Meriden makes a comfortable, affordable short-term home with easy access to outdoor recreation like Hubbard Park and Castle Craig, a compact downtown of cafés and restaurants, and enough local activity to keep multiple-week stays enjoyable.
For bigger-city nights or cultural variety, New Haven (Yale, theaters, standout dining) and Hartford (museums, events) are both a short drive away, so you get urban options without sacrificing a quieter, livable base.