Melissa Etheridge [ tickets ], who has been working on a new album that she hopes to release later this year, is making plans to spend part of her summer on the road.

Etheridge has lined up a batch of July and August stops, and is expected to add more dates to the outing. Etheridge's official fan club is offering members a shot at purchasing preferred-seating tickets to some shows.

The club is also offering two high-end travel packages for the tour, one of which is set in Northern California, and the other in New England. The $1,000-plus packages include five days/four nights lodging; reserved tickets to two concerts, with seats set in the first few rows; and a meet-and-greet with Etheridge. Details are posted at Etheridge's site.

"Skin," Etheridge's most-recent studio album, surfaced in July of 2001. Last November, she released a concert DVD titled "Live ... and Alone," which captures her two-hour, 22-song performance at Hollywood's Kodak Theater on Dec. 8, 2001, part of her solo-acoustic tour in support of "Skin."

Etheridge is currently recording her eighth studio album. During an online chat last week, she told fans: "I hope the album comes out in the fall and I will definitely do a full on tour to support it."