One of the best and largest family-owned toy stores in the world is located in small-town Minnesota. Located just two hours south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, metro area, it’s a perfect day trip for kids of all ages from the Twin Cities or Rochester, MN.
USA Today, Travel & Leisure, and Reader’s Digest rate Lark Toys as one of the world’s coolest toy stores, and I have to agree. This is one of the best places to visit in the Midwest for families – kids or no kids.
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Guide to Lark Toys in Kellogg, Minnesota
Lark Toys in Kellogg, Minnesota has its own woodshop where they make their own heirloom wooden toys. You can even take a sneak peek into the onsite woodshop and purchase the Lark-made wooden toys. They also offer lots of other toys from board games to puzzles, Legos, dress-up clothes, developmental toys, arts and crafts, and more.
And that’s not all you’ll find in this 20,000-square-foot toy store. In addition to the main toy store, you’ll discover lots of fun things to do at Lark Toys.
- Memory Lane – an antique toy museum
- Hand-crafted carousel with unique animals you can ride
- Children’s bookstore
- Candy store
- Café – food, snacks, ice cream, smoothies, homemade fudge
- Curiosity gift shop
- Mini golf
- Llamas – real ones grazing outside!
If you love supporting family-owned small businesses or feeling nostalgic about childhood toys, then check out Lark Toys
Main Toy Store
Lark Toys started making non-toxic, handmade, wooden toys onsite more than 30 years ago. Designs include pull toys of super cute animals like dogs, rabbits, penguins, bears, monkeys, and more. Other wooden designs include push toys, puzzles, and toy sets (barns, dinosaurs, etc.).
Additionally, Lark Toys stocks toys that you would find in toy departments or online. Lark Toys offers several rooms full of toys that you can meander. They include:
- Lark wooden toys
- Games and puzzles
- Developmental toys and games
- Science and nature
- Arts and crafts
I highly recommend visiting Lark Toys in person, but you can also purchase their wooden toys online.
Memory Lane – toy museum
Lark Toys also offers a really cool antique toy museum. A walk down its Memory Lane will bring up nostalgic memories of your childhood. You’ll find several different displays of toys from nearly every decade over the past century.
Take a ride on the carousel
You won’t find another carousel like this hand-carved merry-go-round at Lark Toys. Each animal on the carousel is a work of art with intricate details and comes with a story. Take a ride on the Lark, running every 30 minutes, for only $3. Children 3 and under are free as are anyone older than 90.
The Hippocampus (pictured) is my favorite of the unique animals on Lark Toys carousel. According to its story, this sea horse lives in sea grass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs. The signage says the Hippocampus calls us to balance the feminine and masculine, to be flexible, and to use our eyes to see the big picture.
Children’s bookstore
A huge area of Lark Toys is dedicated to a children’s bookstore. Here you’ll discover rows and rows of children’s books, a sitting area, and even books for parents.
It’s one of the best independent bookstores in Minnesota. See my related post: Guide to the best indie bookstores in the Twin Cities.
Candy store
What goes great with toys? Candy! And Lark Toys offers a sweet candy store. They sell your traditional candy like M&Ms, Reese’s, and PEZ as well as rock candy and more.
See my related post: Sweetest treasures in Minnesota – featuring Minnesota’s largest candy store
Lark Toys Café
If you’re looking for more sweets or a light lunch, then stop at Lark Toys Café. You can order snacks like cheese curds or chips, family-friendly, kid-friendly meals, salads, wraps, and paninis. Additionally, they serve up ice cream, smoothies, root beer floats, and homemade fudge.
Toy store woodshop
Take a look inside the woodshop where a resident toymaker creates handmade toys onsite at Lark Toys.
Curiosity Shoppe
Looking for a unique souvenir or gift from Lark Toys? Then stop in at their Curiosity Shoppe.
Mini golf
Enjoy a fun game of mini golf at Lark Toys. The playing green with a pretty waterfall is located outside (past the carousel).
Llamas
You can view the five llamas that live at Lark Toys as well. For a close-up, walk outside to a viewing deck (off from the candy store and next to the café). If the llamas are not in the viewing area, you may catch a glimpse of them from the mini golf course.
What to know about visiting Lark Toys
Lark Toys attracts visitors – young and old – from around the world. Here are a few tips and information to know before your visit to one of the coolest and best toy stores in the world.
Where is Lark Toys located? What’s the address for Lark Toys?
Lark Toys is located at 63604 170th Avenue, Kellogg, MN 55945.
How far is Lark Toys from Minneapolis and St. Paul (Twin Cities)? Rochester, MN?
Lark Toys is about two hours south of the Twin Cities and 45 minutes northeast of Rochester, MN.
Is there parking at Lark Toys?
Yes. Parking is abundant and free at Lark Toys.
Is it free to visit Lark Toys?
Yes, Lark Toys and its museum are free. The carousel and mini golf do cost extra.
When is Lark Toys open? What are the hours for Lark Toys?
Lark Toys runs on seasonal hours and is open every day in the spring, summer, and fall. However, it’s only open on the weekends in January and February.
Lark Toys hours:
- January and February; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday – Sunday
- Spring and Fall: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (mini golf open when weather permits)
- Summer: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day (closes early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
How long does it take to visit Lark Toys in Kellogg, Minnesota?
That depends. My husband didn’t want to ever leave Lark Toys! I would recommend at least two hours. And definitely more if you plan to ride the carousel, play mini golf, and eat.
Can you take photos in Lark Toys?
Yes, you can take photos (without a flash) and video at Lark Toys.
Is Lark Toys kid-friendly?
Yes. Lark Toys appeals to everyone of all ages.
Does Lark Toys have a restaurant?
Yes. Lark Toys offers a café along with ice cream and fudge stations and a dining area next to the carousel.
Does Lark Toys have restrooms?
Yes. Lark Toys has modern indoor restrooms.
Does Lark Toys have a gift shop?
Yes. Lark Toys has a curiosity gift shop and a bookstore. And, of course, you can purchase toys throughout the toy store.
Can you feed or pet the llamas?
No. You can only watch the llamas from the Lark Toys viewing platform or the mini golf area.
Add Lark Toys to your top things to do in Kellogg, Minnesota itinerary
I highly recommend visiting Lark Toys in Kellogg, Minnesota. It’s one of the top family-friendly things to do in Minnesota.
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Lark Toys looks like so much fun! I love how the museum part looks like an old-time small-town street. I’d be into the candy and mini-golf, too. That hand-carved carousel is pretty amazing. This is a worthwhile stop for sure!
We loved that small-town street feel also. Lark Toys is so charming…something for everyone.
Lark Toys is a very cool toy store. It would have been great to visit when our kids were younger. Or maybe if they ever make us grandparents! How fun to look at all the antique toys. Those old comics bring back memories for me. Looks like a whole great family adventure.
I know…I’m kicking myself that I never took my so here when he was little, but will definitely return with my future grandchildren or nieces and nephews. Lark Toys is super cool!
WHAT?!?!?! This looks cooler than Disney World!! Seriously! A carousel inside the store? Mini golf? You could spend the whole day there! I esp love the wooden toys… I love given toddlers non plastic, non battery operated toys…
It was super cool! And, yes, you could spend a full day at Lark Toys! Best toy store ever!
I didn’t know there was a “Kellogg” Minnesota! Kellogg is my last name so that’s pretty cool (:
I know you said the carousel cost extra, but honestly the carousel would make this whole place worth a visit! It’s so cute.
That’s so cool! I’ve thought about visiting towns with my last name. Lark Toys is worth the trip. And the carousel is only $3 per ride.
This spoke to my inner child in a way I can’t express at this time of the morning. What a neat place! It’s now on my bucket list.
Awesome! Lark Toys definitely speaks to the inner child!
I have never heard of Lark Toys in Kellogg, but it looks like a must-stop for my family! Kids would enjoy the place so much! Seeing llamas would be so cool!
The llamas were extra special! Kids love Lark Toys.
Wow, I love the wooden toys and the book room. This looks like an experience great for kids!
Lark Toys is a fun experience for kids! The wooden toys and bookstore are pretty special.
This is such a cool place, they even have llamas! My kids are grown now but we all would enjoy this place for sure!
I wish I would have brought my son while he was growing up. But we still loved our visit at Lark Toys.
I enjoyed seeing all the actual toys at this shop. Seems like all anyone does anymore is games on their iPads and video games!
Yes! Lots of cool toys at Lark Toys.
Wow! I’d love to visit Lark Toys. I could spend hours wandering around in there.
Lark Toys is a pretty special place. We loved this walk down memory lane especially.