I grew up in MD and oh, always always pined and mourned when those weather people would say "and of course, in western Maryland it will be snow."

I spent a year in college in Western Maryland (Garrett Community College, getting my A.A. in Wildlife and Fisheries) and FINALLY got to get all that snow!

It is a completely different animal than the stuff on the coast. It's not half ice or slush because it's cold enough to be fluffy so you really *can* just throw yourself into it and roll around. It turns the whole world into a padded cell.
Regarding driving, out there you have a much bigger margin for error. You could spin out and do a few 360's and then go your merry way without blocking traffic for 4000 people for an hour. Back where it's crowded, a little swerve or skid and BAM! you've hit something. (This is not to say that people don't panic and do all kinds of idiotic things, too, but there might be as many people being as idiotic out west andd they just don't get busted. Or they go off the edge of the mountains ;( )

Now I"m in ILlinois and people think the winters are bad and I'm always saying "no, we're not that close to Chicago!"
Last winter we had 14 inches on Valentines day and everything did close down for two days... and that's when I ordered studded tires, and this winter they're justified. It has kinda interfered with my wild idea of trying to do 1000 miles in December though!!!