Out of This World - Mendocino, California

Adam C.

Great STEM toy store in the heart of Mendocino. Located in what was once was the former bank. The old bank vault door is still in place, and the owners have the combination. So be careful, or you might end up as part exhibits 😉

You can find some great toys, board games, and puzzles for all ages here that are great for the whole family. They have some toys, of course, but all fit the STEM areas. For the bird and whale watchers, they have a good selection of binoculars, so you can see the wildlife up close.

Evan L.

This store epitomizes the value of supporting local businesses. Knowledgeable staff with decades of experience will guide you to the best binoculars, games, toys, and books available. These aren't shills paid to pad reviews or turn inventory; they stock only quality merchandise at fair prices. You will find stuff here other stores don't know about. Instead of following Amazon bread crumbs to what's popular, here you will find what's interesting. If that doesn't suit you, you can always ask about the building's history, and ask to see a turn-of-the-century bank vault one would read about in an O'Henry short story.

Gabe C.

Very cool store for kids and adults. Lots of thoughtful toys to stimulate a child’s brain. Also a lot of fun stuff from when I was a kid in the 1980’s. They also seemed to have a large selection of binoculars if that is your thing. Definitely pop in.

Sarah R.

i’ve been going to this place for 20 years! i remember coming to this place when i was a little girl and this shop is still great. i bought my dad a pair of binoculars and the man was very helpful and kind!

N N.

Great store and well worth to visit. They have some pretty cool things for kids and great set of binoculars and telescopes.

Owner is very nice and educated us on binoculars.

Raja B.

The store lives up to its name. I had a terrific "out of this world" experience shopping for a scope that I can use for my birding adventures for years to come.

They have a wonderful selection of scopes here. Although I had a good idea of the brands I was interested in and my budget, I knew I had a lot to learn about them. I was keen to try them out before making the investment, and this isn't easy to do in the Bay area where I live.

Luckily, Dave was there to help and he patiently explained everything to me. Handling the scopes gave me a much better idea of the trade-offs I was willing to make between portability, magnification, and optical clarity. What I found most helpful was peering through the scopes with Dave. He pointed out subtle differences in color accuracy and chromatic aberrations which helped me make up my mind. I ended up buying a Swarovski which wasn't the most expensive scope I looked at but was simply the best fit given how I plan to use the scope.

A big thank you to Dave for spending almost two hours sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with me!

Sarah S.

Been shopping at this store for almost a decade and just love it! I needed a new pair of binoculars and was guided through the process of selecting the right pair, and even learned some new tips on using them. Really a great store, especially for naturalists. They also have a great array of educational toys and science books for the kid, and kid at heart, in your life.

Nicky R.

Marilyn and her staff are the best! We go in every year or so for binoculars or associated gear, and come away with wonderful quality, very affordable equipment. I always ask what they recommend that I don’t have. This time it was a simple harness to hold my binocs, and here I am, whale watching and can see the whales breaching easily. Great field of vision balanced with power in a lightweight Nikon binocular. I have them on my harness, ready for the next amazing sight. Thanks Out of This World! It has made a “World” of difference!