Travel - The Durango Herald

Cuba’s open door

Dancing women step into historic moment with country on verge of change

DATE: Jul 30, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

As fuel needs soar, airlines explore biofuels

Industry growth could depend on converting trash into power

DATE: Jul 25, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

The Great Walks of New Zealand

Hiking New Zealand’s rugged South Island

DATE: Jul 25, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

Walking the treetops

Wild Walk gives bird’s-eye view of Adirondack forest

DATE: Jul 18, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

Cyclists cruise Oregon’s scenic back roads

TROUTDALE, Ore. – As laid-back as Portland is, it’s still a city with hustle and bustle. My escape is right at my doorstep: a picturesque slice of Oregon that appeals to my urge to aimlessly...

DATE: Jul 18, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

Carnival aims to launch Miami to Cuba cruises

The world’s largest cruise company could be heading to Cuba. Starting in May, Carnival Corp. plans to offer trips from Miami to the Caribbean island nation, the company announced ...

DATE: Jul 11, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

Looking for ‘Mockingbird’ in Lee’s hometown

Her other novel comes out Tuesday

DATE: Jul 11, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

Escape to Alcatraz

Restoration project extends longevity of island prison

DATE: Jul 11, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

A room on the wall

Estes Park guides lead overnight trip on cliff face

DATE: Jul 4, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

In some ways, flying is actually improving

NEW YORK – Packed planes. Less legroom. Fewer frequent flier miles. Is that all summer travelers can look forward to? Thankfully, no. Amid the unpleasantness, there are...

DATE: Jul 4, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

Sabino Canyon an easy escape from Tucson

Experience Arizona desert’s beauty by foot or tram

DATE: Jun 27, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

Finding adjacent airline seats

You can do it without paying extra fees

DATE: Jun 27, 2015 | CATEGORY: Travel

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members wore costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho’s bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the Secret Circus Society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this year’s costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don’ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since its inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this year’s fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unfazed by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns

Cuba’s open door

As fuel needs soar, airlines explore biofuels

The Great Walks of New Zealand

Walking the treetops

Cyclists cruise Oregon’s scenic back roads

Carnival aims to launch Miami to Cuba cruises

Looking for ‘Mockingbird’ in Lee’s hometown

Escape to Alcatraz

A room on the wall

In some ways, flying is actually improving

Sabino Canyon an easy escape from Tucson

Finding adjacent airline seats

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