Thinker Toys
Seventh and San Carlos, Carmel, 624-0441
480 Del Monte Center, Monterey, 643-0907
Kids learn through play—and this store’s stacked with toys to keep your young thinker’s mind engaged. The Klutz books are flying off the racks, with kid-friendly instructional kits on crafts like beaded bands, stencils and string art. Legos are timelessly popular with budding engineers. Toddlers dig the classic Melissa & Doug brand, featuring non-toxic, sturdy wooden toys that fuel tiny imaginations. This local mainstay’s got them all, along with a 47-year legacy serving Monterey County. What it doesn’t have: the heavily branded, overly plastic and techie stuff. Thinker keeps it classy, and keeps childhood classic.