Portage is a compact, historic river town with walkable streets, scenic riverfront trails, local shops and breweries, and a friendly small‑city vibe that makes multi‑week assignments comfortable and easy to reset between shifts.
For more nightlife or big‑city amenities, Wisconsin Dells (theme parks, dining) and Madison (universities, arts, airport) are both within about an hour, so you get a quiet, affordable base plus easy escapes.