Thinker Toys
San Carlos and 7th, Carmel
(831) 624-0441, thinkertoys.com
The times of old-fashioned toy stores, as mysterious and full of wonders as a Santa’s workshop, are almost gone. The more thankful the readers are for Thinker Toys in Carmel, a place that makes hearts – those of children and many adults – beat a little bit faster. Here, stuffed animals rule, dolls are waiting for their future parents, games are waiting to start the adventure and an electric toy train takes happy loops, dropping off and picking up imaginary passengers. Spacious and full of surprises, the store opened in 1969, and since then the magic continues. It’s a place “where play is a way of thinking,” according to the shop’s motto.
