I came here to say something similar: get a little off the beaten path to find out what its really like in the area. The more foreign the area is to you, the more interesting it will be. Obviously, feel out the area or find out from a local to be sure you're safe to venture off.
Download the offline version maps of wherever you plan to stay/travel to. You can do this via google maps or OSM maps, at the very least it's helped me keep peace of mind when out and about.