Photo credit: Rene Adamos
Not all travelers are in search of white sand beaches, panoramic ocean views, and the seven wonders of the world. Instead, they're snapping photos in front of Google's headquarters, searching for the birthplace of Microsoft, and roaming the campuses of some of the world's most renowned tech universities. Traveling isn't just reserved for beachcombers and mountain climbers, and these high-tech cities are ones every geek, nerd, and gadget junkie should visit in 2017.
Dublin, Ireland
While many travel to Dublin for the perfect pint of Guinness, others are visiting to experience a European city that's in the midst of a major tech boom. As the home of the largest venture fund on the continent, Enterprise Ireland, the capital city is seeing companies like LinkedIn, Dropbox, and Facebook flock to its shores. And when you're finished gawking at the companies' international headquarters, you can wander Dublin's growing number of tech-driven office parks and explore the city's rich design culture.
Hong Kong, China
Few of the world's metropolises are promoting city-wide innovation more than Hong Kong. The "Pearl of the Orient" is one of the world's largest exporters of digital technologies and consumer electronics, with more than 600 major players in the tech industry at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) alone. Hong Kong is home to some of the fastest internet speeds in a country known as one of the world's greatest superpowers, which means you'll have no problem Googling all of the tech sites you want to see when you arrive.
Vancouver, Canada
Quickly becoming known as Silicon Valley North, Vancouver is one of the top cities for startups in North America. The British Columbian city's Green Capital initiative means many of those startups are striving to create green energy and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. However, travelers interested in the latest smartphone applications, e-commerce companies, cloud computing and gaming (think EA Canada and United Front Games) will find that this city is well-versed in all types of tech.
Seoul, South Korea
Often regarded as the City of the Future and one of the world's new favorite travel destinations, Seoul shines 24 hours a day with beaming electronic advertising screens and twinkling skyscraper lights. The Seoul Metropolitan Subway -- complete with its own subway app, screens offering real-time train updates, and onboard WiFi among other state-of-the-art perks -- connects locals and travelers with all of the tech-inspired sites they want to see. As the home of the world's first virtual supermarket, there's no doubt Seoul Special City will be at the forefront of every tech boom.
San Francisco, United States
There's only one true Silicon Valley, and it's located in California's southern San Francisco Bay Area. Home to Stanford University and a long list of the world's most prominent high-tech corporations, including Google, Facebook, HP Inc., Yahoo!, Apple Inc., and Tesla Motors, it will be difficult for any tech city in the world to rival San Francisco anytime soon. Tech-loving visitors won't want to miss a visit to the legendary HP Garage, known as the "Birthplace of Silicon Valley," as well as IBM's Almaden Research Lab, Apple's company store, The Intel Museum, and the other-worldly NASA Ames Research Center. Every geek, nerd, and self-described tech junkie will feel at home in the heart of Silicon Valley.