coast is markedly better than the other. After going through this article and seeing the pictures, which coast do you think is superior?

24 East Coast- New York State of Mind

There are several large cities on the west coast but none of these places can match the size and diversity of New York City. New York is the most populous city in the entire world and has been for quite some time. As such, it has developed in a way that is unique in human history. I am personally not a big fan of NYC but I understand why so many people are attracted to it. It is the only city that I have ever lived in where you can get almost anything that you want at any time of the day or night.

23 West Coast- Coastal Sins

There are very few things on either coast that the other coast is totally incapable of copying. One highlight of the west coast that is unmatched in the east is Las Vegas. It once had a parallel in Atlantic City but that part of the country has fallen into such disrepair that it is no longer competition for Sin City. Vegas is known for its casinos but there are innumerable other things to do there. I don't think that it is unfair to label Las Vegas as the entertainment capital of the world. Heavy praise for a city on the west coast.

22 East Coast- Florida Sunshine

When it comes to fun and sun, it seems like the west coast has a clear advantage. Things become a little less clear, however, when you remember that Florida is part of the east coast. Key West, Miami, and Tampa are just a few of the popular vacation destinations in Florida. These cities can rival any beach town on the west coast, and they go against the stereotype of the east coast as a collection of industrial centers. All that you have to do is look at this picture to start dreaming of days in the Miami sunshine.

21 West Coast- This Canyon Is Pretty Grand

One could argue that the Grand Canyon is far enough into the nation's interior that it cannot be considered part of the coast but for the purposes of this article, we are attributing America's greatest natural wonder to the west coast. As someone who gets bored easily, it isn't easy for a natural attraction to keep my interest. I spent multiple days at the Grand Canyon in 2014, and my interest was kept the entire time. The Canyon itself is absolutely breathtaking, and there are a ton of fun things to do in the surrounding area. Chalk up one for the west coast.

20 East Coast- 1 Word: Disneyworld

Now you may be asking yourself, isn't there another Disney park on the west coast? Yes, there is but I think that a strong argument could be made that Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida is actually superior to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Disneyland gets more attention, thanks to a famous Super Bowl promotion, but Disneyworld has better rides and a better atmosphere. There are a limited number of factors on the east and west coasts that let these two areas go head-to-head. The presence of a Disney park on each coast lets us make this comparison.

19 West Coast- Extreme weather in the west

Last year, the state of California experienced several extreme weather events. These events were hugely destructive and they are not an anomaly. Climate change will lead to more serious weather events, and places like California are likely to be the main victims. The east coast will not go unaffected by the effects of climate change but they are less likely to experience severe weather than the west coast (at least in the short term). Water shortage is also a major problem on the west coast, while it is in abundance in the east.

18 East Coast- The Rocky Element

While I was compiling entries for this article, I couldn't help feeling like there was an important aspect of the east coast that I was missing. This intangible element of eastern U.S. culture bleeds into everything that people on the east coast do and perhaps more importantly, how they view themselves. I have taken to calling this the Rocky element. Sylvester Stallone chose to base his iconic film in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but really, it could have been in any major city on the east coast. Call it grit, toughness, or the stubbornness of the eastern seaboard; there is simply an edge to the east coast that the west coast doesn't have.

17 West Coast- Baja Blast

There is a reason why the United States was willing to go to war with Mexico to get the land that makes up the American Southwest. This part of the country is absolutely beautiful. My favorite part of the American Southwest is the Baja Peninsula, which is technically across the Mexican border. There are a ton of things worth visiting on this peninsula. As you can tell from this picture, the landscape here is very beautiful. In addition, there are also many man-made attractions in this part of the country.

16 East Coast- The Big Easy

There are a lot of large cities on the east coast of the United States. Each of these cities has its own version of an "east coast feel" but it is easy to feel like they aren't as culturally diverse as the cities on the west coast. The exception to this, of course, is New Orleans. The capital city of Louisiana was constructed at Mississippi River delta. New Orleans has changed hands several times in its history, and its culture is a reflection of this. New Orleans also happens to be one of the cities that Travelocity has listed as one of the most fun cities to visit in the United States.

15 West Coast- More Than the Golden State

When most people think of the west coast, they think of California. While the Golden State does make up most of the west coast, it is a mistake to ignore the Pacific Northwest. Everyone knows about the major cities of Portland and Seattle but Oregon and Washington have more to offer than the hipster culture in the big cities. The forests in this part of the country are unlike any other patch of wilderness in the country. This part of the country is also extraordinarily beautiful, as this picture illustrates.

14 East Coast- Capital City

A theme of this article has been highlighting cities and attractions that one coast has and the other does not. For historical reasons, a major city on the east coast has always been the capital of the United States. Being the national seat of power caused Washington D.C. to develop in a unique way. Therefore, the economy, culture, and demographics of DC are totally different from any city on the west coast. One of the city's most endearing attributes is the presence of the Smithsonian Institute. The museums that make up the Smithsonian are some of the best in the world.

13 West Coast- Western Travelers

An area of the world is distinct not only because of what is contained within its tight geographical borders but also because of the things that are in close proximity to its borders. This fact is an advantage for the west coast. People who live on the west coast should have a fairly easy time going to any number of exotic destinations, including; Australia and New Zealand, Eastern Asia, Alaska, Mexico, or Hawaii. The east coast is closer to Europe and the Caribbean but that's about it.

12 East Coast- You Can’t Beat Five Guys

This next entry is a huge hit to the west coast. How can you argue that your coast is better when you don't have the premier burger food chain in the United States? Every region had its favorite fast food places but none of those places are on the same level as Five Guys Burgers and Fries. If you have lived on the east coast you probably already know what I'm talking about but if you're a west coast native, you should put a visit to Five Guys at the top of your east coast bucket list.

11 West Coast- Film City

There are several aspects of the United States that separate it from the rest of the world. Pundits like to talk about the U.S.A.'s military might or economic strength but one factor that makes the U.S. unique, that has been under-appreciated, is Hollywood. Most developed countries have their own movie studios that make regional films but none of these studios can compare to the major Hollywood studios in scope and influence. Hollywood is, of course, on the west coast in California. This is a huge advantage for the west coast.

10 East Coast- Martha’s Vineyard

If this were a debate about which coast has the most scenic destinations, I think that the west coast would have a significant advantage. There are a few places on the east coast, however, that are so picturesque that they make me pause before crowning the west as the best coast. On such place is Martha's Vineyard. Martha's Vineyard is a small island off the southern coast of Massachusetts, a short ferry ride from the tip of Cape Cod. The Cape itself is very beautiful but Martha's Vineyard certainly steps things up a notch.

9 West Coast- The West Coast on Shaky Ground

As the effects of man-made climate change become more evident, it increasingly seems like the west coast of the United States is in a precarious situation. But not every environmental issue facing the west coast is the result of carbon emissions. For decades, we have known that the San Andreas Fault runs through most of California. This is an area where two tectonic plates have converged. The movement of these plates causes seismic events along the fault line, most notably earthquakes. Some scientists have argued that the movement between the plates will become so forceful that there is a chance that California will actually break off from the rest of the United States.

8 East Coast- Nothing Like Acadia

When people think of the U.S. National Parks system, they envision large tracts of western land like the kind that makes up Yosemite and Yellowstone National Park. I think an argument could be made, however, that Acadia National Park is actually the most beautiful piece of federal land in the United States. Acadia National Park was made a nature preserve in 1916. This slice of land is a small island off the coast of Maine. This park should be on everyone's bucket list and its presence in New England is a major advantage for the east coast.

7 West Coast- No More Cloudy Skies

We have talked a little bit about the sunny weather on the west coast but we have yet to mention its counterpart on the east coast. I have lived on the east coast for my entire life, and even I am amazed by how ugly the weather is for most of the year. For starters, the east coast gets significantly more precipitation than the west. This means a lot of days when it's raining. In addition, even when it doesn't rain, the sky is habitually overcast. This is a generalization of the weather on the east and west coasts but as a whole, it is a good representation.

6 East Coast- Great Lakes Out East

This article is about the two coasts of the United States but the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are not the only bodies of water that we have to take into consideration. One advantage that the east coast has had for its entire history is the Great Lakes region, which is only a few hundred miles inland from the eastern shore. All of the Great Lakes are beautiful but I chose this picture of Lake Superior for this article. I challenge anyone who is living on the west coast to find a picture of a western lake that can match the image above.

5 West Coast- Up-and-Coming Cities

There are (at least) two distinct cultures on the west coast. There is the stereotypical California culture of freedom and leisurely living and there is the culture that prevails in the Pacific Northwest in states like Washington and Oregon. There are several cities worth visiting in these states but the most famous is Seattle, Washington. Seattle has had a big impact on the national culture in recent years thanks to homegrown businesses like Amazon and Starbucks. Seattle is also a popular tourist destination. This photo should illustrate why.