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A weekend in Princeton

Linda Perney

11:34 AM EDT, October 16, 2006

Suite at the Nassau Inn in Princeton, New Jersey (handout)

College towns offer all the comforts of home: good museums, music, and theater, not to mention trendy shops and galleries, restaurants and bars. Princeton, within easy driving time, has all of the above, which makes it a fine place to spend a winter weekend.

WHAT TO DO: Get a little fresh air. There are hiking trails at Autumn Hill Reservation, on Herrentown Road. Better still, take the short drive to Washington Crossing State Park and hike along the Delaware.

ON CAMPUS: Princeton's architecture makes the campus worth a visit. You can take a formal tour, or you can just mosey along the paths. Make sure to leave time for the art museum and the library.

WHAT TO SEE: Catch a performance at McCarter Theater, which is where the locals go for plays, dance performances, and top-flight music, both classical and modern. (91 University Place; 609-258-2787)

WHERE TO EAT: The Blue Point Grill gets high marks for its fish. Starters include She-crab soup, roasted oysters and bacon or Portuguese sardines; for an entrée, try the mixed grill (258 Nassau Street; 609-921-1211; expect to pay about $35 for a three-course dinner. Note: Bring your own wine.) With its Norman Rockwell mural, The Yankee Doodle Tap Room at the Nassau Inn is a favorite during parents' weekends. The lunch menu includes favorites like meat loaf, burgers, sandwiches, soups, and salads. (10 Palmer Square; 609-921-7500; burgers, $10.50-$12.50; entrees go for about $13)

WHERE TO SHOP: Palmer Square, in the heart of Princeton has the usual cast of chains: Banana Republic, Coach, et al. But there are also several other shops that are well worth a look. Design within Reach, for home furnishings and accessories and Honey West, which carries brands like Disney Couture, Lamb, and lily mcneil are just two worth checking out.

WHERE TO STAY: Princeton has no shortage of hotels, inns, and motels. The most famous among them is The Nassau Inn, where generations of Princeton parents and visitors have stayed. The hotel is an old-fashioned classic, right in Palmer Square in the center of town. Cheap, it isn't. (10 Palmer Square; 609-921-7500; the standard rate is $255 per night, but it's worth calling and ask for the lowest rate available on the weekend you choose). Other hotel choices include The Westin, Hampton Inn, and the Clarion-Palmer Inn.