Peru, Illinois is a compact, affordable riverside city with a walkable historic downtown tied to the Illinois & Michigan Canal, local eateries, breweries and seasonal festivals — a comfortable, low‑stress place to live during multi‑week therapy assignments with plenty of local character and easy day‑to‑day convenience.
Larger-city options for weekend trips include Peoria (about a 60‑mile drive) for museums, riverfront dining and a bigger entertainment/medical scene, and Rockford (≈74 miles) for more cultural and shopping options — both within roughly 75 miles of Peru.