La Crosse sits on the Mississippi River beneath dramatic Driftless Region bluffs with a walkable downtown, lively food/drink scene, museums and plenty of hiking, paddling and bike routes—easy to fill multi-week contracts with outdoor days and relaxed evenings of local events and coffee shops.
Rochester, MN (about 74 miles) provides larger-city dining, entertainment and medical/amenity options for weekend trips; nearby Winona, MN and other river towns add quick weekend variety.