Joliet blends a compact, walkable downtown, restored vaudeville‑era Rialto Square Theatre and Route 66 heritage with riverside parks, breweries, weekend markets and calendar‑packed events—perfect for a multi‑week travel‑therapy stay that feels like a short‑term home, not a dead‑end assignment.
You’re also within easy reach of big‑city options — Chicago (about 40–45 miles) and Naperville (≈35 miles) — for museum nights, major hospitals, fuller dining/entertainment scenes and quick day trips when you want more variety.