62 Best Places to Shop in USA

with its dazzling line of kites as well as banners, flags, wind socks, hammocks, sky chairs, whirligigs, and wind chimes, is more than just a store. It's symbolic of Ocean City: the kites, thriving on the ocean-side winds and flying high over the boardwalk all day long, and visible for long distances, are an iconic welcome to the beachfront.

You won't find any video games in this gem; rather, you'll discover an outstanding selection of handmade wooden puzzles and mazes, collectible card and travel games, board games, and brainteasers. A bonus to stopping in are the dozens of activities and games for all ages you can play.

When you spy a LEGO sea serpent in the lagoon, you know you're in the right place for a LEGO shopping spree. Large, elaborate sculptures and piles of colorful bricks welcome children, who generally head straight to hands-on play tables and begin work on toy castles, cars, and pirate ships. At the Pick-A-Brick Wall, kids can create anything from a Star Wars spaceship to a miniature Sydney Opera House. Be sure to snap a photo with oversize character models like Woody and Buzz Lightyear. The discounted merchandise section is also worth a look.

Kids will go wild in the Little Duck House, a specialty toy, book, and clothes shop where everything is geared for youngsters to 12 years old.

For more than 50 years, this has been the stop for a mix of New Orleans souvenirs, miniature die-cast metal cars (from the Model T to the Hummer), character lunchboxes, puppets, plastic animals, and collectible Madame Alexander dolls. There is a second location in the French Quarter at  513 St. Ann Street.

Maps, history books, unusual children's toys and many adult fiction and nonfiction titles fill this cheerful shop, the lower level of which contains a branch of the venerable League of New Hampshire Craftsmen's gallery.

This toy shop, beloved by both children and adults, sells the kind of items you won't find in big-box stores. While they do carry popular toys by LEGO and Playskool, the emphasis is on independent brands. You'll find everything from baby toys to play items for older children to party games for adults. The staff go above and beyond with customer service, and can help with shipping and assembly.

Since 1977, this two-story, 7,000-square-foot shop in the heart of Pioneer Square has been supplying families with games, toys, puzzles, tricks, candy, and figurines. They claim a professional child runs this friendly store—and it shows.

The largest store in Hollywood Studios is a miniversion of the Magic Kingdom's Emporium with toys, T-shirts, and doodads. Blue velvety Sorcerer's Apprentice hats have Mouse ears, as well as a moon and stars that light up. You'll also find Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck character key chains and lots of Disney-character-embossed tech accessories.

A refreshing stop in the historic center of town, the independent Montana Book and Toy Company lines its shelves with regional and hard-to-find books, toys, games, and gifts.

Even adults love this supercool toy emporium, where many of the toys are on display for on-the-spot playtime.

Classic board games and activity stations will keep you entertained in this well-stocked store. Theme toy rooms feature princess and fairy items or Star Wars stations, where you can create your own lightsaber. There are lots of games redesigned with Disney themes, like a Haunted Mansion version of the Game of Life. You can test-drive many of the toys, and at the Mr. Potato Head Creation Station, you can fill a box with assorted eyes, lips, noses—even Mickey ears—and make your own potato sculpture.

The toys in this trim, tidy shop are artfully arranged in colorful displays. There's something here for everyone, regardless of their age.

This thoughtfully curated shop features beautiful wooden toys, kid-appropriate art supplies, whimsical costumes, and a range of storybooks chosen so every child can see themselves represented on the page. The goods aren’t cheap, but they’re built to last.

With lots of great toys, plus books, games, and stuffed animals, this is the place for families, kids, people who wish they were kids, and grandparents. The quality of the products is well above average.

Owner Ann Kienzle has cornered the neighborhood toy market with wonderful books, games, and stuffed toys that spark the imagination, whether the little one in question's into STEM or just a good old round of dress-up. Favorite throwbacks include Slinkys, jacks, and Lite Brite. There are locations in Lincoln Park, Andersonville, and the West Loop, too.

This self-described "tiny toy shop" fails to mention that it is also a beautifully curated jewel box of a tiny toy shop. Along with trendy toys, this sunny, well-organized space offers a wide range of kids' books, plushies, accessories, musical instruments, science and craft kits, scooters, puzzles, art, holiday cookie kits and seasonal decorations, and more. 

A toy store for grown-up kids, Rotofugi specializes in artist-created, limited-edition playthings. You'll find dozens of lines from the United States, China, and Japan, like Pop Mart blind boxes and fanciful figures by artists like Kohei Ogawa and B. Wing. The store also hosts revolving gallery exhibitions.

A cash-only piñata and party goods shop, this is a creative if unusual pit stop for toys, birthday party items, and hard-to-find candies.

If you're an aspiring Jedi, plan a trip to Savi's Workshop to build a lightsaber. More intense than just a toy from the store, this lightsaber allows its wielder to choose different themes and kyber crystals, creating a truly unique design. Reservations are highly recommended, and be prepared for sticker shock: prices start at $249.99.

Playing will make your kid smart, and with this in mind, Stevenson's—an old-fashioned toy shop—stocks educational toys designed to inspire the imagination and provide hours of fun. Madame Alexander dolls, Playmobil toys, stuffed animals, art-and-crafts supplies, and puzzles are among the selection of goods for the diminutive set. They have Halloween costumes too.

The Star Wars theme is strong in this desert dome shop outside the Star Tours ride. Guests of all ages can build their own single or double lightsabers complete with crystals, hilts, and blades. And what's a lightsaber without a droid to share it with? So build a droid as well. Collectible pins, books, action figures, art, clothing, and Vinylmation characters are also popular here. Don't feel up to the long line and price of building a lightsaber in Galaxy's Edge? The lightsabers here might not be as intricate, but they will still please younglings—and their parents' wallets.

Make-believe has never seemed as real as it does in this hometown toy store. Imaginations ignite amid shelves of dump trucks and rainbow-bright kites, pretty pink castles and music sets, and an unreal amount of children’s books. Nostalgic adults will love the selection of novelty candy: Razzles, Smarties, and Pop Rocks instantly bring to mind sunny summer childhood days. The staff is full of kids at heart, who are helpful and knowledgeable about the store’s inventory and who are always ready to make suggestions or, if you twist their arm, play for a while.

Billing itself as Portland's "most hands-on store," Thinker Toys offers puppets, games, educational toys, and a large wooden playhouse that kids can hang out in.

This old-timey toy shop has served multiple generations of kids and parents since opening in 1993. Lose yourself in a magical mix of classic wooden toys alongside fanciful dress-up costumes, plush puppets, cuddly stuffed animals, board games, puzzles, and books.

This fantastic place is so much the ultimate toy store of your childhood fantasies that it's too good to save for actual children—don't be embarrassed to come in even if you don't have little ones of your own. It's the place to get things like Edgar Allan Poe and Beethoven action figures, vinyl dinosaur figurines, reproductions of vintage toys you played with as a kid, and floor-to-ceiling diversions for all ages, including science toys, metal robots, stuffed animals, costumes, hard-to-find candy, baubles and bangles, and more.

Outfit your aspiring sleuth with the necessary spy paraphernalia and secret agent supplies—such as mirror glasses, fake mustaches, and voice amplifiers—as well as stationery, books, and puzzles at this shop run by writer Dave Eggers's nonprofit group 826CHI. Proceeds help fund the group's after-school tutoring and writing programs for kids.