Marilyn Foster: Explore. Dream. Discover.

It’s the perfect time to travel, and everyone seems to be taking off into the wild blue yonder to all corners of our world. I’ll soon join them to see the green grass of Kentucky in May, taste some Wild Turkey Whiskey, marvel at the thoroughbred horses, enjoy a concert at the Grand Ole Opry and more. This will be quite the contrast to our high desert environment.

Spring and fall remain the most popular times to travel for those who don’t want crowds but want good weather and prefer not to pay the high season rates.

Fall is a wonderful time to travel. Weather is cool and crisp, and in some places, the fall colors can be breathtaking.

While it’s too late to book anything for this spring, it’s not too late to book for October this year. Tour operators prefer to know well in advance whether trips will be popular, so they prefer creating a six-month deadline for deposits so they may reserve airline seats and book hotels.

Thus, April is the time to put in your deposit for some exciting tours that may be just the ticket to enjoying time away before the frenetic holiday season. As Mark Twain wrote, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” That’s what I have been doing for years, and I don’t expect to stop traveling anytime soon.

Forthcoming October trips you may enjoy find us all over Europe. There are still seats available to join the Chamber Travel Club to Ireland departing Oct. 23 with deposit due by April 24. Treasures of Europe Discovery starts in London and ends in Rome with wonderful stops in between. Part of this trip is by rail. The deposit is due April 25. Booking by those dates gives you a nice discount.

Iconic Israel departs Nov. 6 with a deposit due on May 7. This is an amazing trip for anyone who enjoys the Old Testament, although this is not a religious tour, instead focusing on the historic aspects of the Bible.

Mysterious Cuba departing on Oct. 9 from Miami is always a best bet. I’ve been there and enjoyed it immensely, although I did not have the luxury of taking a cruise around the island to see many of the sites that took hours of bus travel.

Cruising is an easy way to travel. Unpack once and enjoy the amenities of your luxury cruise line serving as your transportation and dining establishment, stopping along the way at charming ports of call. Ask about the Christmas Markets tour departing Dec. 3. I so enjoyed my holiday river cruise along the Rhine.

The Travel Club has started to reserve space for 2020. Be sure peruse the Travel Club page at www.carsoncitychamber.com. Or stop by 1900 S. Carson St. Those who book early, get the best cabins on cruises.

It’s never too early to plan for your next trip. Wishing you safe travels and hoping to see you on a Collette or Mayflower Cruises & Tours vacation soon.

Marilyn Foster is 90 and likes to sail away from safe harbors and catch the trade winds in her sails.