Shannon O'Donnell
@ShannonRTW
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National Geographic Traveler of the Year using travel as a force for good since 2008. Vegetarian. Writer. Mom. Coffee fan. Geek. :-)
Barcelona, Spain
Joined June 2009
There are places that simply surprise you and defy your every expectation. Visiting St. Petersburg, Russia was that place for me. Here's why I left completely charmed:
alittleadrift.com
Speaking at the International Cultural Forum brought me to St. Petersburg, Russia and the city charmed me—and challenged all I thought I knew about Russia.
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Talked w/ the London Evening Standard about the pitfalls of volunteering & was pleased the article is not just "rah rah rah, go volunteer">> How to combine your next wellness retreat with volunteering https://t.co/YvAhKSYCTd via @eslifeandstyle
standard.co.uk
Give a little back to the local community during your next holiday
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All that stuff you're throwing in the recycling? It may be getting incinerated or stashed in a landfill>> China Has Stopped Taking Our Trash. Is This the End of Recycling?
theatlantic.com
Americans are consuming more and more stuff. Now that other countries won’t take our papers and plastics, they’re ending up in the trash.
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Just beautiful>> Photographer Spends 6 Months Traveling Alone to Photograph Siberia’s Indigenous People https://t.co/yVpbahMPsP via @mymodernmet
mymodernmet.com
Alexander Khimunshin continues his portrait project 'The World in Faces' by spending 6 months photographing indigenous people in Siberia.
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Because of this article I wrote on #responsibletravel, I now #travel differently. https://t.co/yCeohso1v9 For example, @allgrassroots is the 1st site I consult when looking for local businesses that are local and socially responsible.
creditwalk.ca
Sometimes despite our intentions, we do a lot of damage to the people/places we visit. Here are 5 responsible travel pitfalls that you haven't thought of!
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Why your mental map of the world is (probably) wrong https://t.co/yiP9Ayx0lG via @NatGeo
nationalgeographic.com
Explore National Geographic. A world leader in geography, cartography and exploration.
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Is so-called voluntourism beneficial to communities in need, or is it doing more harm than good – creating a false kind of charity? @lumos_ceo George Mulheir joined a panel with @TMSRuge, @ShannonRTW and @CoralCay for an exciting debate for @TRTWorld...
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New post>> Building a Sustainable Tourism Industry with USAID in Kygyzstan https://t.co/v4piALhpMG
#socent
alittleadrift.com
After a year of tourism development consulting work in Kyrygzstan, I share lessons learned from building a sustainable tourism industry from the ground up.
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“Sustainable tourism is the gateway to great, connected experiences you and your readers want. And it’s a two-way impact for the place as well.” Love @umarket’s imperative to preserve tourism for our future—let’s not love these places to death. #Travelcon18
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Wrote a piece for @selamtamagazine on my new home>> A Timeless Snapshot — Delighting in Barcelona’s Raval neighborhood.
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Just updated my 4,500+ word treatise on Safety and Solo Female Travel: https://t.co/8IbDS4GoGK
#longreads
alittleadrift.com
Is it safe to travel alone as a woman? After years traveling solo, I offer females and single women practical, honest travel safety advice.
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Timely and worth a read>> The Next Trend In Travel Is… Don’t https://t.co/3sxabtfH3n by @asmithb
brightthemag.com
Tourism can destroy environments and drive out local residents. It’s time to rethink the purpose of travel.
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Travel with purpose: how to make a difference with social enterprises https://t.co/ZMvVMkWU9w by #LonelyPlanet Trailblazers @umarket
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Excited to speak about the power and potential of sustainable tourism at @Travel_Con next month in Austin! Just a few tickets left. Who will I be seeing there? https://t.co/jgtvUrqkHC
travelcon.org
TravelCon is the business event for travel creators. Join us March 14-16, 2025, in Tucson, AZ.
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Evocative, timely, and needed. A beautiful #longread from a photographer of indigenous cultures examining what's at stake if we don't protect our planet: https://t.co/LJpdwueah3 on @Maptia
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Beautiful and so many with a touch of fascinating melancholy>> Images of Disappearing Jobs: https://t.co/kYzIAqQace via @TheAtlPhoto
theatlantic.com
Recently, AFP photographers have been photographing people with job titles that are becoming very rare, such as lamplighter, street clerk, rickshaw puller, plowman, or elevator attendant.
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Pleased to be included in a Business Insider feature talking about all things expat!>> 10 things expats wish they had known before they left their homes behind https://t.co/66IVk39OoX via @BI_Europe
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Considering the amount of purposefully divisive content making headlines, this is a thoughtful read>> Americans don’t realize how fast the country is moving toward becoming a better version of itself, writes @JamesFallows.
theatlantic.com
Americans don’t realize how fast the country is moving toward becoming a better version of itself.
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All the yes. Also fascinating look at the “divided mind”>> People are dying because we misunderstand how those with addiction think https://t.co/3Dl9Pv9gGH via @voxdotcom
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