If you're a fan of the Harry Potter books and/or movies, a visit to Universal Orlando's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter^™ is an emphatic MUST-GO. Here are 10 of my family's favorites after our visit to these fantastical parks.

1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey^™: We had no idea what this attraction was going to be ahead of time, so it was a terrific surprise to find this was a thrilling adventure. You'll find yourself soaring above the castle grounds and getting very close to a whole variety of magical creatures. Make sure you take the time to soak in all the details of the Hogwarts^™ corridors as you go through the queue.

2. Hogwarts^™ Express: Much tamer than Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey^™, you'll need a park-to-park ticket to ride the Hogwarts^™ Express but Harry Potter fans will recognize some of the experiences you'll encounter on the trip. King's Cross Station to Hogsmeade^™ Station is different than the reverse trip, so you'll want to ride it twice. Remember to look for the solid brick wall to get to Platform 9 ¾!

3. See a wand choose a wizard at Ollivanders^™: Go inside the famous wand shop and watch an Ollivanders^™ wandkeeper help pair a witch or wizard with their perfect wand. My son and daughter were chosen and it was very exciting to see which wands picked them!

4. Meet the Knight Bus^™ conductor: In Diagon Alley you'll see the 3-story Knight Bus^™ and its friendly driver. Take a peek and chat with the shrunken head hanging over the steering wheel.

5. Butterbeer^™: You can get your Butterbeer^™ over ice, or frozen. We tried both and they are both ah-may-zing. It was about 95 degrees when we visited in July, so for our second (...and third) servings we opted for frozen to help us cool down a little. Tasting kind of like a butterscotch candy, there are many restaurants and snack stands that sell this tasty treat so plan to have a few cups while you're there.

6. Three Broomsticks^™: Get breakfast, lunch or dinner at this cozy rustic inn that offers a menu of quintessential British food such as Fish and Chips, Shepherd's Pie and Cornish Pasties.

7. Borgin and Burkes^™: We had a great time discovering and exploring the shady Knockturn Alley, which is where we found Borgin and Burkes^™. Dimly lit, there were lots of creepy souvenirs plus it's the home of the Vanishing Cabinet just like the one Draco Malfoy used to sneak Death Eaters into Hogwarts^™!

8. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes: On a lighter note, this novelty joke shop run by Ron Weasley's twin brothers, Fred and George, is a lot of fun with its joke toys and tricks and the cool display of never-ending fireworks exploding on the ceiling.

9. Hogwarts^™ Frog Choir: We accidentally ran into this performance and were delighted by the Hogwarts^™ student choir singing along with giant "throaty" frogs. Check the park map for performance times.

10. Hidden Gems: Enter the telephone booth in London (in Diagon Alley^™) and dial 'MAGIC' and see who you get connected to. Stop inside Dervish and Banges^™ in Hogsmeade^™ and take a peek at the Monster Book of Monsters which is, thankfully, in a cage.

There are so many more clever and interesting things to see, do and eat, it was hard to pick only 10. Have you been to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter^™? Let us know in the comments below what your favorite part was!