the Official Blog of the Unofficial Guides

The Holy Land Experience — An entirely different kind of theme park The Holy Land Experience is a re-creation of biblical-era Israel by way of evangelical Christianity. Don’t expect a Jehovah Coaster or Red Sea Flume, though—this park is only for thrills of the spiritual kind. The Holy Land Experience has more in common with passive attractions like Gatorland than with

Diagon Alley — A Dream Come True for every Harry Potter Fan When Universal Studios Florida (USF) opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure (IOA), it created a paradigm shift in the Disney–Universal theme park rivalry. Not only did Universal trot out some groundbreaking ride technology, but it also demonstrated that it could trump Disney’s most distinctive competence: the creation of

To find the sort of souvenirs you take home for the family, you can combine your sightseeing with your shopping. Some of Washington’s greatest finds are in its museum gift shops. A museum’s orientation is a good guide to its shop’s merchandise: prints, art-design ties, and art books fill the National Gallery of Art shop; model airplanes and other toys of flight are on sale at

Arrival Day at Walt Disney World Tips by Liliane Opsomer, coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids You reach Walt Disney World after a long day of travel and lots of anticipation. There is plenty to do on arrival day at Walt Disney World, but using a pricey park ticket right away is not the best idea. Most families have

Aria Resort and Casino — The showpiece of CityCenter! Just as Aria ascends to its placement in the Las Vegas skyline, the name derives from an elaborate melody for a single voice rising musically. The 61-story imposing and graceful curved-glass hotel includes 4,004 rooms, an 1,800-seat showroom, 9 bars and lounges, 16 restaurants, a spa and salon, shopping arcade, pool deck,