Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Side trips

News and notes about travel.

By Janet K. Keeler
Published February 26, 2006

NO SMOKING

The Puerto Rican Senate has passed a law that would ban smoking in bars, casinos and other public places - as well as in private cars with children aboard.

The bill, which prohibits smoking in cars carrying passengers under the age of 13, was adopted unanimously and now heads to the House of Representatives for approval. Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila, who vetoed an earlier bill because it was too broad, was expected to sign the legislation into law soon.

Violators would be forced to pay a $250 fine for a first offense and $2,000 for each additional offense. The commonwealth's tourism department opposes the ban, saying it will hurt the island's crucial tourism industry.

ISLAND TRAMWAY

An aerial tramway that will give visitors a tour of St. Lucia's mountains and rain forest should be up and running by next week. The tramway, stretching across 1,200 acres, will carry passengers in gondolas on a one-hour ride over the rain forest canopy and through the mountains of northern St. Lucia.

Twenty-two open-air gondolas will seat eight passengers and a guide. Some ticket revenues will go to conservation efforts. Tourism revenues in the island of 166,000 reached nearly $300-million last year. The island is expecting more tourism growth with the opening of several hotels for the 2007 cricket World Cup.

Best biking

Portland, Ore., was named the best overall city for cycling in the March Bicycling magazine, and its must-ride route is an 18-mile trek from the Eastbank Esplanade of the Willamette River downtown to the Springwater Corridor Trail in Boring.

The magazine also named Portland the top cycling spot for cities with a population between 500,000 and 1-million, followed by Denver and Seattle (never mind the rain). The best cycling cities with populations more than 1-million were San Diego, Calif., Chicago and New York - just watch out for the traffic.

For cities with populations between 200,000 and 500,000, Madison, Wis., Tucson, Ariz., and Albuquerque, N.M., took the top three spots.

New Orleans tours

Collette Vacations will resume its organized tours to New Orleans on May 22 and plans to donate this year's profits from the tours to the Red Cross Katrina Relief fund.

The company, which sent 100 tours a year to New Orleans before Katrina, has already donated $50,000 to relief efforts. Some tours to the city are already sold out. Prices begin at $699. Details at www.collettevacations.com or toll-free 1-800-340-5158.

Fodor's, known for its travel books, has an updated guide to New Orleans available on its Web site, www.fodors.com.

MARGARITAS AND SHOPPING

If you happen to be in San Diego on April 26, consider a quick jaunt across the border for lunch and shopping.

The tour includes lobster and margaritas in Puerto Nuevo, shopping at the artisans' market in Rosarito Beach, a bakery stop for pastries and Mexican sweet rolls and a stop in Tijuana on the way home. Cost is $59 a person, including transportation from San Diego, bilingual guide, lunch and one drink. For information, call Baja California Tours toll-free at 1-800-336-5454 or go to www.bajaspecials.com.

SAILING WITH CELEBS

Ever wanted to ask Ed Asner what Mary Tyler Moore is like? You'll have the chance if you cruise with him, and other actors, on a 15-night trip to Portugal, Morocco, Spain, France and Monaco.

Scheduled to be on board along with Asner for the April 21 cruise are Patricia Neal, Cliff Robertson, Gena Rowlands and Leslie Uggams.

Ports of call for the 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator, which sets sail from Fort Lauderdale, include Casablanca, Morocco; Monte Carlo; and Malaga and Barcelona, Spain.

Cost: $4,495 to $5,745 per person, double occupancy ($1,573 to $2,011 single surcharge). For more information, call Theatre at Sea Inc., (212) 873-0676 or click on www.theatreatsea.com.

Compiled by JANET K. KEELER from the Associated Press and Los Angeles Times. She can be reached at (727) 893-8586 or krieta@sptimes.com.

[Last modified February 26, 2006, 08:28:05]