Summary
Visiting another planet in theStar Trekuniverse isn’t always about mandatory assignments or diplomatic missions. The future also has tourists, and imagine having a whole galaxy to explore that also includes moons, meteors, and other alien ships — in addition to other planets.
The best vacation places in the galaxy follow the same templates as those on Earth. There are whole planets built as amusement parks, while other places with ideal environments pander to tourists with various kinds of entertainment, culture, nightlife, and cuisine. All of these planets are nice for temporary visits, but even the most adventurous traveler might think twice before moving there.
7Wrigley’s Pleasure Planet
A Futuristic Pleasure Island
Wrigley’s Pleasure Planet has never appeared on screen, at least not yet,but it’s referenced inalmost every series and has been used as a setting in several novels and comic books. In one of them, “The Survival Equation,” the proprietor of the planet is caught buying pleasure Androids from the notorious Harry Mudd. In the first official episode ofStar Trek: The Original Series, “The Man Trap,” an unlucky crewman named Darnell is lured to his death by a monster disguised as a girl he met on Wrigley’s.
The planet itself is described as one big amusement park, with constant music, mayhem, and entertainment to be had, mostly of an adult nature. It’s not for everyone, but those who like to party hard would appreciate it.
6Beta Omicron Delta III
Nicknamed “The Amusement Park Planet”
In theStar Trek: TOSepisode “Shore Leave,” the crew of the Enterprise stumbles upona planet that appears to besome kind of paradise, but when they start to explore it, strange, shocking, and dangerous things start to happen. Before things go too far, however, a friendly alien appears to explain that the whole planet is an artificial construct, designed to respond to any need, desire, or dream of the visitors.
The episode “Once Upon A Planet” fromStar Trek: The Animated Seriesincludes more details about the construction and operation of the Amusement Park Planet, and it includes a series of underground passages that allow for the transportation of rides and robots. Since it’s literally built only for vacations, it’s a nice place to visit, but it’s not possible to live there.
5Earth
A Planet Of Wondrous Variety
The locals call it Earth, and the ancients called it Gaia, but throughout the galaxy, the headquarters of the United Federation of Planets is also known as Terra or Sol III. Its climate varies wildly due to its uneven shape, tilting rotation, and the distance from the vibrant yellow sun around which it rotates, which means there’ssomething here for people from all over the galaxy.
People travel here for business and pleasure, including various students, teachers, and diplomats from all over the Alpha and Beta quadrants. This is where Starfleet Academy is located, so anyone aspiring for an assignment in the stars with the Federation has to visit Earth sooner or later. The great thing about this planet is that it’s just as great for long-term stays as it is for shorter vacays.
4Ardana
The Home Of The Cloud Minders
When the crew of the Enterprise first visited Ardana, it was on the verge of a civil war. Even then, however, Kirk and Spock were impressed by the capital city of Stratos, which was famous throughout the galaxy for its art and design.
The surface of the planet is a less appealing landscape, suitable only for mining zenite, which couldn’t be found anywhere else and was the source of most of the planet’s wealth. There are a few cities on the surface, but visitors would prefer the city in the clouds — unless they like rock climbing or desert hiking.
3Vulcan
Arid, Scenic, And Peaceful
For those who enjoy a warm, arid climate with impressive views, the art of meditation,and a steady diet of vegan cuisine, Vulcan would be a paradise. This is the planet to visit when that novel needs to get finished or someone wants to get back into shape, so for travelers who like to integrate wellness and self-care into their travels, this is the perfect destination.
Vulcan is an ancient planet, and the Vulcan people have a long memory, so depending on the timeline or period, visitors to this planet might also call it Ni’Var, T’Khasi, or Minshara. The various cities, especially the capital of ShiKahr, have every modern amenity for every tourist’s needs, along with impressive museums and libraries.
2Risa
A Planetary Paradise
By the timeThe Next Generationaired, another more mainstream vacation spot was invented to replace the obscure Wrigley’s, which was more about brief stints of shore leave than serious, long-term vacations. The environment was originally a paradise,but the technology usedto regulate the climate for tourists eventually made the planet unstable.
Risa was always one of the most popular tourist destinations for travelers in both the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, hosting up to a billion tourists annually, and is located only 93 light years away fromDeep Space 9. Almost every series makes at least a few episodes set in this beautiful and hedonistic environment, with theStar Trek: The Next Generationepisode “Captain’s Holiday” being one of the most famous.
1Casperia Prime
“The Vacation Capital of the Horvian Cluster”
The hottest place for destination weddings in the era ofDeep Space NineandThe Next Generation, Jadzia Dax and Worf planned their honeymoon here, and this is where Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher spent their last weekend together before everyone’s favorite captain was called back to work early. Even the USS Cerritos made a stop here for a captain’s conference in theStar Trek Lower Decksepisode “Starbase 80?!”
The Starfleet Bureau of Information is responsible for the claim that Casperia Prime was the “vacation capital” of this corner of the galaxy. It was often compared to Risa and was famous for its natural landmarks, like waterfalls.
