Albany, Georgia is an affordable, walkable small city with a surprisingly lively downtown, cultural venues like the Albany Museum of Art and Flint RiverQuarium, riverfront parks and Chehaw wildlife/activities — great for multi-week travel assignments with easy outdoor recreation, local restaurants and a friendly community vibe.
Within about an hour you can day-trip to Americus or Thomasville for additional dining, historic districts and seasonal events, with Tifton nearby for extra shopping and services.