Kite-flyers are praying for mighty winds this weekend as they celebrate the fifth annual Niagara International Kite Festival.

The event that drew 25,000 kite fans from around the world last year continues today and tomorrow at various locations around Niagara Falls on both sides of the border.

The skies above the Canadian and American falls will be filled with kites of all colours, sizes and shapes, operated by 131 world-class kite flyers from 13 different countries.

Making a special appearance this year is the professional kite-flying group, Team iQuad, which will mark the 20th anniversary of the invention of the Revolution Kite. "The Rev" is a quad-line sport kite whose engineering is considered a revolution in the sport of kite-flying, thus the name.

The festival was named one of the six best international festivals of 2008 by the London Sunday Times Travel Magazine and was recently featured on ABC's Good Morning America.

The weekend will include kite-making workshops, historical re-enactments, kite competitions, kite buggying, lessons on flying The Rev and much more. Everything is free.

For more information about the Niagara Kite Festival, visit niagarakite.com or call 1-877-325-5787.

Need to rent a car?

Don't settle for a boring old Buick when you can have a Bugatti for just pennies more.

The Veyron model of the automotive stallion is only $25,000 a day at Beverly Hills Rent-A-Car.

Never mind that it's one of the goofiest-looking cars you'll ever see, its max speed of 400-plus kilometres per hour will get you to the mall lickety-split. And with 16 cylinders and 1,001 horsepower, you'll never have to worry about making it up some of those steep canyon roads in L.A.

The more budget-conscious might prefer a modest Lamborghini, at $3,000 a day for the Gallardo model. Cheaper still is the Rolls-Royce Phantom, at $2,995 daily, and the Bentley Arnage, a virtual steal at just $2,000 a day. Get it for six days at $12,000 and the seventh day is free. Now that's a deal.

Name your extravagance -- Ferrari, Aston Martin, Maserati, Porsche, BMW, Jag, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz -- and Beverly Hills Rent-A-Car has it. And not just in Beverly Hills. There are eight rental locations in California, two in Arizona, Vegas, of course, and now a site in Manhattan.

Make your selection at bhrentacar.com, if only in your dreams.

Ol' Man River

You know those oceans, they can get s-o-o-o boring.

Why not try a river on the next cruise?

Vision 2000 Travel Group's Cruises & Vacations, in Ancaster, is hosting a presentation this week on the world of river cruising.

Jo Lynch of Viking River Cruises will be there to talk about the Waterways of the Czars, the Grand Europe Tour and the Imperial Jewels of China. She'll talk about the growing popularity of first-class riverboats and their ability to take passengers into places that cruise ships are unable to navigate.

Guests at the show will be eligible for shipboard credits and discounts on bookings.

Admission is free, but an RSVP to the travel agency at 905-648-4483 is required.

The shows are at 3 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Travelodge Hotel, 2020 Lakeshore Rd. in Burlington.

Visit vision2000.ca/ancaster.

For lighthouse lovers

The 13th annual Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival starts Thursday and continues through Oct. 12 in Alpena, Mich.

The festival events include lighthouse tours, vendor and exhibitor booths, boat tours, displays at the lighthouse museum, guest speakers, information on restoration and rescue projects, children's activities and an auction of memorabilia.

Get the details at lighthousefestival.org or call 1-586-566-1603 or 1-800-4ALPENA.

So long to the season

The luxurious Inn at Manitou, one of only 16 Relais & Chateaux properties in Canada, is closing for the season Oct. 19.

But there's still time to enjoy the 34 guest suites, most with fireplaces, the golf, tennis and spa, the famously fabulous food and the peace and quiet of the forests, the waters of Lake Manitouwabing and the last of the spectacular fall colours.

On Thanksgiving weekend, there will be an artists' workshop and retreat featuring drawing and painting workshops with Canadian artist Dieter Hastenteufel.

Guests who book three nights get a fourth night at no charge. Meals are included with accommodation.

Call 1-800-571-8818 or visit manitou-online.com.

maryknolan@thespec.com

905-526-4689

Talk back to Mary K. Nolan on her Internet blog by going to the Traveller site and clicking on Roaming: the travel blog