An enchanting, illustrated guide to the world's most magical places, from fairy tale forests to haunted houses, from the author of Practical Magic. Magical Places is for armchair-voyagers and pilgrimage-makers alike. This beautiful volume will take readers on a charmed journey around the world, dipping into some of the most storied destinations in the farthest flung corners of the globe. With chapters like Places of Healing, Haunted Places, Magic in Nature, Fairy Tale Locales, The Past in the Present, and Ley Lines -- the arcing lines that traverse the planet, where magical phenomena frequently occur -- wanderlust is sure to be stoked for frequent travelers and the magic curious alike. With an eye towards the mystical, Magical Places will explore well-known sites like Stonehenge and Uluru, as well as lesser-known destinations like The Knucker Hole in England, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye, and the pink lakes Retba in Senegal and Hillier in Australia. Many of these sites will be accompanied by sacred rituals, mystical incantations, and more inspired by the energy and history of these magical locations. Featuring beautiful illustrations with a smattering of lush, full-color photography, this book will entice readers who long for adventure and enchantment in the world, who want to visit or at least learn about places where magic is real -- or once was.

How the brain helps us to understand and navigate space—and why, sometimes, it doesn’t work the way it should. Inside our heads we carry around an infinite and endlessly unfolding map of the world. Navigation is one of the most ancient neural abilities we have—older than language. In Dark and Magical Places, Christopher Kemp embarks on a journey to discover the remarkable extent of what our minds can do. Fueled by his own spatial shortcomings, Kemp describes the brain regions that orient us in space and the specialized neurons that do it. Place cells. Grid cells. He examines how the brain plans routes, recognizes landmarks, and makes sure we leave a room through a door instead of trying to leave through a painting. From the secrets of supernavigators like the indigenous hunters of the Bolivian rainforest to the confusing environments inhabited by people with place blindness, Kemp charts the myriad ways in which we find our way and explains the cutting-edge neuroscience behind them. How did Neanderthals navigate? Why do even seasoned hikers stray from the trail? What spatial skills do we inherit from our parents? How can smartphones and our reliance on GPS devices impact our brains? In engaging, engrossing language, Kemp unravels the mysteries of navigating and links the brain’s complex functions to the effects that diseases like Alzheimer’s, types of amnesia, and traumatic brain injuries have on our perception of the world around us. A book for anyone who has ever felt compelled to venture off the beaten path, Dark and Magical Places is a stirring reminder of the beauty in losing yourself to your surroundings. And the beauty in understanding how our brains can guide us home.

From a lost city in the desert to a cave alight with thousands of glowworms, learn about some of the most unusual places on earth and the myths, legends, and history behind each of them! Looking at places like The Skeleton Coast in Namibia, Wizard Island in the United States, and The Fairy Tale Route in Germany, The Dark Hedges and Other Magical Places that Really Exist takes young readers on a journey around the world to real places that sound straight out of fantasy. Featuring both natural and man-made wonders, this travel book combines history and storytelling to explore the far reaches of the earth.

Explore the many places and characters of the Harry Potter films through the magic of color. From the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall at Hogwarts to the garish tones of the Dursley's living room, this deluxe coloring book is filled with intricate images that bring fan-favorite wizarding locales to life. With pages of designs inspired by the characters themselves, this coloring book has something for every Harry Potter fan.

Discover the creatures of the wizarding world in stunning 3D scenes. Revisit the magic of Harry Potter through four intricate, multilayer dioramas that capture beloved moments from the films. From Harry's pulse-pounding battle with the Hungarian Horntail dragon to his encounter with Thestrals in the Forbidden Forest, each pop-up is laser die-cut for precision and gorgeously detailed. Every scene is followed by essential information about the creatures and fun, behind-the-scenes facts from the films. Designed to thrill both seasoned Harry Potter fans and younger children, this volume is a treasured keepsake for the whole family.

Discover the magical places of the Harry Potter films in one-of-a-kind 3-D scenes. Revisit the magic of Harry Potter through four intricate, multilayered dioramas that capture beloved locations from the films. From Hogwarts to Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and the Ministry of Magic, each paper scene is laser die-cut for precision and gorgeously detailed. Every scene is accompanied by essential information about these magical places and fun, behind-the-scenes facts from the films. Designed to thrill both seasoned Harry Potter fans and younger children, this volume is a treasured keepsake for the whole family.