IT’S OFFICIALLY AUTUMN HERE in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where FX Express Publications, Inc., makes its home. I have to admit — fall is my favorite season, and one I prefer to enjoy closer to home. Not to say it’s not a wonderful time of the year to experience other worldwide destinations, but the sight of brightly colored leaves outside my office window, signs for hayrides and apple picking and a slew of local festivals remind me of just how special our own little part of the world is, as well.

While I will be staying close to home for some of the season, I’ve recently been finalizing details for a surprise trip to Spain early next month. I was fortunate to win the airfare and hotel stay — the hardest part of the entire process was choosing where, as Spain is a country I’ve been lucky to visit several times and one I love. Always keen to visit a new place, I opted for Valencia, where I look forward to getting hands-on during a paella cooking class. Exploring a bit more of the culture through a cooking class took me back to my May trip to Panama, where I tried my hand at bracelet making with a Panamanian tribeswoman. Unique opportunities like these cannot be experienced from home. Finding the balance between discovering your own hometown and exploring new peoples, places and cultures is key.

And, of course, we’re always looking ahead. I’ve recently put the final touches on the 2019 editorial calendar for Global Traveler, and I’m really looking forward to the journey we’ll go on together next year. A complete redesign of trazeetravel.com is upcoming, and I hope readers will be as thrilled as I am about the web publication’s new look. It is eye-catching and visually different.

But where will this issue take us? After we get to know Jumeirah International and Turkish Airlines a bit better, we take off around the globe to Las Vegas, Abu Dhabi, Norway, Russia, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Hawai’i, Beverly Hills and Riyadh. Come aboard next month as we debut our first-ever Cruising Issue!