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OBAMURATION!

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 11, 2009

Still Room At Some Inns

Wishing you'd jumped on the inauguration train Nov. 5? You can still find a place to stay if you will consider staying in Philadelphia.

The City of Brotherly Love is just two hours away from Washington by train and three hours by car or bus. Plus the city is offering a Philly Overnight Hotel Package that includes a two-night stay with free parking, a Philly's More Fun teddy bear and a Macy's savings pass. Visitors can take their pick from more than 30 hotels throughout the city and region offering this deal.

Although seats on Amtrak and Greyhound are going quickly, you can still make reservations, especially if you're flexible. Go to www.amtrak.com and www.greyhound.com for seat availability, or plan to make the drive.

While in Philly, consider a trip to the National Constitution Center, where you can explore the Constitution through high-tech exhibits, artifacts and displays and see "American I Am." Opening Thursday, the show celebrates the contributions of black people over the past 400 years through narration, music, art, video and artifacts. Of course, there's always the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

For information or to book a hotel, go to www.gophila.com.

For procrastinators, try www.Rentalo.com>. Although the site is known for renting villas and apartments in vacation destinations, it also lists motels, hotels and B&Bs across the country and around the world.

Some possibilities for Inauguration Day in Alexandria, Va.:

Comfort Inn Landmark, 6254 Duke St., $599 a night with a two- or three-night minimum; Best Western Old Colony Inn, 1101 N. Washington St., about $400 a night with a five-night minimum; Alexandria Days Inn, 110 S. Bragg St. W., about $399 with no required minimum; and Best Western Mount Vernon, 8751 Richmond Highway, about $599 with a four-day minimum. All offers are subject to availability and change.

Take Part Apart From The Crowd

Do the inauguration Florida-style with the Inauguration Escape Package at The Ritz-Carlton in Palm Beach.

The package includes an oceanfront room with access to the Club Level and Club Lounge as well as an invitation to the resort's inauguration festivities, including a big-screen view of the ceremony accompanied by Barack Obama's favorite Chicago-style fare; two red and blue "electinis" on Inauguration Day; a half-hour spa massage; and a copy of Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream."

If you dream of chief executive accommodations, you'll also receive a custom-designed shoe created by Miami-based artist Robert Tabor. The shoe is a perfect fit for the presidential suite's wall of shoe art, featuring heels and pumps that pay tribute to past First Ladies and other dignitaries, from Jackie Kennedy to Princess Diana. Plus you'll enjoy private spa treatments and yoga in the wellness room, a personal bath butler, complimentary beach cabana and monogrammed Ritz-Carlton robes.

The escape starts at $569 a night for oceanfront rooms and $6,000 a night for the presidential suite (excluding taxes and gratuities). Guests staying five nights will receive a $200 resort credit per stay. Stay for seven nights, and the credit goes to $400. The offer is valid at time of booking for guests checking in Thursday through Jan. 24.

For information or reservations, call (561) 533-6000 or go to www.ritzcarlton.com/palmbeach.

Carol Parker

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