Valentine, NE is a quiet, friendly Niobrara Valley hub that makes a surprisingly pleasant multi‑week base—affordable short‑term housing, welcoming locals, and direct access to outdoor downtime like hiking, fishing, canoeing and excellent stargazing.
Close day‑trip highlights include Smith Falls State Park (Nebraska’s tallest waterfall with river trails, ~26 miles southwest) and Merritt Reservoir (camping, boating and great fishing), so you’ll have varied outdoor options to fill weeks off without long drives.