Ron Mader
(He/Him)
As seen in:
Planeta.com
Covers:
Ecotourism, Eco Travel, Biodiversity, Climate, Indigenous language, Food, International Institutions, Grassroots Conservation
Savoring slow adventures, city parks, good friends, and slower bike rides. Also, tweeting from @planetanews 🌎🌏🌍 📷📍Seven Magic Mountains 🏔️
Articles by Ron Mader
iNaturalist
Logo Among our fave apps that help identify plants and and animals: Seek and iNaturalist. Questions What are the differences between the inaturalist and seek apps? - iNaturalist: The species included in Seek are based entirely on photos and identifications made by the global iNaturalist community, so the Seek camera will work best in places where there is already an active community of iNaturalist users, and for species that are easily identified from photos.
Conservation and Tourism Associations and Groups
Illustration generated via Google Gemini (Some rights reserved) For World Tourism Day Planeta.com regularly updates our index of relevant conservation and tourism associations / groups / networks around the world. We also submit a few questions to compare, contrast, and evaluate the value for members, locals, and the visitors. Since the beginning of our website in 1994/1995, we have connected with number of associations and groups focused on the intersections connecting conservation and tourism.
World Tourism Day 2026
Illustration generated via Google Gemini (Some rights reserved) Quick links: Key, Headlines, Questions, Translations The United Nations created World Tourism Day (September 27) in 1979 to increase awareness of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values. World Tourism Day is hosted by the UN World Tourism Organization.
San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya
San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya is one of the oldest settlements in Oaxaca's Central Valleys, founded by Zapotecs around 1100 AD. // San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya es uno de los asentamientos más antiguos de los Valles Centrales de Oaxaca, fundado por los zapotecos alrededor del año 1100 d. C. Named after a Zapotec warrior (Cochicahuala, or 'he who fights at night), the town is located two kilometers from the Pan-American Highway behind a large hill called Cerro Negro.
Vale Angela Mendoza Martínez
Befriending an artisan means befriending the family ... and the town, and ever-widening circles of friends. For those keen on travel and tourism that prioritizes faces as well as places, this page celebrates my (Ron Mader) friendship with Angela Mendoza Martínez, her family, the community of Teotitlán del Valle, and many friends. // Hacerse amigo de un artesano significa hacerse amigo de la familia ... y del pueblo, y de círculos de amigos cada vez más amplios.
Las Vegas International
Las Vegas is a marvelous place to connect with the international crowd as well as people from across the USA. There are communities here for those keen on connecting with international communities. // Las Vegas es un lugar maravilloso para conectarse con la multitud internacional, así como con personas de todo Estados Unidos. Aquí hay comunidades para aquellos interesados en conectarse con comunidades internacionales.
48th Session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee
Illustration generated via Google Gemini (Some rights reserved) Quick links: Key, Headlines, Videos The 48th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee is taking place July 19 to 29, 2026, in Busan, South Korea. The meeting gathers 21 member states to review new site nominations and monitor conservation statuses. // La 48.ª sesión del Comité del Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO se celebra del 19 al 29 de julio de 2026 en Busan, Corea del Sur.
Henderson Libraries
Henderson, Nevada - Some of our fave neighborhood spaces / third places are Henderson Libraries - hendersonlibraries.com. Each venue has its own special attributes: Paseo Verde (702) 492-7252, Gibson (702) 565-8402, Green Valley (702) 207-4260, and Heritage Park (702) 207-4258. Libraries are more than books and this system offers community meeting spaces, genealogical research, computer classes, reading clubs, and more.
Adventures with AI: Public Comments to the National Park Service
Illustration generated via ImageFX (Some rights reserved) Quick links: Headlines This feature presents prompts and responses from AI regarding public comments responding to Secretarial Order 3431 ("Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History"). We are editing this document and invite you to join us our adventures with AI on legacy websites. Specifically, we using Google Gemini to develop a summary and infographics. There may be errors, so we present this early draft with this disclosure.
Oaxaca: What did we learn from the 2006 social protests?
Planeta.com joins readers on a trip down memory lane – a lived experience shared among loved ones – to one of the more problematic episodes in our peripatetic journey. // Planeta.com acompaña a los lectores en un viaje a través del recuerdo –una experiencia vivida compartida entre seres queridos – hacia uno de los episodios más problemáticos de nuestro viaje peripatético.
Oaxaca’s Outstanding Caldo de Piedra // Stone Soup ♥️
Oaxaca, Mexico – Caldo de Piedra is run by the Gauchupin Family from San Felipe Usila. This is one of our favorite places to eat in the world thanks to the good food and wonderful friends who prepare a treat for the taste buds and the soul. The palapa-style restaurant is located on the north side of the highway, kilometer 11.9 heading to Tule from Oaxaca City. Phone: 951-527-8318.
News Taco - Planeta.com
Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
First Friday, Las Vegas
Las Vegas hosts First Friday … the first Friday every month // Las Vegas acoge First Firday // Primer Viernes… el primer viernes de cada mes Kudos to the pioneers and visionaries who launched Las Vegas’ First Friday celebration more than 20 years ago and special thanks to everyone who has kept it growing. Look for pop up entertainment and food trucks. On the bright side, ambling leads to some interesting venues in downtown Las Vegas and the 18B Arts District.
April 2026 - Planeta.com
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Wilderness in northwestern New Mexico // Desierto en el noroeste de Nuevo México National Park Week USA Celebration of national heritage held in tandem with Earth Day // Celebración del patrimonio nacional en conjunto con el Día de la Tierra Indigenous Parks USA Grand Canyon National Park ♥️ Exploring the park after the North Rim fire // Explorando el parque después del incendio de North Rim Earth Day ♥️ Join us for a hybrid celebration of environmental education...
Teotihuacán - Planeta.com
Teotihuacán (elevation: 2,300 meters or 7,500 feet) boasts the third-largest pyramid in the world, and the remains of an ancient city. Among the archaeological sites many mysteries – the original name is not known. The site covers a total surface area of 83 square kilometers and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Responsible Travel – Don’t climb the pyramids or buildings. Climbing has been prohibited for several years.
March 2026 - Planeta.com
April // Abril What's on the calendar in April? // ¿Qué hay en el calendario en abril?
Route 66 - Planeta.com
Planning your trip along the historic Route 66, what John Steinbeck called The Great Western Road? Planeta.com is updating our city and state guides along the Mother Road, aka Main Street of the USA, and beginning an index of favorite places. // ¿Estás planificando tu viaje por la histórica Ruta 66, lo que John Steinbeck llamó The Great Western Road?
February 2026 - Planeta.com
March // Marzo What's on the calendar in March? // ¿Qué hay en el calendario en marzo?
Adventures with AI
Since our first online steps in 1994-1995, Planeta.com has used the digital tools of the day, including BBedit, Flickr, Gopher, WordPress, YouTube, and starting in 20224 some of the AI-generative tools including Google Docs ‘Help me write,’ and more recently Gemini, ImageFX, and NotebookLM. We are not early adopters, but sometimes early-ish. In 2026 we are keeping track of our experiences and thoughts regarding the pros and cons of AI, language models, and new forms of digital collaboration.
January 2026 - Planeta.com
Joshua Trees Yucca which grows as a tall as a tree native to arid regions of North America // Yuca que crece tan alto como un árbol y nativa de las regiones… Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Wilderness in northwestern New Mexico // Desierto en el noroeste de Nuevo México Recommended Viewing: El Foco Walking tours of Mexico City streets, neighborhoods and historical sites // Recorridos a pie por las calles, barrios y sitios históricos de la Ciudad de México Cities Nature Parks USA Clark County’s...
Las Vegas’ Fremont Street
A walk down Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas is actually several simultaneous strolls through the ephemeral, the historic, and immediate now. To be clear, there are several distinct sections of the street – partially enclosed with a digital ceiling and zipline – and other portions of historic and in the process of being renewed neighborhoods. // Un paseo por Fremont Street, en el centro de Las Vegas, es en realidad un recorrido simultáneo por lo efímero, lo histórico y el presente inmediato.
December 2025 - Planeta.com
Christmas Annual celebration on December 25 Radish Night in Oaxaca de Juárez, México Come for the rábanos, stay for the totomoxtle! // ¡Ven por los rábanos, quédate por el totomoxtle! Exploring the Las Vegas Strip Exploring one of world's most storied resort corridors // Explorando uno de los corredores turísticos con más historia del mundo Christmas Bird Count December 14-January 5, a hemispheric community science program with a century of history behind it // Del 14 de diciembre al 5 de...
Fort Wayne ♥️
Fort Wayne is a riverine city in northeast Indiana // Fort Wayne es una ciudad ribereña en el noreste de Indiana. Google Maps goo.gl/maps/hjputpefmw9L95Y4A The state’s second largest city, Fort Wayne was built at the confluence of three rivers: the Saint Joseph River, Saint Marys River and Maumee River. Some history. In 1794 the ‘fort’ in Fort Wayne was built near the Indigenous Miami village of Kekionga.
November 2025 - Planeta.com
12 // December // Diciembre What's on the calendar in December? // ¿Qué hay en el calendario en diciembre?
Riviera Maya // Maya Riviera
Wikiipedia: The Riviera Maya // Maya Riviera was originally called the “Cancun–Tulum corridor”, but in 1999 it was renamed the Riviera Maya with the aid of Miguel Ramón Martín Azueta. At the time, he was the municipal president of Solidaridad, Quintana Roo. The Riviera Maya includes the municipalities of Solidaridad in the north and Tulum in the south, and extends approximately 40 km // 25 miles inland, to the border with the state of Yucatán.
October 2025 - Planeta.com
Nevada Tourism and Travel Explore your Nevada, colorful and neon-lit // Explora tu Nevada, colorida e iluminada con luces de neón Americas Celebrations Mexico Celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico Celebration combining ancient Indigenous traditions and modern fanfare // Celebración que combina antiguas tradiciones indígenas y fanfarria moderna Nevada Day As of 2000, celebrated on the last Friday in October // se celebra el último viernes de octubre Marigolds // Cempasúchil Stop and smell the...
Devil's Tower // Mato Tipila
Photo: Alex Weimar, Mato Tipila, aka Devil's Tower National Monument (Some rights reserved) Spotlight on Mato Tipila, aka Devil's Tower National Monument, first national monument in the United States. // Foco en Mato Tipila, también conocido como Monumento Nacional Torre del Diablo, el primer monumento nacional en los Estados Unidos.
September 2025 - Planeta.com
Mato Tipila First national monument in the United States. // Primer monumento nacional en los Estados Unidos Cities Nature Parks USA Clark County’s Wetlands Park ♥️ Calm oasis on the eastern outskirts of town // Un oasis de tranquilidad en las afueras orientales de la ciudad 10 // October // Octubre What's on the calendar in October? // ¿Qué hay en el calendario en octubre?
Reflections on Friends and Friendship in the Natural and Digital Worlds
Friend = Person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection // Persona a quien uno conoce y con quien tiene un vínculo de afecto mutuo Also see: Friendship, Friendversary, Friend request Essay Friends is a word used frequently on the social web, including Facebook and Flickr. That said, what is the nature of the online virtual friendships? To what degree do they shift? And how do we improve our relationships and nurture existing friendships while making new ones?
Located in northwestern New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park became part of the US national park system (as a national monument) in 1907 and was designated a World Heritage Site in 1987. // Ubicado en el noroeste de Nuevo México, el Parque Histórico Nacional de la Cultura Chaco pasó a formar parte del sistema de parques nacionales de Estados Unidos (como monumento nacional) en 1907 y fue designado Patrimonio de la Humanidad en 1987.
August 2025 - Planeta.com
Indigenous Parks USA Grand Canyon National Park ♥️ Exploring the park after the fire // Explorando el parque después del incendio 09 // September // Septiembre What's on the calendar in September? // ¿Qué hay en el calendario en septiembre?
The Value of Listening
There is great value listening to the natural and cultural worlds. To be immersed in birdsong and symphony elevates our higher senses. Better still when we understand what we are hearing. If communication is to be more than a megaphone, if there’s an actual conversation / dialogue unfolding, we need to sharpen our listening skills, comprehension, and empathy.
July 2025 - Planeta.com
08 // August // Agosto What's on your calendar in August? // ¿Qué hay en tu calendario en agosto? // Was steht im August in Ihrem Kalender?
Wishlist for Travel and Tourism
From the archives, late 90s/early 00s What’s on your Wish List for Responsible, Sustainable Ecotourism that Alleviates Poverty, Creates Jobs, Conserves Biodiversity, Engages Events, Fosters Education, Greens Transport, and Promotes Meaningful Engagement among Stakeholders while creating a more Peaceful World? This Planeta.com wishlist // wunschliste is based on hundreds of conversations with colleagues about what they want to see.
Tourism, Crisis, and Communication
When a crisis affects a particular place, it is rarely presented in a way that provides updated information for visitors. Many tourism businesses, not to mention regional and national ministries and campaigns, are reluctant to voice concerns. Scaremongering kicks in and things go from bad to worse. The consequence for not engaging the public and be engaged by the public in dialogue during times of crisis is a diminished level of trust.
June 2025 - Planeta.com
07 // July // Julio What's on the calendar in July? // ¿Qué hay en el calendario en julio?
Preparation = Action of making ready or being made ready // Acción de preparar o estar lista/o Let’s review travel prep from the point of view and perspectives of visitors AND locals. Visitors One of the reasons travelers make a trip elsewhere is to escape cause-and-effect logic. Many travelers aim toward spontaneity and adventure. That said, if they don’t make proper checklists, do required reading ahead of their journey, they invariably miss out on engaging experiences.
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
Happy #120 in 2025. Las Vegas celebrates its birthday on May 15. As a city Las Vegas was founded on May 15, 1905 when 110 acres near Stewart/Garces/Main/Fifth (Las Vegas Boulevard) were auctioned. For history buffs, Clark County Museum is a must. We are also partial to the Old Fort, Natural History Museum, Neon Museum, and Mob Museum.
May 2025 - Planeta.com
Death Valley National Park Have you visited Death Valley National Park in the summer? // ¿Has visitado el Parque Nacional del Valle de la Muerte en verano?
Easter in Mexico
Mexico celebrates Easter with great passion. In 2024 Easter Sunday will be April 20. // México celebra la Pascua con gran pasión. En 2024 el Domingo de Pascua será el 20 de abril. Translating Holy Week = Semana Santa Easter Week = Semana de Pascua Calendar Lent (Cuaresma) represents the 40 days Christ spent in the desert. Ash Wednesday (Miércoles de Ceniza) is the first day of Lent.
Henderson Water Street
Henderson, Nevada – Spotlight on the city’s original retail avenue, Water Street // Foco en la avenida comercial original de la ciudad, Water Street. Water Street is part of Planeta.com’s Las Vegas DIY Water Tour. Water Street is so named because underneath the street is large water main that fed the Basic Magnesium plant in the 1940s. Beloved but neglected for decades, in the 2020s it is undergoing downtown revitalization.
April 2025 - Planeta.com
Conscious Travel Local Travel Responsible Sports May is Bike Month ¡Sí más bicicletas! // Yes more bicycles, please.
San Antonio, Texas
Spotlight on San Antonio, Texas, the Alamo City. Google Maps goo.gl/maps/sD29Nk1PXzLVmqSU8 Quotes We are all members of one community and we have a common goal … improving the economic and social conditions of our city and making it a more desirable place in which to live.
Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
More news about Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area Google Maps This is reputed to be one of most interesting wild places to visit in the Las Vegas Lands. In 2017 the Nawghaw Poa Road (“mountain sheep trail” in Paiute) and contact station were formally inaugurated. The road is now fully paved from Democracy and Via Firenze. How to get there: Nawghaw Poa Road is just west of Democracy Drive and Via Firenze. Check in with a ranger when you begin your visit.
March 2025 - Planeta.com
04 // April // Abril What's on the calendar in April? // ¿Qué hay en el calendario en abril?
Las Vegas’ Springs Preserve
Spotlight on Las Vegas’ Springs Preserve, a 180-acre cultural institution designed to commemorate the city’s dynamic history and to provide a vision for a sustainable future // Foco en Springs Preserve de Las Vegas, una institución cultural de 180 acres diseñada para conmemorar la dinámica historia de la ciudad y brindar una visión para un futuro sustentable Key Links springspreserve.org Events Facebook History: In 1997, the board of directors of the Las Vegas Valley Water District approved a...
Neon Museum - Planeta.com
Las Vegas – The Neon Museum – neonmuseum.org – is one of our local faves downtown – a curated selection of beautiful, memorable, and illuminated signage // El Museo del Neón – neonmuseum.org – es uno de nuestros favoritos locales en el centro: una selección curada de algunos de los carteles más hermosos, memorables e iluminados This page features relevant links in a somewhat random fashion, including key links, headlines, and photography policy.
February 2025 - Planeta.com
03 // March // Marzo What's on the calendar in March? // ¿Qué hay en el calendario en marzo?
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Ron
Contact Ron, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack