Ottawa, Illinois is a scenic, small riverfront city with a walkable historic downtown, locally owned restaurants and breweries, and immediate access to Starved Rock State Park’s canyons, waterfalls and 13 miles of trails—perfect for a multi-week stay that mixes easy shifts with frequent outdoor weekends.
For bigger-city options, Joliet is about 45–46 miles east for more retail and dining, and Peoria is roughly 73 miles west with museums, a larger hospital and an airport—both easy weekend trips if you want more buzz or services.