With schedules so busy and the holidays just around the corner, a lot of people have been thinking about where to do their to toy shopping. We’ve done the hard work for you and broken down the Cape and Island’s top 9 toy stores:
The Village Toy Store – Brewster
The most colorful place you may ever go in your life. A classic toy store in the heart of Brewster, they’re less about the electronics and more about timeless toys. They carry educational and science projects, plush toys, puppets and dolls, as well as outdoor and beach toys, playsets, crafts, puzzles, and games. Two floors of pure fun. I dare you to be unhappy in that store, you can’t do it, I think it has something to do with all the colors.
The Red Balloon Toy Shop – Mashpee / Orleans
This place is knocking on half a century in business on the Cape, so you know what that means? These folks know toys. Fads may come and fads may go, and then some of those fads may inexplicably come back again (Pokemon anybody?). But what it comes down to is experienced toy aficionados who can guide you through their stores and offer recommendations for the toy lover in your life. They’ve got books, puzzles, games, wooden cars and trains, and kites of all shapes and colors.
The Lazy Frog – Martha’s Vineyard
I love everything about this place, starting with their logo. These people saw a map of the Vineyard and immediately thought “hey, that looks like a frog” that is precisely the kind of creativity you want in the people picking out your toys. While most toy shops cater to the kids, The Lazy Frog doesn’t forget that people can still enjoy having fun even after they finish the 8th grade. They have outdoor games of all varieties, stuff for the beach, card games, and the unique things you haven’t seen anywhere else.
Ducks in the Window – Chatham
I had to do some thinking before including this one, after all this place is not a toy store, they are a duck store. Only ducks. All ducks. Nothing else. It’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen in your entire life, guaranteed, I promise. Rows upon rows of rubber ducks. There have to be thousands of them. Don’t get me wrong, the ducks are hilarious and the place is great, but who know there was a market for this? Ducks for babies, ducks resembling movie stars or political figures, big ducks, small ducks, ducks with bandanas or bow ties, ducks that are also soap, or bottle openers, or door stoppers, or tea infusers. You must go to this place, it has to be seen to be believed.
Blast from the Past – Falmouth
A cool vintage toy store, you could spend hours walking around this Falmouth shop getting lost in a wave of nostalgia. What’s more, the owners would let you. Blast from the Past carries retro toys, music, advertisements, comic books, cards, and games from decades past. A collectors store, with original package action figures, old-school PEZ dispensers, and classic board games. They carry everything from penny candy to furniture, and are constantly bringing in new stuff… well, you know, old stuff.
Nantucket Toy Company – Nantucket
When you need a toy ASAP, but you’re also on an island miles from civilization, options can be limited. Luckily for the good folks on Nantucket you have the Nantucket Toy Company. Open year-round and filled with the cool stuff to amaze and delight the children in your life. They have unique toys and games as well as more classic options sure to satisfy the most discriminating youngster, pre-teen, adolescent, or even adult on your shopping list.
Dr. Gravity’s Kite Shop – Harwich Port
They have lots of kites at Dr. Gravity’s. I don’t want to overstate this, but I’m fairly certain that this is the largest collection of kites at any single location. If kites happen to be your thing, then seriously look no further, this place is for you, job done. Less into kites? Fear not, Dr. Gravity has other stuff too. Inflatable beach and pool toys, stuffed squishable toys, those hilarious horse masks that people have been wearing lately, as well as candy. But mostly it’s kites, many, many kites.
Josh’s Toys and Games – Hyannis
Located in the Cape Cod Mall, Josh’s Toys & Games prides itself on carrying the largest selection of Lego sets in New Hampshire (admittedly, an odd stat to cite considering we’re in Massachusetts here, but I digress…). They carry the big name stuff: the full line of Melissa & Doug products, as well as Webkins, and Thames & Kosmos Science kits. Classic and new board games, puzzles, yo-yos, and novelty items are always in stock as well.
Puzzle Me This – Provincetown
Puzzle Me This is a retail toy store right smack on Commercial Street in Provincetown specializing in unique and strategic games, brain teasers and puzzles. Also, it’s purple. The outside is. It’s easy to spot. They carry Mad-Libs, various editions of Monopoly, and card games. But in particular this is a store for the smart gamer. It’s filled with demos and numerous mind-strengthening activities that will no doubt frustrate you to no end, and then finally deliver that self-satisfied glow that comes from mastering some need-less trick and then bragging to your friends about it.
By CapeCod.com Staff
