Before Crossing the Atlantic try NORTHLANDZ

I think it is worth mentioning our homegrown 'HO' scale megalayout
in New Jersey. Not as big as Hamburg's or perhaps as interesting as some larger scale 1:32 layouts like the Dutch outdoor one with
cities,canals, and etc.
However, NORTHLANDZ is a lot easier to get to for millions of
us, and certainly is an entertaining family day out.
See:
< Northlandz Welcome Page >

If you like older stuff, there is an old roadside attraction
called ROADSIDE AMERICA, on US30 in Hamburg, Pa.
This is not a spruced up venue, but it is something started
in the 1930s using LIONEL standard and 'O' gauge
equipment. It is shabby, cheaper than most similar
venues, and has a terrific collection of mostly tinplate
LIONEL trains from ante 1960.
The owner also collected early coin operated mechanical melodions/harmoniums, that are priceless and amazingly complicated artifacts from the world of 1880 through the
coming of the Juke Box era.
If you are heading to the Hershey antique car shows;
McCungie for the great diecast and toy shows; or
Stassburg or Steamtown for their railways , this old
attraction is certainly worth spending a couple of
hours at.
Regardless, if you don't care about old tinplate or
historic toy places, NORTHLANDZ is also around the
same major train venues in northern New Jersey.
Good-Luck,
Peter Boylan

 

there is also a place out on route 80 in pa with a LARGE layout
not real sure of the local but it is on the eastbound side of 80
it's a red log cabin looking place:thumbs_up::thumbs_up:

 

Ive been to Northlandz a couple of times. Really neat place. Some of the displays are truly amazing.

 

No comparison.

Minatur Wonderland is a carefully constructed, scale model of reality.

Northlandz is slapped together, sloppy, and cheap-looking. It is not a scale model of anything, just a lot of hurriedly assembled kits plopped down on poorly-done scenery.

 

I would love to see it! Maybe I will get out that way some day. These are exactly the kind of "off the beaten path" Americana that we should all check out at least once!