Ten Travel Destinations Every Scientist Should Visit
It feels as though summer is just around the corner and many of us will be starting to think about planning a vacation. We all have our favourite destinations, whether it’s a country, a city, a beach or a cottage in the middle of nowhere, and as busy scientists with heavy workloads, an escape from the lab is important once in a while to maintain productivity and look after our mental health.
If you’re a scientist seeking some travel inspiration this summer, we’ve got some great suggestions for you. Whether you want to dig deeper into your passion for palaeontology, take a peek into a Nobel Prize winner’s lab, or simply reach for the stars, this list has something for every scientist!
We’ve picked out 10 exciting science-themed travel destinations to give you a few ideas when planning your next vacation!
1. Marie Curie’s Laboratory - Paris, France
If you’re heading to the French capital this summer to catch some of the 2024 Olympic Games, be sure to set aside time to visit the Musée Curie. This small but fascinating museum was established in 1934 in the building that housed Marie Curie’s laboratory where she worked from 1914 to 1934. The museum contains numerous exhibits which celebrate and commemorate the great lady and her research achievements, including handwritten notes, photographs, tools and equipment. Visitors can view the office and laboratory where she worked for many years, and best of all, admission is completely free!
Location: 1 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
More info: https://musee.curie.fr/
2. CERN Physics Facility - Geneva, Switzerland
For a unique insight into some of the world’s greatest advancements in particle physics, make Switzerland your next holiday destination and be sure to include a day trip to the CERN Physics Facility in Geneva. Visitors can catch a glimpse behind the scenes of some incredible technological advancements as they are shown around by physicists, engineers and students who lead the guided tours. Get a close-up look at CERN’s first accelerator, the synchrocyclotron, reconstructions of work at CERN in the 1950s, and a glimpse inside the control centre of the ATLAS experiment which discovered the Higgs boson! The visitor centre also hosts film screenings, workshops and science shows as well as numerous exhibits and hands-on experiments to try.
Location: 1, Esplanade des Particules, 1217 Meyrin, Switzerland
More info: https://visit.cern/
3. The Golden Circle - Reykjavik, Iceland
If your ideal vacation needs to include fresh air, stunning scenery and scientific sights of the natural world, the Golden Circle in Iceland is a must-see for you! Situated just beyond Reykjavik, this area of natural wonder includes geysers, hot springs, waterfalls and much more, with key sights being the Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall. For a deeper dive into geothermal and volcanic science, be sure to visit Reykjavik’s Perlan Museum where you can learn more about geothermal energy, glaciers, ice caves, earthquakes and volcanic activity. Visitors can sometimes even view the Northern Lights from Perlan’s observation deck!
Location: 190-mile circular route in the south-west of Iceland
More info: https://guidetoiceland.is/best-of-iceland/top-9-detours-on-the-golden-circle
4. Dinosaur Quarry - Utah, USA
For fans of palaeontology and the science of fossil preservation, there are few greater places to visit in the world than the Dinosaur National Monument in Utah, USA, home of the world famous Dinosaur Quarry. Covering over 850 square kilometres of land, the monument contains over 800 paleontological sites and has fossils of various dinosaurs including Allosaurus, Abydosaurus, Deinonychus and a variety of sauropods. Visitors to the Quarry Exhibit Hall can view the incredible ‘Wall of Bones’ which contains more than 1,500 dinosaur bones, and can even get fully hands-on with 150 million year old fossils. The Yampa River laboratory within the monument is a hub for research and the monitoring of natural systems in the surrounding area, making it a fascinating destination for anyone with a passion for geology.
Location: Price, UT 84501, United States
More info: https://www.nps.gov/dino/index.htm
5. The Nobel Prize Museum - Stockholm, Sweden
Located in the heart of Sweden’s capital, the Nobel Prize Museum is home to fascinating exhibits and artefacts which tell the story of the world’s most prestigious prize and the achievements of some of its most notable winners. With in-depth displays focused on the cosmos, human nature, and the ingredients of life, it’s an inspirational place to spend an afternoon in Stockholm. Visit in the evening and you can catch lectures, guest talks and panel discussions featuring experts from around the world. The museum also houses a library of more than 6,000 books, and runs the popular ‘Help A Scientist’ project which connects researchers with schools and colleges to get students involved in real-life research work.
Location: Stortorget 2, 11129 Stockholm, Sweden
More info: https://www.visitstockholm.com/o/the-nobel-museum/
6. Galápagos Islands - Ecuador
Walk in the footsteps of the great naturalist Charles Darwin with a trip to Ecuador and witness the rich ecosystem of the stunning Galápagos Islands. A location that inspired Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, the unique islands are situated in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and are the meeting point for three ocean currents, creating crystal-clear water and fostering a rich marine ecosystem. Visitors to the islands can see rare animals such as the famous giant tortoise in their natural habitats, and explore forests, deserts, beaches, mangroves and wildlife sanctuaries. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station which houses an exhibition hall and huge collections showcasing over 60 years of scientific research and environmental education on the islands.
Location: Av. Charles Darwin s/n, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador
More info: https://www.darwinfoundation.org/en/about/our-campus/
7. Bletchley Park - Milton Keynes, UK
If you’re spending time in the UK this year, why not consider a day trip to the historic Bletchley Park site in Milton Keynes. This stunning Victorian mansion was the base for the UK’s main codebreaking team during World War II, whose work was considered vital to the Allied victory in 1945. For any scientist with a passion for mathematics, cryptography, statistical analysis and unique engineering advancements, a visit to the park is a must to learn more about the incredible work that took place and the groundbreaking techniques used. With interactive displays, immersive films, recreations of WWII work rooms and much more, there’s lots to see inside this extraordinary building. Just 40 minutes by train from central London, it’s a fascinating place to spend a day.
Location: Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB
More info: https://bletchleypark.org.uk/
8. Nikola Tesla Museum - Belgrade, Serbia
For any scientist visiting Belgrade in Serbia, the Nikola Tesla Museum is a must-see stop on your tour of the capital city. The building is not only filled with fascinating artefacts and displays about the inventor and his work, it also serves as a memorial to the great man, with his ashes resting in an urn on a stone pedestal within the building. A guided tour of the museum includes spectacular demonstrations of some of his various inventions including the Tesla coil, motors, and remote control devices. To complete a science-themed day in Belgrade, just 30-minutes walk away is the Museum of Science and Technology which showcases Serbia’s achievements in science, medicine and technology through interactive exhibits.
Location: Krunska 51, Beograd 11000, Serbia
More info: https://tesla-museum.org/en/home/
9. Kennedy Space Center - Florida, USA
To learn more about the science behind space travel, take a trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center which houses one of the biggest collections of space exhibits, spacecraft and memorabilia in the world. Located near to NASA’s main launch site and extensive research facilities, the visitor’s centre is an inspirational place from which you might even see a live launch if the timing is right. The many exhibits at the centre showcase the technology of current space programs, and offer a glimpse into future scientific innovations and advancements. You can also explore the great Space Shuttle Atlantis, and get hands-on with a full-scale mock-up of the Hubble Space Telescope.
Location: Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953, United States
More info: https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
10. Space tours
And finally... if the Kennedy Space Center doesn’t quite fulfil your inner astronaut's aspirations, how about a vacation that’s truly out of this world! Space tourism has been a concept of the future for many decades, but those with enough in the bank can now book their trip into the great expanse with numerous companies offering recreational trips to the Kármán Line and beyond. Orbital and shorter sub-orbital trips are becoming reality, with US and Russian based companies now selling tickets for these extraordinary experiences, albeit at eye-watering prices. While this type of vacation may be beyond most people’s budgets for now, who knows what might be possible in 10 years time? Shoot for the moon!
Location: The Kármán Line, 100 kilometers above sea level
More info: https://www.space.com/tag/space-tourism
More Top Tens on the Hello Bio blog
For more of our top 10 recommendations, take a look at some of these great articles on the Hello Bio blog:
- Ten Science Books You Need To Read
- Ten Scientists to Follow on TikTok
- Ten Funny Science Songs You Need To Hear
- Ten LGBTQ+ Scientists You Should Know About
- Ten Inspiring Neuroscientists to Follow on LinkedIn
- Ten Inspiring Women in Science History
- Ten Science Poems You Need To Read
________________________________
If you enjoyed this article, why not check out the other resources available on our blog. We are passionate about supporting life scientists including early career life scientists and PhD students - with really low-priced reagents, antibodies and biochemicals, early career scientist grants, and resources to help with both personal and professional development. We know how tough it is - so we hope you find these helpful!
More General Support for Life Scientists
For advice on wellbeing, dissertations, presenting at conferences, wellbeing, PhD support, networking and lots more, we have a huge range of articles to help - just click below:
Save up to 50% on our high purity reagents...
When you get to the stage of planning your experiments, don't forget that we offer a range of low-cost, high-purity agonists, antagonists, inhibitors, activators, antibodies and fluorescent tools (yes - they really are around half the price of other suppliers!) You can use our Quick Multi-Search Tool to search for lots of products in one go, and the range includes:
- Enzyme inhibitors and activators
- Chemogenetic ligands
- Ion channel modulators
- GPCR & ionotropic receptor ligands
- Cell biology reagents & biochemicals
Technical resources
Try our Molarity Calculator: a quick and easy way to calculate the mass, volume or concentration required for making a solution.
Try our Dilution Calculator: an easy way to work out how to dilute stock solutions of known concentrations
We also offer a comprehensive range of technical resources including antibody protocols and methods, product guides and mini-reviews:
And finally, don't forget to check back in with our blog regularly for our latest articles. If there’s something you’d love to contribute to the community, whether that’s an interview or article, drop us a line at hello@hellobio.com
---
