The biggest benefit our kids got by growing up in the west and attending a Northeast prep school were absolutely due to the global community they joined. They had friends from all over the world. Every time a news story hit about a situation in a foreign country (Japan nuclear reactor, North Korea/ South Korea conflict, phillipines monsoon) it immediately was personal as they were concerned for their friends families. Their school is 80% boarders and has kids from almost every state and many countries.
They played water polo, rowed crew (although he hated it), play field hockey and girls lax. These were sports they never would have experienced in our hometown. Add in snowy winters and rainy springs and it was like an alternative universe.