Carlsbad is a surprisingly lively place to spend multi‑week assignments — affordable and walkable with a compact downtown, easy access to outdoor recreation (Carlsbad Caverns, hiking, river and lake activities), and enough restaurants, breweries and community events to keep evenings and days off interesting.
For more options within a short drive, Artesia (about 35 miles) adds dining and arts amenities and Hobbs (about 60 miles) provides larger‑city services and nightlife.