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Cruises: Non-smoking rules get stricter

We grew up in an era when smoking was considered cool. As soon as we were teens, most of us were already hooked. Why not? Shills gave out free cigarettes on campuses. Ads proudly showed cowboys and movie stars puffing away. Even The Hit Parade, the favorite teen TV show that hyped our pop music, was sponsored by Lucky Strikes. 

Then we suddenly realized cigarette smoke kills the longtime puffer and anyone else unlucky enough to have to breathe the smoke. Although cigarettes are now banned from many areas, we never thought cruise ships would join the campaign. After all, that’s why people sign up for a sea voyage, to relax and indulge in any doggone pleasure they want. Food, booze, sunning and puffing away.

Now, the major cruise lines, Princess, Carnival and Holland America will ban smoking in cabins on all the ships of all three lines by the end of the year. Princess will also include cabin balconies in the clean-air clean-up.

Dining areas on the ships will be smoke-free, but bars, dance areas and casinos will still be smoke-’em-if-you-got-’em areas. Other cruise lines already have some smoking restrictions in effect.

The rules on the three major cruise lines also come with punishment for offenders. Hey, smokers, if you’re caught sneaking a puff in smoke-free areas, they’ll tack a $250 cleaning fee to your bill. Sort of like being sent to the principal’s office after being nabbed smoking on the fire escape.
Destination: Latigo Dude Ranch, Colorado PDF Print E-mail

Horseback rider

Tenderbuttfoot at Latigo Dude Ranch, Colorado
Voted the best dude ranch in the US by many travel experts, the Latigo in Colorado offers great weekly summer programs from June 20 through August 21, and its special Roundup Week from September 19 to 25.

Latigo is located in the heart of the Rockies 130 miles west of Denver. If you fly into Denver, you can rent a car and leisurely see the beautiful Colorado mountain scenery on your way to the ranch, or ride a commercially-operated shuttle to the ranch location in the Kremmling area. Horseback riding is the main feature of Latigo. Each guest will be assigned a compatible horse from the ranch’s herd of 80 well-trained horses for the duration of your stay.

Just a few of the dozens of fun events include a fully-supervised children's program, including camp out. Also river rafting and a rec center with pool table. Some open-air features include morning breakfast and sunset rides, cook-outs, pack-horse trips and cattle team-penning. Kids and adults can enjoy a hay ride together in an Old West horse-drawn wagon.

There are also up-to-date modern facilities, including a hot tub and heated swimming pool. Other sports are archery, golf, rifle shooting and western roping. And for seniors and adults with nimble feet, there will be country dancing skills that haven’t been seen since Roy took Dale to the hoedown.

Prices for the all-inclusive week are $3,600 for seniors and adults, $1,925 for kids six to 13, $1,450 for kids age three to five. Infants age two and under are free in their parents’ rooms.

Those rates are a total one-price package, including gratuities, meals, snacks, lodging, horseback riding and instruction, overnight pack trip, social activities, river rafting, use of all facilities and the children's program. The only extras are Colorado taxes at 4.6%.

For more information, go to www.latigotrails.com
 
 
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