A toy store in a tiny Minnesota town earned a spot on a worldwide best list and the place absolutely deserves the attention. I walked through the doors and felt like a kid again surrounded by wooden toys and colorful shelves full of wonder.
Minnesota has a magical shop where USA Today named it one of the ten best on the entire planet. The hand carved carousel inside spins slowly with animals you will not find anywhere else in the world.
I watched a little boy’s eyes go wide when he saw the rows of trains and puzzles and stuffed friends waiting for him. Minnesota really created a destination that families plan road trips around just to experience the joy.
The staff members are friendly and happy to let you browse for hours without any pressure to buy quickly. I spent way longer than expected just wandering through each room and discovering new treasures around every corner.
The old fashioned candy counter adds a sweet bonus to an already wonderful visit for everyone. You leave with a bag full of smiles and maybe a toy or two for the kid in your life.
Memory Lane: A Walk Through Toy History
The moment you step past the entrance, Memory Lane pulls you in like a time machine. It lines the left wall of the store with beautifully designed display windows, each one themed like a tiny shop from another era.
Inside those windows sit toys that span decades. Howdy Doody, Barbie, Erector sets, little green army men, and Sesame Street characters all have a home here.
The team crafts each display with care and frames it like a real storefront from a long-gone main street.
Grandparents tend to slow down the most here. You can see it happen in real time.
Someone spots a toy they had as a child, and their whole face changes. Kids who grew up in the 1980s recognize their own favorites too.
Memory Lane is not a shopping section. Nothing here is for sale.
It exists purely to celebrate toy history, and it does that job beautifully. Plan to spend more time here than you expect.
The Hand-Carved Carousel That Steals the Show
Right at the heart of LARK Toys sits a carousel unlike anything you have likely seen before. Local craftspeople hand-carved it from Minnesota basswood, and every single animal on it is one of a kind.
The detail is astonishing. Each creature has its own personality, its own painted textures, its own story carved right into the wood.
You do not just look at this carousel. You feel the craftsmanship in it.
Rides are available for a small fee, and kids absolutely love it. Adults tend to linger nearby just to watch the animals spin past.
The vaulted ceiling above adds a grand, almost theatrical quality to the whole experience.
Local builders constructed this carousel on-site, and it represents one of the most unique pieces of functional folk art in the entire state. It is the kind of thing you photograph, then ride, then photograph again.
Do not skip it under any circumstances.
Wooden Toys Made Right on the Premises
One of the most surprising things about LARK Toys is that some of what you buy comes from just a few feet away. The store has an on-site workshop where craftspeople carve and finish wooden toys by hand.
A viewing area lets visitors watch the process unfold. It is genuinely fascinating.
You see raw basswood become a spinning top, a pull toy, or a puzzle right before your eyes.
These are not cheap novelty items. They are heirloom-quality pieces built to last generations.
Parents who want toys with real staying power tend to linger longest in this section.
The craftsmanship reflects a philosophy that runs through all of LARK Toys. Batteries are not required here. Imagination is. The wooden toy section feels like a quiet rebellion against disposable plastic, and it is one of the most beloved parts of the entire store.
Picking one up and feeling the weight of it tells you everything.
The Bookstore Room That Feels Like a Cozy Hideout
Tucked inside LARK Toys is a full bookstore that could hold its own as a standalone shop. The selection covers children’s picture books all the way through young adult fiction, poetry, biography, and beyond.
Kids can settle in and flip through pages before deciding what to bring home. It never feels rushed or pressured in here.
The curation is thoughtful. You will not find a wall of generic bestsellers.
The shelves hold titles that spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and reward slow, careful reading. Staff clearly put real thought into what goes on those shelves.
Adults browsing this room often end up buying something for themselves. That happens more than you might think.
The bookstore room has a calm, unhurried energy that feels like a genuine refuge inside an already magical building. It is the kind of space that makes you want to stay just a little longer.
The Chocolate Shoppe and Sweet Treats Corner
After walking through Memory Lane and riding the carousel, a sugar craving kicks in almost on cue. The Chocolate Shoppe at LARK Toys is ready for exactly that moment.
Novelty candies line the shelves in colorful jars. Staff make homemade fudge fresh daily, and the variety changes with the seasons.
Salt water taffy comes in a range of flavors that kids take very seriously when choosing.
The Chocolate Shoppe also serves Ice Cream here, which is a beloved Midwestern brand with a loyal following. They pile cones high.
The snack counter nearby offers savory options too, including burgers, paninis, and cheese curds for anyone needing real food first.
The whole food area sits near the entrance, so it is easy to miss on the way in. Most people discover it on the way back through and immediately wish they had found it sooner.
Budget extra time here. The fudge alone is worth the stop.
Mini Golf Course With Serious Personality
Out behind the main building, a full 18-hole mini golf course winds through one of the most scenic settings imaginable. It hugs the bluffs above the Mississippi River valley, and the views between holes are genuinely stunning.
The course features a play-through mountain, waterfalls, ponds, and streams. It is challenging enough to entertain adults but accessible enough for young kids to enjoy without frustration.
That balance is harder to achieve than it sounds.
Summer visits to LARK Toys feel incomplete without a round here. The course is well-maintained and clearly designed with real care.
You can tell someone thought hard about both the layout and the landscaping.
Families sometimes spend as much time on the mini golf course as they do inside the store. It adds an outdoor dimension to the visit that feels refreshing after hours of browsing indoors.
Bring sunscreen in summer and layers in spring. The bluff breezes can surprise you.
The Curiosity Shoppe and Gift Section
Not every great find at LARK Toys has wheels or a battery compartment. The Curiosity Shoppe is a gift section that caters to adults who want something unusual to bring home.
Home decor, novelty items, stationery, cards, kitchen goods, and LARK-branded merchandise all share space here. The selection leans toward the distinctive and handpicked, not the mass-produced and forgettable.
It feels like a boutique that somehow ended up inside a toy store.
Holiday shoppers particularly love this section. It solves the problem of finding gifts for people who already have everything.
The items tend to be conversation starters rather than shelf fillers.
Browsing the Curiosity Shoppe has a slow, pleasant quality to it. Nothing is rushed.
The displays are well-organized and easy to move through without feeling overwhelmed. It rounds out the LARK Toys experience nicely, giving every visitor something to take home regardless of age.
A good find here always feels like a small personal victory.
Toys That Spark Imagination Without Screens
LARK Toys made a conscious choice early on. The store focuses on toys that require imagination, not electricity.
That decision shapes everything about the shopping experience inside.
Puzzles, puppets, costumes, science kits, and building sets fill entire rooms. Each category gets enough space to breathe and explore properly.
You do not feel like you are scanning a crowded shelf. You feel like you are discovering something.
Sample toys are set out for kids to handle before buying. That policy matters more than it might seem.
A child who gets to actually play with a toy before it goes in the cart is a much happier shopper. Parents appreciate it too.
The store carries brands that are hard to find in big-box retailers. Many items are sourced from small makers and specialty toy companies.
LARK Toys has earned a reputation as one of the best independent toy stores in the country, and the selection is a big reason why.
A Day Trip Worth Every Mile From the Twin Cities
LARK Toys sits about 90 minutes southeast of the Twin Cities along Highway 61. That drive is part of the experience.
The road follows the Mississippi River bluffs through some of the most beautiful scenery in the state.
Towns like Wabasha and Winona are nearby, making it easy to build a full day around the trip. Many families combine a LARK visit with a walk along the river or a stop at a local cafe.
The area rewards slow travel.
The store opens at 9:30 AM every day of the week. Arriving early means more time and smaller crowds.
Summer weekends can get busy, especially with families making it a weekend destination.
The drive back always seems shorter than the drive there. That is usually a good sign.
Visitors consistently say the trip is worth it, and many return multiple times a year. The combination of scenery, small-town charm, and LARK itself makes the whole journey feel intentional and memorable.
Why LARK Toys Earned Its World Recognition
USA Today naming LARK Toys one of the ten best toy stores in the world is a remarkable distinction for a shop in a town of roughly 200 people. But anyone who has visited understands exactly how it happened.
The store earns its reputation through consistency. Every section is carefully curated.
Every display is maintained with obvious pride. Staff are known for being genuinely helpful and warm, not just professionally polite.
People do not just like this place. They come back for it, bring grandparents and grandchildren and plan road trips around it.
That kind of loyalty is not manufactured.
LARK Toys represents something increasingly rare. It is a locally rooted, independently operated destination that competes on quality, creativity, and heart.
The world recognition is well-deserved, but the real reward is in the visit itself.
Address: LARK Toys, 63604 170th Ave, Kellogg, MN 55945
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