Star Trek the Tour: Is it for You?

While on vacation in southern California last week I attended "Star Trek The Tour" . Now I have to give you some background on myself. I am not the most rabid of Star Trek fans. Yes I am a tech-no Geek, and I do love Star Trek and truly believe Gene Roddenberry was a genius. But I don't reach the outer limits of Trek fandom craziness. Let me state for the record I have never dressed up as a Star Trek character. But I digress, You want to know about the show. On a scale of one to ten for the RABID Star Trek fans who absolutely love Star Trek this is an 11 must see. Imagine 50,000 square feet of Star Trek memorabilia. I'm not talking about all the stuff you can see everywhere (lunch pails, figurines, DVD's etc.) I mean the real stuff. Real live costumes props and sets. Also the producers of the show have given the attendees the opportunity to get their pictures taken (for a fee) in the real captain's seat of a re-creation of the original Star Trek set. One funny thing that happened while I was in line to get my picture taken on this set. A friend and I waited for the better part of an hour to get to the front of the line, and just as we are about to get our turn on the set they had to shut down the attraction. Due to a water leak. Yes captain Kirk's chair, the holly grail for all trekker's was getting wet. You see the the show takes place in Long Beach CA. In a gigantic geodesic dome that was built originally to house the Howard Hughes Flying boat the Spruce Goose. The problem is, that was quite a wile ago and the goose is gone and the dome has seen better times. Now the giant dome has developed...well this is really sad....leaks. Yes captain Kirk's chair was getting wet from a hole in the roof and had to be protected from rain. This was not a great development, but I can understand that some things that can't be helped but.. What are the chances that my one shot at Star Trek nirvana (to actually sit in the very chair that William Shatner is seen in in all of the classic episodes of my favorite Sci-Fi show.) To have the opportunity taken from me by of all things: a leaky roof.

Lets talk about who should go and is it worth 35 bucks to see this thing. If you go during the week tickets cost $30.00, so if your are on the fence you can save some money going during a weekday. For me It was just worth it. I love Star Trek but, I guess, I expected more. Now for those who absolutely live and breathe all things Star Trek you must go to this show, it is the only place you will see a ton of the REAL Star Trek stuff in one place. One thing to know is that all derivations of the Star Trek phenomenon are represented. At the show you can see props and costumes from all the TV series and movies. Also the show has a snack bar with set pieces you can actually use to enjoy your treats. It also features several interactive exhibits : The original Star Trek bridge, your opportunity to act "In" an episode and have a DVD made of your performance, to name just two. All this stuff costs more and is kept track of via a Star Trek credit card that you are given when you first enter the show. At the end of the show you exit via a movie theater that you stand up in that vibrates and shakes in time with the spinning video screen that is overhead. (Very geeky! but fun) After that you have a chance to buy some Star Trek stuff in an "Official" Star Trek store.

This show is for the most rabid of fans. Star Trek the tour will be in Long Beach until March 2, 2008 Then It will be on the road for five years taking in 40 cities. For more information visit the website at : www.startrek.com So if you are a very huge fan go to the show. If you aren't save the money for tickets (and the $15.00 to park) and stay home and watch an episode on TV instead.