Gallery: The Bizarre World of Fake Vacation Destinations
Reiner Riedler01Austrian photographer Reiner Riedler's series Fake Holidays documents artificial travel destinations around the world. Here, families swim at indoor Tropical Islands just outside Berlin.
Reiner Riedler02At the Window of the World theme park in Shenzhen, China, a couple gets their photo taken in front of fake Egyptian pyramids.
Reiner Riedler03Entertainers, dressed as Polynesian dancers, take a break at the Vichy Aqua Park in Lithuania.
Reiner Riedler04Riedler first became interested in the topic when he saw people going to pop-up, temporary city beaches in Europe.
Reiner Riedler05After that, he discovered a robust, global business catering to the desire for an immediate getaway—no matter the integrity of the destination. Here, men chat at one of Dubai's indoor skiing halls.
Reiner Riedler06The indoor skiing halls in Dubai—a desert climate—even have ice caves.
Reiner Riedler07Over the course of several years Riedler traveled from his native Austria to countries such as Germany, Turkey, the United States, China, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.
Reiner Riedler08Sun lamps stand in for the tropics at Centerpark Bispingen in Germany.
Reiner Riedler09At the Titanic Resort Hotel in Turkey, guests can paddle up to a replica of the famous, doomed vessel.
Reiner Riedler10The Movie Park in Bottrop, Germany, has six different areas with replicas of film sets.
Reiner Riedler11A guest, clad as Superman, dives over a pool at the World of Wonder's Kremlin Palace in Turkey.
Reiner Riedler12Diners at Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas.
Reiner Riedler13The Star Trek Experience was a former attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton (it closed in 2008).
Reiner Riedler14Fake animals and a fake mudslide at the Window of the World theme park in Shenzhen, China.
Reiner Riedler15A cosplayer at a convention at the Yomiuri Land amusement park in Tokyo.
Reiner Riedler16Guests can gaze upon staged crucifixions at The Holy Land Experience, a Christian theme park, in Orlando, Florida.
Reiner Riedler17Also in Shenzhen is Minsk World, a theme park built around a Russian aircraft carrier from the 1970s that was bought by China in the 1990s.
Reiner Riedler18Tourists get their photo taken on one of the Minsk World battleships.
Reiner Riedler19The United States Capitol building and Mount Rushmore, seen at Window of the World in Shenzhen.
Reiner Riedler20Phantasialand, Germany's answer to Disney World, is a family-friendly resort with fantastical rides and parks.
Reiner Riedler21A historical Viking reenactment is staged at another cosplay festival, in Austria.
Reiner Riedler22Spectators marvel at a buffalo parade in a faux old timey western town, in Germany.
