Spring Valley is a compact, affordable Illinois River town with a friendly, small‑town vibe, walkable historic streets and easy access to outdoor recreation like kayaking, fishing and trails—great for multi‑week contracts if you want a relaxed home base that still feels interesting.
Nearby LaSalle–Peru and Ottawa offer more dining, shopping and entertainment options and serve as gateways to Starved Rock State Park’s popular hiking, canyons and waterfalls, so weekends can be active and varied.