Before you even open the door to Out of this World, you can sense that something new and exciting is on the other side waiting for you. “Toy store” doesn’t do this place justice, so let’s just say that this retailer of engaging, inquiry-based amusement and learning is very appropriately situated in a beautiful historic round corner building on Main Street in Mendocino, CA.
The elegant store faces out across the Mendocino Headlands, taking in an immense and gorgeous ocean view, challenging first-time visitors to question if they’re awake or dreaming. You can safely judge this book by its cover – similarly amazing curiosities await inside. This is a store for dreamers, for people who ask, “why?”, for folks who enjoy feeling perplexed just because it’s fun to solve problems. The store is a paradise for young enquiring minds and your children will immediately be drawn toward some fascinating object on a shelf. But don’t hesitate to come by even if everyone in your group are adults – your inner child is certain to be equally excited!
For 30 years, Out of this World has been inspiring wonder in Mendocino and beyond (they have an excellent website). The store is positively bursting with games, books, artifacts, gadgets, experiments, robotics kits, brain teasers, toys, and high-quality tools for exploring the Great Beyond. Known for its excellent inventory of binoculars, telescopes, and spotting scopes, Out of this World is not your ordinary toy store.
Get creative and recreate Mendocino’s coastal views with the art materials, get working with the variety of model kits, or get elevated with the high-tech aviation toys. You can even get “out of this world” with the store’s astronomical equipment. Want to take a closer look at the treasures your children collect during your stay in Mendocino? Out of this World’s selection of basic-to-professional magnifiers has the potential to turn the porous rocks, strange seashells, and unusual seed pods that are undoubtedly accumulating in your little ones’ pockets into a full-on scientific investigation!
This brick-and-mortar shop is Vacation 9-1-1 for families in need of an intellectual thrill. The selection of board games has clearly been assembled by someone who loves a good game night. For younger children, tried and true classics like Dominos and innovative games like Battle Sheep are bound to please. Group games like Ticket to Ride are perfect for the whole family, and competitive games like Settlers of Catan are available for older groups as well. If you’re not feeling too competitive, Out of this World has cooperative games like Pandemic and Forbidden Desert which challenge the whole group to work together as a team.
Whether you just browse and learn something new, or pick up a little something to enhance your vacation experience, or even get your holiday shopping done in one stop, Out of this World is absolutely worth checking out. Your potential is infinite once you start exploring!
Great for the Family, a Rainy Day
45100 Main St, Mendocino, CA 95460
(707) 937-3335
www.outofthisworldshop.com
Daily, 10:30am – 5pm