Pacific, Missouri is a comfortable small‑town base with easy access to Meramec River outdoor recreation, a compact downtown of shops and cafés, and affordable short‑term housing—quiet enough to recharge but with enough local life to make multi‑week assignments enjoyable and repeatable.
For bigger-city options, St. Louis (about 35–40 miles) provides museums, pro sports and dining, while nearby St. Charles and the Chesterfield area (both within ~30 miles) offer historic Main Street charm, shopping and parks.