o you like exploring countries overseas? When you get there, are you the adventurous type, seeking out unusual, offbeat things to see on your journeys? I wonder if, like me, you are fascinated by finding museums, or special attractions, that feature true-to-life designed toy models of ships, trains and planes – and just about everything in between?

If you answered YES each of the above, you'll find the Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg, Germany, a place you've got to visit. What they've got is so extraordinary they're in the Guinness Book of World Records. Among the immense array of sights you'll see inside this toy Wonderland structure, are 1,300 trains, 20,000 wagons and carriages, 6,000 bridges, 400, 000 people models, 10,000 cars, 330,000 trees, 250, 000 lights, 2,800 buildings – and the longest train stretches 46 feet! As of 2011, this eye catching, spectacular phenomenon had an equally amazing 13 miles of railroad track!

When I went there in 2007, one of their executives proudly told me, "This is the world's largest train set." Talk about understatement! He then added, "You're probably wondering how much space it takes in order for us to display all this – because it is vital to us, that we display everything in the most realistic – and appealing – way for our visitors, well," he said with a smile, "how about 19, 376 square feet." And plans are already underway to build it even bigger!

What makes this an awe-inspiring, irresistible tourist attraction, is that it encompasses miniature scenery and models so realistic, you're almost convinced they really ARE – just very small perfect replicas of everything. But then, just as suddenly, you appreciate that what you're looking at, is an extraordinary series of first class reproductions depicting life in various countries – and picturesque places around the world – and they're all small-scale reproductions. This "see-it-now-real-life-toy-model-travelogue" transports you to scintillating scenery in America, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Germany and the Austrian Alps – with lots more countries planned.

The American section opened in 2003, and showcases Las Vegas, including over 30, 000 lights, making this world famous American Icon, glitter as never before- there's also the Grand Canyon in all its majesty, Cape Canaveral, and a marvelous depiction of Mt. Rushmore, and the Florida Keys. In the Rocky Mountain section, you'll see the journey of a tree being felled, transported on the rails of a logging train, and a long water slide right down to the ever so sharp teeth of the sawmill. And how about this – if you look very carefully (and closely!) you'll see that the presidents' immortalized in Mt. Rushmore, look down on California – instead of South Dakota!

I wondered how such a gigantic human achievement came into being; what some of the initial problems were; and how it all came to fruition. Frederik Braun (one of visionaries who realized his dream in founding this toy wonderland) was visiting the Swiss city of Zurich, and passed by a toy model railroad shop. It reignited all his youthful dreams about model railways – and he phoned his twin brother Gerrit and told him – in July 2000 –"We're going to build the largest model railway in the world." Even though he was 41 years old at the time, his passion, enthusiasm and determination came through, and despite the fact that there were obstacles to overcome – such as financing, technical issues, a location to put it in and build it, plus the economics of it all – they KNEW they'd succeed.

If you miss this MUST SEE tourist attraction on Planet Earth, you've lost out on what I'd call the "The 8th Toy Model Wonder of the World." To find out everything you want to know about this remarkable location, go online to www.miniatur-wunderland.com.

The accompanying photos give you an idea of what wonders and "Toy Joys" are in store for you, in this marvelous and one-of-a-kind displays.

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Offbeat Germany; Small Town Germany; The Route of Bertha Benz: A German Wonder Woman; Berlin's Beautiful Bahnhof; Big City Germany; Augsburg