Parsons is a friendly, affordable small city with a walkable historic downtown, riverfront parks, and a steady calendar of community events—an easy, low-stress base for multi-week travel therapy stints where you can relax off-shift or explore local trails, cafes and nearby outdoor spots.
For weekend variety, nearby Pittsburg (college-town dining, arts and PSU events) and Joplin, MO (bigger-city shopping, entertainment and medical centers) are within easy driving distance, so quiet weekday living pairs with solid weekend options.