[ SUNDAY TRAVEL ]
Trekkies will love While wending my way through the impressively designed "Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton," I was taken by the "Star Trek" timeline of its various television series and movies, compiled by former Hawaii resident Michael Okuda and his wife Denise.
Vegas attraction
Ex-Hawaii residents compiled the
timeline at the Las Vegas Hilton's 'Experience'By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.comHe is the scenic art supervisor and technical consultant for "Star Trek." She is a video playback technician for the long-running TV franchise.
The Okudas, authors of the "Star Trek" encyclopedia and chronology books, have done quite a job juggling the numerous scenarios and characters that have populated this sci-fi world.
Okuda also worked on the design of the Las Vegas attraction. "The folks designing (it) were recreating some things from the show, notably the main bridge from Picard's Enterprise ... and they wanted me (and others who'd worked on the show) to ensure that their version was as accurate as possible," he said.
With more than 200 items, the History of the Future museum is the largest permanent collection of "Star Trek" props and costumes in the world.
After taking in the displays, you and your group are "transported" to the 24th century, with the able assistance of actors playing Federation officers to help move the story along.
From a mission film briefing with Capt. Picard (Patrick Stewart), Commander Riker (Jon-athan Frankes) and Lt. Geordi LaForge (LeVar Burton), we take a turbo lift to the shuttle bay, where we board a shuttlecraft and take off on a high-speed trip through space and time, wildly dodging Klingon warships, barely escaping combat zones.
The motion simulator shuttlecraft ride back to present-day Vegas is one of the best, as you bump and twist and accelerate through the galaxies. I must admit, I screamed out "THIS IS GREAT!!" to no one in particular as we warped our way through a wormhole.
There's a Deep Space Nine Promenade afterward where visitors can purchase "Star Trek" merchandise, dine at Quark's Bar and Restaurant and even strike a pose with a staunch Klingon warrior or a friendly little Ferengi.
The attraction is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with an all-day admission pass of $24.99. Guests must be at least 42 inches tall to experience the attraction.
No admission is charged to enter Deep Space Nine Promenade, Quark's Bar & Restaurant or Deep Space Nine shops. For more information, call (888) GO BOLDLY (462-6535) or (702) 697-8700, or go online at www.startrekexp.com.