Marilyn Foster: New year brings new travel adventures

As we look to the new year, I can’t help but to look back over my life and reflect on the many wondrous things that have occurred and how lucky I was to have traveled the world over with my husband and my sister and so many wonderful people from our region.

I was born and raised in the small town of Schuyler, Neb., the seventh child of 14, and never imagined I would someday see the world. My family was poor, so travel was limited.

My first trip away from Nebraska was at age 13 to visit my older sister in San Francisco and when I “grew up” and graduated from high school, it was off to San Francisco that I went to seek a new life, a new job, and eventually a husband.

My love for travel and new places was born when my husband Paul took me on my first big adventure to Hawaii that was to become our holiday trip for nine years. I’ve been asked of all the places I’ve had the pleasure of visiting what place is my favorite. To this day, I never hesitate touting Paris as my favorite international city and Washington, D.C., and the surrounding region as my favorite domestic destination although NYC is right up there!

I have traveled with the Carson City Chamber Travel Club since 2010 and oh what many wonderful adventures I have had and what places I have seen. From Cuba to India and Vietnam (where I spent my 90th birthday) to just about every European country and lots of places in between.

Last year, so many of the travelers in our region got to experience the essence of Thailand, the colors of Morocco, the legends of Ireland, the kingdoms of Southeast Asia, Canadian Rockies by train, the wilderness of Africa, and more on 23 amazing trips organized by the chamber.

In 2024, we’ll enjoy a visit to our most famous national parks as we tour America’s cowboy country. We’ll enjoy and stay on romantic Greek Islands, and tour Icelandic caves. World War II historians will experience how our brave soldiers traveled from London to France to fight for world freedom.

The historical Greenbrier Hotel will be our home away from home for two nights on an Americana history tour beginning and ending in Washington. And, there’s many more tours to ponder if you wish to see, taste, and try new things in 2025 by checking out the Travel Club website https://carsoncitychamber.com/spotlight/details/chamber_travel_club.

As the famous photographer Harvey Lloyd has written, “Travel is like an endless university. You never stop learning.” I have learned so much and met so many wonderful like-minded people as will you when you experience a wonderful group trip where everything is taken care of for you. Group travel is safe, and you’ll experience travel opportunities not easily experienced on your own.

I’ll end with the proverb, “Don’t listen to what they say, go see!” And there is so much to see everywhere to give you a new perspective and to create memories for a lifetime. Don’t ponder too long, for tours sell out quickly. Make 2024 your year to travel while the spirit moves you and the body still can.