Cynthia Ord

Community-based Tourism Development: The Syllabus

Check it out - I'm an educator. After almost a year of developing an online course for the Certificate in Community-Based Development through Village Earth and Colorado State University, the 5-week course begins next week. It's called Community-Based Tourism Development, and I'm pretty excited about it. (More)...

Can Agritourism Save Small-scale Farming?

For those who are still not convinced that a farm tour or farm stay is for them, there’s another side of the story – the supply side. Agritourism brings great benefits to small-scale farmers all over the world. Researchers and policymakers hail this eco-friendly form of tourism as a useful tool for rural development. (More)...

‘More Local’ Transforms The Short Trip In Colombia

More Local host in Villa de LeyvaThe Colombian travel aficionados at More Local have added two-day excursions to their innovative menu of experiential trips. Travelers can now get inside rural small-town life in a weekend-sized trip. More Local’s two-day itineraries allow travelers on limited time budgets to jump on the fast track to deep Colombian culture. (More)...

The Dos And Don’ts Of Voluntourism

In Quito, Ecuador, medical professionals spend two weeks correcting cataracts – pro bono. In Kenya, handfuls of Hollywood stars try "making a difference" at orphanages. At the same time, these volunteers are having a travel experience. They stay in hotels, eat in restaurants and try to bond with locals. They are volunteer traveler hybrids known as voluntourists. Can they really see the world and save it too? (More)...

La Convención: A Festival Of ‘New Circus’ In Buenos Aires

In the urban landscape of Buenos Aires, Argentina, fauna is fantastically diverse. I love watching the human wildlife. My favorite species is the callejero, or street circus performer. Each year, callejeros from Buenos Aires and all over Latin America convene outside the city. The event is called La Convención Argentina de Circo, Payasos y Espectaculos Callejeros. (More)...

How and Why to Unplug While Travelling

Do you have a small computer that fits in your pocket or purse? Does it spend most of its time in your hand? Have you outsourced most of your mind’s responsibilities to it, such as basic memory and navigation? If you answered ‘yes’ to the questions above, then you may be stuck in a technology loop. One way out of it: try experiential travel. Unplug, sign off, power down, get out of town and open yourself to the analogue sensations around you. (More)...

A Mile High: What You Can Do at 5,280 Feet in Denver

At an elevation of 5,280 feet above sea level, Colorado’s capital city has an ear-popping altitude of one mile. Acclimate in the city for at least a day before heading into the high country, and you’ll find all sorts of “highs” inside the metro area. A few benchmarks in Denver hit the exact 5,280 feet of altitude point. After finding these famed spots, have fun testing the altitude of other high points in and around the city. Get an altitude app on your smart phone, then see how high you can get within the Denver sphere. (More)...

Five MORE Ecolodges to Plan Your Trip Around

What exactly is an ecolodge? While there are many interpretations of the ‘ecolodge’ concept, most of the structures share some special traits. They’re low-impact buildings that use materials repurposed or found locally, and adhere to sustainable-water and -power practices. They’re immersed in beautiful natural areas, which they’re committed to helping preserve, blending in to the surrounding environment, rather than interrupting it. (More)...

Mount Kynthos, Greece: For Cynthias Everywhere

First names, like genes and hometown, can be a tyrant of a basic identity fact. Determined at birth, they have no regard for personal choice, nor are they open for much negotiation. Even the most well-intentioned parents go awry, and their kids get stuck with a mouthful of off-tasting name. (More)...

Soak and Stay: Hot Springs Lodging in Ouray, Colorado

In the steep mountains of Colorado’s southwest, plan an overnight stay in Ouray. Known as the “Switzerland of America,” Ouray and its alpine views will give you the chills (as will the low nightly temperatures). Warm up in Ouray’s natural hot springs. You can relax in the town’s public hot springs pools, or indulge in the exclusive springs inside some of Ouray’s top lodging options. Either way, make it an overnight for the full hot-springs-under-the-stars experience. (More)...