hikids

Trips to NYC or Phila are easy. For the kids in school you can take the train, there is a spur that is a few minutes walk from the doorms. You can then choose NJ-Transit (cheaper) and more frequent tains, to Amtrak (more expensive) and less frequent through PJ. Driving to Phila is easy 40 minutes or so to center city (pretty much a straight shot down I95) maybe less when no traffic.

Alumother

My daughter will be staying at Princeton this summer to do research in her lab and get ready for her senior thesis. She will be back home during the time you are there, however, I mention this because she is not the only student doing this. I would bet if you called the Admissions office, they might see if some of the students on campus for the summer might be willing to meet you and your S for lunch if you liked. It's also possible that several of the labs might be willing to give you a tour, as the graduate students will certainly be there.

Also, given your son's math level, it's possible he'd be in graduate courses before senior year, right? So I would correspond directly with the Math Department and see what professors might be around.

Princeton is a manageable place, and the faculty and staff are usually pretty easy to access. Right now it might be tough to contact people, just because of finals and preparation for Reunions and graduation. But I think nothing would be lost in trying.

shawbridge

There are cheap hotels on Route 1, which probably put their rooms on Hotwire. I think that Princeton is one of the prettiest places in the world with buildings, especially in June, so I'd concentrate your effort on the campus. But, if you can stay in walking distance of the campus (e.g., Nassau Inn), he'll get a better feel of the place.

ramblin