I was born and raised in rural NE. Spent most of my life in and around pretty sparse areas of the midwest and in the the south (AK) population wise. Since I've moved to the area, I too find myself heading to WV to get away from the hustle and bustle of the metro area because it can be a lot sometimes. Everyone is into their own thing, which is super cool. But to not experience something out of a, slightly misguided, fear is sad to me.

Have you never been to a Nationals home game on a sunny afternoon? To smell the vendor food and hear the chants of the fans way up in the 400's and if you're lucky, see a home run cracked right into your section? Or being at the Stanley Cup parade when the Capitals won! The whole CITY took the day off to party!

The FOOD! Oh my god, the food. DC has some of the most amazing restaurants that cover the entire globe. There is not a cultural background that you can't find a restaurant for, and it's always good. It's an amazing thing to have right at your door step.

What about the museums and monuments? Folks from all walks of life come to our city to see the bedrock of who we are and where we came from. Coming from the midwest, I can tell you that families plan for a long time to come to DC. I'm far more understanding of tourists because I know that this family from Idaho (or wherever) standing way too far into the street corner while traffic is moving by, are on vacation. People come here on VACATION!

I only bring these things up because I'm afraid you're missing out on an amazing thing you have right near by, because of fear. Crime happens everywhere. Don't know where you live, but it happens in your town. If you're not a city person, that's fine too.

It seems scary, but it's just a bunch of people going about their day just like you. They just happen to live really close together. That's all. :-)