Geek getaways

'Best of' lists — By Bob Riel on June 29, 2009 at 7:20 am

If you’re looking for a getaway that will also satisfy your inner scientist, then Popular Science has just the solution. Proving that there are travel destinations out there for every taste and interest, the magazine recently came up with a list of eight “geek getaways” in the United States. Such as:

Vacation with Martian Experts – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory – Pasadena, Calif.

If you can’t go to Mars (and you probably can’t), JPL may be the next best thing. This historic lab is the hub for the nation’s latest Red Planet research. You’ll see the Space Flight Operations Facility, where scientists monitor current missions, a Space Simulator for virtual testing, and a Marscape, where prototype rovers practice maneuvers. JPL offers a free, two-day open house every May, but private tours (also free) can be arranged year-round if booked in advance.

Watch a Parking Garage Buckle - Earthquake Simulators – Buffalo, Reno and San Diego

Never seen a “shake table” shake? Visit these labs to witness the massive platforms, equipped with hydraulic actuators, simulate the force of the world’s most devastating earthquakes. Structural engineers test everything from bridges to million-pound parking garages, sometimes shaking structures for two months at a time.

Learn Real Crime-sleuthing Skills on a Corpse Farm - Body Farms – Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina

Ever wonder what happens to your body after you die? Forensic-anthropology labs at the University of Tennessee, Texas State University and Western Carolina University are the places to find out. These facilities feature “graveyards” ranging from a garage-size plot in North Carolina to an eventual 26-acre site in Texas, where scientists study donated bodies as they decay. You can’t tour the actual “de-comp” yards, but you can learn about the recovery of remains at crime scenes and disasters such as 9/11.

Check out the entire article for all eight recommendations.