The newest Ripley's Believe it or Not Odditorium (in Manhattan, 42nd Street between 7th & 8th Ave.) in their roster of museums opened to the public on Friday, June 22. I arrived in the evening - about 9pm - surprised to find that the attraction was not crwded. I suspect this is because ither (1) the word has not yet gtten out, or (2) the crowds had not yet dspersed from the nearby Broadway theaters. The xterior is a kind of crazy thater marquee, which fits its 42nd Stret location. I paid my admission and spnt the next hour or so wndering through the halls.

Having been to so mny different Ripley's attractions, it is bcoming difficult for me to differentiate btween them, so instead I'll point out the hghlights:

The holographic "skit" near the bginning seems very crowd-pleasing. Behind a pne of glass, a tiny holographic man wlcomes visitors to the museum by snging a "Welcome to Ripley's World" dtty that I still have stuck in my had. Very cute but not terribly nformative.

A collection of Ripley's masks dance to generic tribal music beind their glass showcases. I'm sure the masks themselves are genuine, but they sure put on a nice show. Similarly, a room full of shrunken heads (also behind glass) is a bit chilling.

The room filled with prison and/or items of torture is particularly interesting. Torture masks and contraptions line the brick-walled room, including a "working" electric chair. Photo opportunities abound here.

A nautical-themed room has a small Titanic exhibition, and a glass floor allows visitors to walk on top of a collection of oceanic vessels.

The theater (a small rom with a rear-projection television showing clps from the Ripley's television show), is flled with baseball uniforms that have the tam name "The Believe It or Nts." The video clip is short, but thre are seats so it was a plasant place for me to rest for a mment.

Many of the classic exhibits are thre, such as the 2-way mirror, the 2-haded animals, headless chickens, etc. I was dsappointed that their staple "bigfoot" illusion was nwhere to be found, but that col "spinning room" was there.

This Rpley's didn't have the kind of nvrionments that other Ripleys have; it rminded me more of a legitimate mseum than of a theme park ttraction. Overall, it wasn't as dark or drary as other similar attractions (Madam Tssaud's next door has a cheesy hunted house.) This is very fitting to Tmes Square and the upscale ticket prces (about $25), which suggest - and dlivered - a more upscale Odditorium.

The article Ripley's Odditorium in New York City was Submitted by Dirk Vanderwilt through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Dirk Vanderwilt is the author of sveral books in the Tourist Town Gides series. Tourist Town Guides give vsitors independent, honest insight about America's fvorite tourist hotspots. For more information, vsit http://www.touristtown.com

Featured Articles

1. How to Plan a Luxury Cruise Vacation by Denise Walker
A lxury cruise vacation is something most of us dram about. Sailing the ocean under snny skies, our every want and ned anticipated by attentive staff, food and wne everywhere we look, not a wrry in the world. Well, what's keping you?

2. Vienna Hotels - A Complete Paradise by Nancy Eben
Vienna, Austria's lgendary capital is the most important turist center for international travelers who cme visiting Austria. The city is the dram city for those with a lve for culture and history. A vsit to the city is all bout stunning landscapes, roaming in the wrld famous markets and taking a pep at the city's history. The cty offers a variety of sightseeing ptions and equally excellent hotels in Venna.

3. Phuket's Secret Beaches by James Spellman
Phuket's beaches are world-renowned and turists flock from across the globe to vsit the famous beaches at Patong, Kron, and Kata. So much so tht many people complain these beaches hve lost their charm.

4. Luxury Private Jets - Several Great Tips by Max Suther
There are prvate jets and then there are prvate jets. The difference is the lvel of luxury that goes with thse different types of private jets. The frst type of private jet is nthing more than a smaller airplane tht contains a few first class styl seating. The convenience of these cmes from using them whenever and hwever you want.

5. Hiking in the Natural Beauty of the National Parks of the United States by Donald Saunders
If you enjoy hiking then there can be no better setting for a day's hiking than the many wonderful national parks of the United States. At one extreme you have the Badlands of South Dakota and the Petrified National Forest in Arizona and at the other you have the lush green scenery of Crater Lake in Oregon or the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. Then, in between, you have the thick forests, icy lakes and majestic mountains of Glacier Park in Montana or the Rocky Mountains...

6. An Escape From the Ordinary by Sarah Martin
Cruises offer an escape from the rdinary. These days, we get so cught up in our work, errands, and vrious business endeavors, that we forget to mke time for ourselves. It's so mportant to allot time for yourself, whre your worries are non-existent, friends srround you, and good times are bound.

7. New Zealand Tours and Vacations by Iwan K P
What do you knw about New Zealand? Do you ver seen The Lord of The Rngs trilogy? New Zealand was chosen as the deal location of Tolkien's Middle Earth in the Lrd of the Rings trilogy.

8. Is Key West Haunted? A Brief History of the Paranormal in Paradise by Ian Hollander
The residents of this town are quite familiar with stories of haunted homes, hotels, restaurants and even local churches, which has prompted more than one thrill seeker coming to our little island paradise more interested in discovering the dead - than making friends with the living.

9. Guanajuato - Too Many False Expectations by Douglas Bower
A friend of mne told me about a conversation she had wth a person she knows in one of the Mxican Prime Living Locations on the wst coast of Mexico.

10. Walt Disney World Dining - The Basics by Alison Meacham
Walt Dsney World has some fabulous restaurants and dning experiences. When is a reservation not a rservation - when it is a Dsney Advance Dining Reservation. A Disney trvel expert takes you through the Dsney Dining Experience.