Saint Johnsbury mixes a walkable, historic downtown with standout local draws—Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, Dog Mountain, short hikes to Observatory Knob, cozy cafés and arts events—so multi‑week stays feel like a charming small‑city experience rather than being stuck in a place with nothing to do.
For weekend variety, the state capital Montpelier is about 36 miles away with restaurants, theaters and services, and Burlington on Lake Champlain—roughly three-quarters of a drive away—offers a bigger-city waterfront scene, colleges and larger medical/retail options if you crave more nightlife or amenities during a multi‑week contract.