Although the CSS-only approach might be a fun challenge to implement, it can be a real turn-off for visitors who lack surgical precision with a mouse

Well, I can't see the link - you'll need to actually post the code for this. But to answer your questions, yes you can. (The only reason you'd need Javascript is for IE 6 - because it doesn't recognize the "hover" state on a list item.) I've done exactly what you want several times, using the Son of Suckerfish menus - which aside from the IE6 only JS that's used for the hovering effect (i.e. making the submenu actually appear) is nothing but CSS.

It would be better to see your code, though. But basically (with using SOS) you just set the li:hover state with the background color and it should stay "highlighted" as you go through the submenu. (The tricky part is if your submenu has a submenu, and making *that* also retain it's hover status!) but it can totally be done. In fact, I think I learned myself how to do it from this forum - I remember posting a similar question a couple of years ago and getting good answers that worked just fine.

(The only reason you'd need Javascript is for IE 6 - because it doesn't recognize the "hover" state on a list item.) I've done exactly what you want several times,

Using JS, of course, can help remove the need for surgical precision with a mouse :)

But... after reading up on accessibility, I have decided to use IT to inform rather than dazzle my sites' visitors