Get Your Geek On

Geeks all over the galaxy are eagerly awaiting new “Star Wars” lands at both Disney’s Hollywood Studios^® and Disneyland. And Universal Studios, already popular with “Harry Potter” devotees, recently announced it will collaborate with video game giant Nintendo on new attractions. But you don't have to go to the theme parks to get your geek on. Here’s a list of AAA Rated^® hotels, restaurants and attractions across the country where Steve Jobs wannabes, fanboys and the like can let their geek flag fly.

EMP Museum
Seattle, Wash.

Seattle’s monorail cuts through this pop culture museum's stunning home, a futuristic mingling of materials that was designed by renowned architect Frank O. Gehry. While the AAA GEM^® attraction's exterior is certainly awe-inspiring, movie geeks will be picking their jaws up off the floor once they get inside. Multiple exhibition galleries showcase rare fantasy, horror and sci-fi film props, such as a goosebump-inducing facehugger from “Alien” and a steely-eyed “Terminator” robot. The expansive repository was started by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who opened another great draw for geeks in 2012, Seattle's Living Computer Museum.

Galactic Pizza
Minneapolis, Minn.

While the earth-conscious owners of this Lyn-Lake district pizzeria strive to use organic and locally sourced ingredients as well as recycled or biodegradable packaging, it's the spandex-clad delivery drivers who really set this joint apart. Dressed in superhero costumes, the lighthearted couriers transport the AAA Two Diamond's delicious pies to customers via electric cars. The dine-in experience is just as geektastic: you're given 3-D glasses to read the menu, and the small, colorful space is adorned with superhero art.

Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.
Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nev.

Immersing visitors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this high-tech, Stan Lee-approved attraction opened in 2016 and ties in with the storyline of “The Avengers” movies. A self-guiding mobile app leads you and the other “operatives in training” through S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network) headquarters, where interactive displays focus on everything from the effects gamma radiation has on DNA to the molecular makeup of Thor's hammer. The dazzling collection of costumes and props, which includes Captain America's uniform and shield as well as Iron Man's MK 45 suit, is sure to mesmerize both fans of the hugely successful film franchise and the comics that inspired them.