Richmond, Indiana feels like a lively, walkable small city — college energy from Earlham, a genuine arts scene, cozy restaurants/breweries, free museums and memorable historic sites like the Levi & Catharine Coffin House and a quirky Model T museum that keep multi‑week stays interesting and social.
For weekend variety, Dayton (~49 miles), Cincinnati (~64 miles) and Indianapolis (~73 miles) are all within about a 1–1.5 hour drive, giving easy access to bigger-city dining, nightlife, concerts and airports when you want a change of pace.