the Official Blog of the Unofficial Guides

Mall of America (MOA) is turning 25 this year! Beth Blair, author of The Unofficial Guide to Mall of America, tells us what’s new at the famous shopping mall. In celebration, Nickelodeon Universe is presenting a nightly nine-minute light show with strobe lights, music, and smoke effects. All year long, MOA will be holding special events, so keep an eye out for birthday

Located on Discovery Island, Tiffins is tucked behind the Pizzafari counter-service restaurant, on a walking path to the new land of Pandora. Inside, Tiffins is divided into three relatively small, quiet dining rooms: The Grand Gallery, the Safari Gallery, and the Trek Gallery, plus the Nomad Lounge bar. A wraparound porch, located behind the dining rooms, offers great outdoor seating. The decor is said to be inspired by

Covering 40 square miles, Walt Disney World is about the size of San Francisco, and while a third of the land is designated as conservation land, the Kingdom of the Mouse is impressive. Equally impressive are some of its fun facts. Here are five of our favorites. Mickey Mouse has more than 136 different sets of duds, ranging from a Jedi

Art enthusiasts know the Nation’s Capital is home to a bounty of world-class galleries. Renee Sklarew, coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C., shares with us her list of the best art museums in our nation’s capital. The National Gallery of Art Considered to be one of the finest art institutions in the world, the West Wing has the only DaVinci in

SeaWorld is a world-class theme park that combines unique opportunities to see live animals and their trainers, marine-life exhibits, and entertaining shows, along with the ability to experience thrill rides that aren’t just for the fish-and-whale crowd. Here are five must-see attractions at SeaWorld. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, at 4 acres, is the largest expansion