Sycamore (pop. ~18,600) is a charming, walkable county seat with a well‑preserved historic downtown, limestone courthouse square, parks, trails and a big annual Pumpkin Festival—perfect for multi‑week contracts when you want friendly coffee shops, easy errands and low‑stress evenings.
For bigger-city options, Rockford (about 35 miles) and Chicago (about 55 miles) are within easy day‑trip distance for museums, restaurants, nightlife and major airport connections.