If you have a good shortwave radio and a decent wire antenna you can sometimes listen to Coast Guard rescue operations. 5680 & 5696 (USB) are good places to listen. Many times I have a radio sitting on one of these frequencies running in the background while doing other things, like playing on the net…

I can’t listen to the short distance VHF, but the eastern seaboard and south of Florida is within my listening ability on shortwave. I would imagine on the west coast the whole western seaboard is open. Those living in the middle of the country may have a harder time picking them up.