Thinker Toys
480 Del Monte Center, Monterey,
(831) 643-0907 San Carlos and Seventh, Carmel,
(831) 624-0441 thinkertoys.com
Tablets are cool and all, but sometimes the best toys are low-tech classics. This toy store specializes in games, toys and group activities that stimulate the mind and, like its title, makes kids think. Thinker Toys’ inventory is stocked to the brim with complex puzzles of up to 1,500 pieces, letter blocks and Legos, books for bedtime reading with mom and dad, kid-sized garden and cleaning tools, and board games for the whole family. Plus, there are all kinds of toy buses, trucks and yes—even rocket ships.