Castle Rock is a scenic, close‑knit river town that works well for multi‑week assignments — walkable main street, friendly community, and quick access to outdoor recreation like hiking, fishing and trails around the Cowlitz River and Mount St. Helens, so your downtime feels restorative rather than isolating.
When you want more nightlife or services, Longview is a short drive north and Vancouver, WA (with Portland a bit farther) offers bigger‑city dining, shopping and cultural options for weekend trips.