The 12th annual Festival of Lights is Dec. 5-31 in Lihue, Kauai.

The celebration is a local tradition centered on a Christmas folk art collection begun 50 years ago by "Auntie" Josie Chansky, a folk artist.

For nearly 40 years, first on Oahu and then for 18 years on Kauai, Auntie Josie opened her home to neighbors, strangers and tourists to see all the Christmas folk art decorations that she created and displayed outside and inside her home, which became known as the Christmas house.

Decorations included a Christmas tree made of 7,500 green toothpicks, wreaths formed from egg cartons, table decorations built with seed pods, and a chandelier made with wire coat hangers. Today, the decorations are displayed beginning Dec. 5 at the Historic County Building. For information on the event, call 808-828-0014.

Mancos Valley Balloon Festival

Fall is balloon festival season in many parts of the Four Corners region, including the area near Mancos, Colo., which will be hosting the annual Mancos Valley/Mesa Verde Country Balloon Festival Sept. 26-28.

Mass ascensions are scheduled each day at 7:15 a.m. from Boyle Park in Mancos, with balloon glows at the same place Friday and Sunday at 7:15 p.m. Balloon rides are available for $125. For reservations, call 970-533-9707. Other festival events include a dinner, silent and live auctions, dancing, entertainment, a vendor fair, dog show, stagecoach and pony rides, and a classic car show. For information, log on to www.mesaverdecountry.com/festivals or call 970-533-9707.

Top 10 bed and breakfast towns

1. Santa Barbara, Calif.

2. Troncones, Mexico

3. Duluth, Minn.

4. Annapolis, Md.

5. Petersburg, Alaska

6. Key West, Fla.

7. Georgetown, S.C.

8. Yachats, Ore.

9. Cape May, N.J.

10. Kennebunkport, Maine

SOURCE: Coastal Living Magazine

Travel gear:Multitool is a handy calculator, flashlight, compass and more

Though you might have trouble getting it through airport security and would have to pack it as a checked item, many travelers are finding the Tradesberry Multi-Tool useful.

The cellphone-sized tool includes a calculator, digital clock, compass, white LED flashlight, Phillips screwdriver, stainless knife, a level with laser and a tape measure. It costs $39.99.

For information, log on to www.phillipsscrewinnovation.com.

Suggestions for autumn travel

IgoUgo.com, an online travel site with more than 500,000 members who share travel experiences, advice and photos of more than 8,000 global destinations, has suggestions for autumn travel. Tips include where to enjoy grape harvesting, corn mazes, balloon festivals, hawk watching, pumpkin picking and late-season fairs.

Travel book: Pauline Frommer's Alaska

406 page paperback,

$19.99, Wiley

Frommer's books are known for featuring good bargains and this is billed as the first budget guidebook to Alaska. The guide includes information on how to plan a trip to Alaska on a budget including accommodations, off-season specials and inexpensive places to eat. The first edition book includes information on Alaska's regions, cruise options and chapters on Anchorage, southcentral, southeast, the interior, Denali National Park, and the remote bush country as well as information on the essentials of planning a trip. It also has 24 maps.