DETAILS

Hoboken, N.J.

For most, a visit to Hoboken is an offshoot of a trip to New York City -- particularly if you're staying in a Jersey City or Weehawken hotel (Hoboken has no major hotels) to save money on lodging and commuting into Manhattan.

GETTING THERE: Hoboken and Jersey City are about 215 miles from the Beltway; take I-95 north to the Jersey Turnpike and follow to Exit 14C. By train, take Amtrak from D.C. to Newark Penn Station, then PATH trains into either Jersey City or Hoboken.

WHERE TO STAY: A number of relatively new properties have opened nearby, including Jersey City's Hyatt Regency, Courtyard by Marriott and Doubletree, and Weehawken's Sheraton Suites on the Hudson. Both cities are connected by light rail ($1.75 one way) to Hoboken.

I paid $159 for a recent Saturday stay at the Candlewood Suites (21 Second St., 877-226-3539, http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/ ) in Jersey City. The hotel has large rooms with kitchens, free parking and a light rail station about a block away.

WHAT TO DO: Go to the Hoboken Historical Museum (1301 Hudson St., 201-656-2240, http://www.hobokenmuseum.org/ ; $2) and see "100 Hoboken Firsts," through July 2, and other exhibits, then buy the $1 map for the tour of Frank Sinatra sites. Picnic or ship-watch on Pier A and in Sinatra Park . Shop along Washington Street. Take a walk around the campus of the Stevens Institute of Technology. Attend one of the city's numerous festivals; the Hoboken Italian Festival ( http://www.hobokenitalianfestival.com/ ), for instance, runs Sept. 7-10. Walk along the river promenade for a magnificent view of New York City.

Check the Hoboken city site ( http://www.hobokennj.org/ ) for a schedule of summer events, including Shakespeare in Sinatra Park and outdoor concerts and movies.

WHERE TO EAT: You can whoop it up in New York, then return to Hoboken/Jersey City via train or NY Waterway ferry (800-533-3779, http://www.nywaterway.com/ ) and decompress -- or whoop anew.

Dozens of restaurants and bars line Washington Street and environs, but I had a fun dinner a few blocks away at Leo's Grandevous (200 Grand St., 201-659-9467), a neighborhood institution crammed with Sinatrabilia. An Italian dinner for two -- including salad, pasta, wine and tip -- was about $45.

Locals rave about pricey Amanda's (908 Washington St., 201-798-0101) and Frankie & Johnnie's Steakhouse (163 14th St., 201-659-6202), but $2 pizza slices at Giovanni's (603 Washington St., 201-714-4232) hit the spot for a pittance. For brunch, omelets and the make-your-own-bloody-Mary bar at the Black Bear Bar & Grill (205 Washington St., 201-656-5511) ran about $40 for two, including tip.

INFORMATION: The Hoboken Chamber of Commerce (201-222-1100, http://www.hobokenchamber.com/ ) can provide details on its members, and its Web site has some useful info. Go to the independent Hobokeni.com ( http://www.hobokeni.com/ ) for good guides to night life and eating spots.

-- John Deiner