The West Coast is where the action is at. California has always been the richest State and if it were a country it would have the 4th largest GDP behind The US, China and Japan. Silicon Valley, agriculture (which can feed the world and its wine) and minerals (49ers baby!) and oil are all thriving industries, not to mention San Fran's Venture Capital market.
Then there's Washington State with Seattle - a city that is fast becoming another San Francisco with its technology hub and finance. And Oregon.