The Hawai'i State Society of Washington, D.C., inaugural ball is sold out, but if you're heading to the capital for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration on

Jan. 20 anyway, online sources can help. Expedia has a special section devoted to the inauguration, at www.expedia.com/inauguration, with travel deals and Washington-area information for out-of-towners, plus discount tickets to guided tours and museums.

Destination DC has Inauguration 2009 info on its site, too, including links to hotel specials such as The Ritz-Carlton's $99,000 "Politically Correct" package. Go to www.washington.org/visiting/experience-dc/presidential-inauguration/information.

LOOK NO FURTHER FOR ROMANTIC ESCAPES, RELAXING RETREATS

Travel + Leisure's "America's Favorite Cities 2008" survey ranks Honolulu the top destination city for romantic escapes, relaxing retreats, action and adventure vacations and — no surprise — weather. In the category of public parks and access to outdoors, Honolulu comes second to Portland, and for peace and quiet, we made the top three behind Santa Fe and Charleston. On the downside, we came in 25th in the theater category.

Whatever kind of vacation you're seeking, see all the categories and city winners at www.travelandleisure.com.

JUST $4,000

EXPLORE 'EARTH' IN THE LARGEST WORLD ATLAS EVER MADE

"Earth," the largest world atlas ever produced, has been dubbed "the ultimate book about our world."

Using the latest digital mapping resources, an international team of cartographic experts spent eight months compiling "Earth" to produce close to 580 pages of maps and photographs packed with details of every country's geography, history and culture.

Four of Earth's images, including a beautiful satellite view of the Himalaya Range, fold out to 4-by-6-foot gatefolds.

The atlas, published by Millennium House, is the brainchild of Australian map publisher Gordon Cheers, who described it as "a time capsule of where we are in the world today".

The atlas measures an impressive 36 by 18 inches; however, at 66 pounds, its weight pales when compared to the mass of the planet itself — estimated at a mind-numbing 13,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 pounds, or 1.3E+25.

A big coffee table is required ... and a big wallet. "Earth" is expected to go on sale in February for a cool $4,000.

— Chris Oliver

FAVORITE U.S. CITY

LOOK NO FURTHER FOR ROMANTIC ESCAPES, RELAXING RETREATS

Travel + Leisure's "America's Favorite Cities 2008" survey ranks Honolulu the top destination city for romantic escapes, relaxing retreats, action and adventure vacations and — no surprise — weather. In the category of public parks and access to outdoors, Honolulu comes second to Portland, and for peace and quiet, we made the top three behind Santa Fe and Charleston. On the downside, we came in 25th in the theater category.

Whatever kind of vacation you're seeking, see all the categories and city winners at www.travelandleisure.com.