Here's your chance for a Roman holiday right here in Massachusetts. This Sunday, Nov. 8, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute offers a free family day celebrating the exhibition "Steps Off the Beaten Path: Nineteenth Century Photographs of Rome and its Environs." Learn to photograph architecture, try jousting, make an amulet, and discover Rome using the Clark's collection. Catch a free screening of the 1953 Oscar-winning film Roman Holiday at 3 p.m. and watch as a European princess (played by Audrey Hepburn) embarks on an official tour through Rome. All activities and admission are free, though the hand dipped gelato and Italian ices are available for purchase. For more information, call 413-458-2303 or visit online.

Photo courtesy of the Sterling and Francine Clark Institute

The 23d Annual Christmas Festival will be held this weekend, Nov. 6-8, at Boston's Seaport World Trade Center. The show opens Friday with the popular Gingerbread House Competition, an annual crowd favorite showcasing the talents of Boston's top chefs. After judging (full disclosure: my niece and I are judges), these incredible creations of varying sizes will be sold, with all the proceeds to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.

The festival itself offers everything a holiday shopper could desire under one roof. The distinctive work of over 300 master American crafts people will keep guests dizzy with delight. Bargain hunters, as well as those with extravagant tastes, will find an endless array of home accessories, designer fashions, jewelry, handcrafted holiday decor, tempting gourmet specialty foods, and one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts unavailable elsewhere.

Over 30,000 visitors visit the festival each year. Admission is $12 -- with an online coupon to print out here. Kids get in free. Show hours are Friday noon-7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-7, and Sunday 10-5.

Photo of chef Coady and pastry cook Zailda Smith put finishing touches on Finale's gingerbread creation courtesy of CM Communications

In my husband's office yesterday I was instructed to open a little green bag. In it were Ray LaMontagne's newest CD, "Gossip in the Grain," and two tickets to see him live tonight at the Wang Theater. Happy birthday to me. See you there?

Hear accounts of bloody betrayal, catastrophic shipwrecks, gruesome executions, and of course, terrifying encounters with ghosts and specters, as you sail the dark waters of Boston Harbor on Boston's Ghost Cruise. Sail to the actual sites and listen to tales told by a professional troupe --18th century privateers and sailors, fishwives and doxies who bring the legends and folklore of Boston to life. Cruise leaves and returns to Long Wharf. The five remaining cruises run on Oct. 30 and 31. Adults pay $32 and children 12 and younger pay $25 in advance. Call 781-784-7469.

Photo courtesy Boston Ghost Cruise

This Friday, Oct. 30, the streets of Harvard Square will be alive with black magic, costumed mimes, and a monster mash for the square's liveliest block party of the year -- Harvard Scare in Harvard Square. A costume party for children and a Monstah Mash block party for all ages will flood the streets, as live entertainment, costume contests, prizes, and terrifying thrills abound. The celebration begins promptly at 4 p.m. Retailers will have many special treats as well -- see here for a full list.

The staff of the Ashmont Grill in Dorchester loves to dress up, making Halloween a much-anticipated holiday for the lively crew. Join them for their annual Halloween Bash this Saturday, Oct. 31, starting at 5:30 p.m. and running till 2 a.m. Reserve your spot for dinner, and warm up with signature cocktails like their Ashmont Apple Toddy, The Great Pumpkin, BooBerry, and The Berkshire Manhattan. When the evening begins to fade into black, the DJ starts spinning, and dancing follows, with raffles and prizes in between. You can party with the other spirited guests if you call 617-825-4300 for reservations.

In celebration of the grand opening of Boston Bowl in Hanover, Mass., the Hanover Youth Athletic Association (HYAA) and South Shore Hospital Friends of Growing Families (SSH) will join together for the First Annual Team for Dreams Charity Bowling Spree & Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the pediatric programs at South Shore Hospital and the Hanover Youth Athletic Association.

There will be plenty of bowling, with prizes, and live music and outdoor fun. A giant moonwalk and balloons will excite the little ones, while tattoos, prizes, and free food will make all ages happy. Boston Bowl is donating 100 percent of bowling fees and tournament pledges to SSH and HYAA.

Boston Bowl Hanover is a newly renovated 17,000 square foot ten pin and candlepin bowling facility featuring state-of-the-art technology, new video games, and snack area. To register a team, join a team, or make a pledge online, visit the South Shore Hospital site. For more information call 781-826-5263 or visit online.

My friend Tina's got a 'thing' for shoes, so events like this jump out at me. Then again, who wouldn't feel the need to ogle 5-foot-tall shoes on display throughout town?
Through the month of October, 10 5-foot fiberglass shoes, decorated by various artists to commemorate Haverhill’s heritage as a shoe-making hub, are on display in prominent locations downtown. The Soles of Haverhill “Shoe-la-bration” is a first-time community art celebration. These whimsical pieces will be auctioned at a gala at the Buttonwoods Museum on Oct. 24 with proceeds to support local nonprofits. Lawn art never looked so good? Check online for details.

This Saturday, Oct. 24, is the Boston Book Festival, with an all-star lineup that will have you scrambling to get to and from all the presentations and panels featuring internationally known writers, scholars, critics, and commentators; listening in on programming for children, teens, and families; breaking out paper and pen for writing workshops and competitions; and basking in the spoken word and music performances.

For the complete list you'll have to look online. Meanwhile, here are my Top 10 Reasons for attending the Boston Book Festival.

1. The keynote speaker is Orhan Pamuk, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize for Literature.
2. One of my local favorites, Richard Russo, discusses challenges and triumphs, hilarity and heartbreak of family.
3. Anita Diamont, of "The Red Tent,'' discusses her work and the role of place in "Day After Night.''
4. Globe-trotting's own Ethan Gilsdorf gives us insight into his "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks,'' a chronicle of his ravels through the worlds of online gaming and live-action role-playing.
5. Harvard economist and business guru Michael E. Porter, pundit and adviser to presidents past David Gergen, and Atlantic Monthly senior editor Jack Beatty mix it up with a frank assessment of the president’s progress on his new agenda.
6. N.H. native Ken Burns will discuss documenting history.
7. Actress Alicia Silverstone discusses her vegetarian Kind Diet.
8. A workshop I so want to attend called "Jumpstart Your Writing.''
9. Writer Idol - you have to go online and get details.
10. The Spoken Word Showcase featuring Boston high school and college students performing their own and others' poetry.

In addition to Saturday's events, a special kick-off event with music and readings will take place Friday, Oct. 23. Times and locations for panels and speakers are found online. The Boston Book Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Boston Public Library, Old South Church, Trinity Church, and outdoors in Copley Square. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public with no reservations required. For more information, call 617-252-3240.

Photo of author Anita Diamont, courtesy Ashmont Media

Having revealed our inner cheapskates in a recent Globe Travel piece not only got us a slew of hate mail (sample eloquence: “PIGS! PIGS! PIGS!”). It also garnered a lot of thank-yous and some suggestions for additional cost-cutting. One reader called our attention to the relatively new website BerkshireCoupon.com http://berkshirecoupon.com. While it’s primarily aimed at cost-conscious residents of Berkshire County, some of the online coupons are very useful for leaf-peepers and other travelers, especially the discounts on hotels, motels, and restaurants. Who knows? That $20 off motorcycle service could also come in handy.

Posted by Patricia Harris and David Lyon, Globe Correspondents

There are only two weekends left to embark on the Urban Adventours Emerald Necklace & Fall Foliage tour. This weekend and next, you can discover Frederick Law Olmsted's famous system of parks on this bicycle tour. From the shaded boulevard on Commonwealth Avenue to the popular shores of Jamaica Pond to the winding paths of the Arnold Arboretum, this chain of gardens, reserves, and open space displays some of the most colorful flora as autumn descends on Boston.
No bike? No worries. The tour includes a bike, helmet, water, and, of course, a friendly and knowledgeable guide. The tour is 2.5-3 hours long and covers 10-12 miles. How better to see the city and its colors -- and all this for only $50! Check out the details.

Photo courtesy Urban Adventours

It's mid-October and time to start focusing on all things spooky. The haunted trails, hayrides, and costume parties are all still a must, but consider something new with a cemetery tour in New Bedford. This Sunday, Oct. 18, the 6th Annual New Bedford Historical Cemetery Tour, hosted by the New Bedford Preservation Society, offers historical portrayals in period costume and will take place at several gravesites along the tour route in Rural Cemetery. The cemetery is the final resting place for many members of prominent whaling-era families, New Bedford politicians, famous New Bedford artists, and other notables. Some of the “spirits” who have promised to appear include Mayor Charles S. Ashley, Minna Grumbt Webb, and Albert Bierstadt, to name a few.

The tour route will cover approximately one mile as visitors stroll along for a 45-minute walk. Tour costs $15 at the cemetery gate or by advance purchase at local businesses. Rain date is Oct. 25. Call the Preservation Society at 508-997-7425 or visit online for further information.

Photo of Ed Baldwin, portraying Mayor Charles S. Ashley, courtesy of New Bedford Preservation Society

The Keene Pumpkin Festival perhaps began New England's craze for who-can-gather-the-most-jack-o-lanterns in one place. A special Community Night will be held Friday, Oct. 16, with hay rides along Main Street by Stonewall Farm, live music, pumpkin drop-offs, food, and a sneak peek of Saturday's grand finale with one tower lighted. This year marks the 19th Annual Keene Pumpkin Festival, on Oct. 17, where it might be possible to see more than 25,000 jack-o-lanterns lighted at one time. While you're waiting to see what that many pumpkins looks like, the entire family will be entertained with special activities including a costume parade, seed spitting and pie eating contests, live music on three stages, craft booths, lots of food provided by area nonprofits, and much more. The evening ends with a spectacular fireworks display. For more information visit online.

Cape Cod’s present and past shucking champs return to compete in the two-day Oyster Shuck-Off at the annual Wellfleet OysterFest Oct. 16-17. Last year’s champ, James Grey, faces serious competition from at least 20 other entrants, among them Barbara Austin, winner the previous two years. When opening each tray of 24 local oysters, entrants must remember that the mollusks’ final appearance on the half shell counts as much as speed. The top prize is $1,000. Audience members bid on the opened oysters. The rest of the 9th annual fest revolves around a 5-K road race, arts and crafts fair, food tastings and talks, demonstrations by American oyster shucking champion William “Chopper” Young Jr., walking tours, music, and a spaghetti supper. (See website for required reservations and fees for some programs.) The festival is sponsored by SPAT, a nonprofit organization that promotes the local shellfish industry. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Main Street, Wellfleet, Mass. Visit the website for schedule and parking information. No pets allowed.

We can’t think of a better way to revel in the autumn colors while getting some exercise than next weekend’s “Pages and Pedals: Authors Bike Tour of Concord.” This event is Sunday, Oct. 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. and is sponsored by the Boston Center for Adult Education (www.bcae.org). The leisurely tour is led by Susan Merlino of Concord Bike Tours, and it will pass the homes, birthplaces, and final resting places of some of America's most famous and influential authors. Think Thoreau, the Alcotts, and Emerson… You don't have to provide your own bicycle. Just contact Concord Bike Tours ahead of time at 978-697-1897 to be fitted properly and you’ll be good to go with bike, helmet, and snack. The two-hour tour begins in the parking lot of the Ripley Elementary School, on Meriam Road in Concord. Cost is $55 ($50 for Boston Center for Adult Education members).

Hold onto your gourds this weekend because it's the 20th anniversary of the Milford Pumpkin Festival and it's going to be bigger and better than ever! Opening ceremony on the Oval is Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m., when the mysterious Pumpkin Runner brings the Pumpkin Torch to the Great Pumpkin Lighting. Once the torch is lighted, spooky thrills abound throughout the weekend, so put on your best costume and ghastly spirit and join the fun!

There will be a talent show competing for cash prizes, movie showings to include Emmy Award winner "War of the Worlds," an extended and frightful Haunted Trail, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making, story-telling, train rides, pie booth, food vendors, beer tasting, chili cook-off, craft fair, over 25 bands on 2 stages for continuous live music, stunt cycles, ballroom dancing, martial arts, giant pumpkins, and my favorite, pumpkin catapulting across Railroad Pond!

Pumpkin Fest spills beyond the Milford Oval into nearby streets and venues from Oct. 9-11, rain or shine. Downtown will be mostly closed off to traffic. Parking is provided with continuous shuttle buses from the Milford High School. Look online for complete schedules and other information.

Image courtesy Pumpkin Festival

Talk about your autumnal beauty! The 6th Annual Cranberry Harvest Celebration is this weekend, Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11 in Wareham, Mass. at the A.D. Makepeace Company campus. It's a great way to see and learn about the picturesque cranberry harvest, while enjoying some old-fashioned family fun. Beyond the obvious cranberry bog tours, there will be helicopter rides, pony rides, children's games, cooking demonstrations, owl and reptile shows, over 40 juried crafters and artisans, live music, and a 'Visit from the Past' Exhibit.

The celebration is held rain or shine. Admission is $2, age 6 and under get in free, and parking is also free. Additional fees for some activities do apply. Call 508-322-4000 for information.

Now that summer’s over, things are picking up on the college campuses. A while back, we wrote about some of Harvard’s great resources open to the public (Getting into Harvardhttp://www.boston.com/travel/boston/articles/2008/03/09/getting_into_harvard/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Travel+News). Here’s another. The Harvard Organ Society is offering free midday recitals on Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. through November 19. Performances on the university’s 1958 D.A. Flentrop pipe organ take place at Adolphus Busch Hall, 29 Kirkland St., Cambridge. Bring your lunch — it’s OK to eat quietly during the concert.

Posted by Patricia Harris and David Lyon, Globe Correspondents

Put on your explorer’s hat and head to New England’s “Last Green Valley” for the 19th annual “Walktober ’09,” a series of 106 events, walks, and excursions. The daily programs throughout October provide enticing ways to learn about history and nature in the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor stretching from northeastern Connecticut into south-central Massachusetts. Under the auspices of The Last Green Valley, Inc., there’s something for all ages and abilities, among them birding walks, forest hikes, river sightseeing, children’s programs, and talks at historic sites in and around 35 towns. Visit TLGV.org for full brochure or call 866-363-7226.

The Smithsonian is free every day, so in the spirit of sharing the wealth Smithsonian magazine has once again organized its annual free museum day this Saturday at hundreds of participating cultural centers around the nation. To attend, you must go to the event website, fill out some basic information -- like your name and address -- and print out an admission card, which will be good for you and a guest. Three caveats: The offer is good for Saturday only; the limit is one per household; and the card can be used just once -- so forget any plans for a day of museum-hopping.

Even with those restrictions, this is a great deal. In Massachusetts, for instance, there are more than 50 participating locations, including the MFA, Museum of Science, JFK Presidential Library and Museum, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Worcester Art Museum, and Heritage Museum and Gardens. Here's the complete list.

Let's say you're planning to do a little leaf-peeping this weekend. There are other participating museum around New England. In Little Rhody there are more than a dozen; New Hampshire has eight; Maine ;21; Vermont 17; and Connecticut 20.

Globe staff file photo of Museum of Science in Boston

I’ve lived in Taunton, a sleepy little southeastern Massachusetts city between Boston and Providence, for about 30 years, and if you ever told me there was anything here worth traveling to – besides the glorious and festive holiday lighting of Taunton Green every year – I’d have thought you crazy.
Enter the Lopez boys, Arturo, David, and Jose, all hailing from the Guadalajara area of Mexico and who in June opened El Mariachi, a new and very good Mexican restaurant on the historic green.
I’d long thought locating any business in the struggling downtown would be folly, much less a full-service restaurant, but the place has been doing well since opening, filling all 170 seats on busy weekends and coming close to it on weeknights. And for good reason: The food, from a house specialty, arroz con camarones, to all manner of enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas, tacos, and a wide range of other entrees, is some of the best Mexican you’ll find for miles around. The interior is full-out Mexican motif (and much of the staff are Mexican and more than willing to help you with your Spanish) with art, decorations, chandeliers coming from the old country including a pair of ornately carved ornamental benches in the waiting area.
There is a history of Mexican restaurant proprietorship here. Jose Lopez is co-owner of an Acapulcos restaurant in Norwood and his brother-in-law and fellow co-owner of that store, David Brambila, owns a dozen other Acapulcos, mostly in Massachusetts with two in Connecticut.
Best tables are toward the front with a great view of the Taunton Green, which can also be had by dining and drinking in the restaurant’s adjacent cantina.

Posted by Paul E. Kandarian, Globe correspondent

Photo by Paul E. Kandarian for the Boston Globe

If you missed “Frogs – A Chorus of Colors” at Boston's Museum of Science, you can catch them at the Berkshire Museum through Nov. 1.
You'll learn about electric blue frogs, frogs that tip the scales at seven pounds, and others that are only a half inch long. Tree frogs, bullfrogs, horned frogs, giant toads, and dart poison frogs are all part of the exhibit. You'll hear recorded frog calls, see frog videos, even get a chance to perform a virtual frog dissection.
“It’s an ideal opportunity for children and families to explore the astounding world of frogs in galleries transformed into an oasis of peaceful waterfalls and a symphony of song. Everyone will be able to get to know some of the earth’s most fascinating creatures in an up-close and personal way,” executive director Stuart A. Chase said in an e-mail.
There is an additional fee for the exhibit. Admission for adults is $11, $6 children ages 3-18, and $1 for museum members.

Amid the travel industry slump, Red Roof Inns is launching a planned nationwide 1-cent room promotion at its newly renovated Mansfield/Foxborough location.

The online sale on rooms for Aug. 16 begins Friday Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. and goes till all 140 rooms at the Massachusetts hotel are taken for the night.

What's the catch? Red Roof is trying to push enrollment in its free RediCard frequent-traveler program. By signing up for a RediCard, you will get a couple days notice when the company springs another of these 1-cent sales at other locations around the country -- Deb Duray, a company spokeswoman says Red Roof is planning another sale at its Boston-Woburn location in the next couple months.

Besides the heads-up on the sale, there are also other perks to signing up. The company will send you information on special deals and promotions and every time you stay at a property you build points toward free nights or Delta SkyMiles. There are also other amenities like express check-in and free USA Todays during your stay.

Times are tough, yes? Mansfield/Foxboro may not be your idea of a fabulous destination but if you're really in need of a getaway getting a room for 1 cent still could be pretty sweet. Or perhaps this is just the time to invite the mother-in-law for a visit. Either she or you could enjoy the accommodations in lovely southwestern Greater Boston.

Coming to Boston any time soon? Not sure where to stay? Look no further, Boston's own Eliot Hotel was recently named the No. 1 smaller city hotel (under 100 rooms) in the continental United States and Canada by Travel + Leisure readers. The hotel also appears at a respectable No. 19 on the world’s best awards top 100 hotels overall (we're talking in the world here folks). Readers are asked to judge hotels on location, rooms and facilities, service, food and restaurants, and overall value. The Eliot Hotel takes particular pride in its restaurants, Clio and Uni Sashimi Bar - operated by James Beard Award winner Ken Oringer.

In the day and age where big seems better, and consumers are smitten with a chain hotel's consistency, the Eliot has remained one of few successful small independent hotels in Boston, and is still operated by the same family that opened it in 1939. You can find the Eliot Hotel at 370 Commonwealth Ave. and at 617-267-1607. Look online today to check out some of their current deals, and come see for yourself what all the fuss is about.

Photo courtesy Eliot Hotel

Do you remember where you were when it happened?

I am speaking, of course, of Saturday afternoon's successful attempt to set a Guinness world record for skinny dipping -- it's pretty safe to assume a record was set since there wasn't one before.

The event, which took place at 3 p.m. "Eastern Nudist Time'' at more than 135 locations around the country, was sponsored by the Florida-based American Association for Nude Recreation and was intended to serve as a finale to their Nude Recreation Week.

Carolyn Hawkins, a AANR spokeswoman, said that the group had not completed compiling numbers but they know that more than 8,000 participated and they are hoping the final count will reach 20,000.

Most of the gatherings took place at AANR clubs, but there were some public clothing-optional beaches, such as Gunnison Beach on the Jersey Shore and Haulover in Miami.

OK, so it sounds like you missed it. If you would like a running start at the next attempt, the folks at About.com have compiled a list of 10 resorts, campgrounds, and clubs in the New England where you can kick the tires on a clothing-free "nakation.''

Alan Berner/The Seattle Times via AP
Skinny-dippers crowd the pool at FS Family Nudist Park in Issaquah, Wash., on Saturday.