Rochester, MN, anchored by the world‑class Mayo Clinic, is far more than a hospital town — it has a walkable downtown with strong dining and coffee scenes, year‑round arts and live music, farmers markets, river and bike trails, and plenty of parks, making it easy and pleasant to live in for multi‑week contracts.
About an hour away, Mankato offers a larger regional nightlife/theater scene and the Minnesota River Valley, while Winona is a scenic river‑college town with outdoor recreation and seasonal festivals.