Paxton Gate's Curiosities For Kids

The offbeat and quirky Paxton Gate's Curiosities For Kids in San Francisco features eco-friendly, hand-crafted and antiquated toys

Escort your ankle-biters into another dimension at Paxton Gate's Curiosities For Kids, a one-of-a-kind enclave for eco-friendly, hand-crafted and antiquated toys.

Nestled among vintage shops, rustic eateries and small art galleries in Valencia's hipster heart, a moss-green facade gives way to an exhibit space for fantastical work that will likely ignite parents' minds first—the kids will be awed by what's waiting further on inside.

What they'll find is a cornucopia of playthings of all shapes, sizes and styles:

•  Pre-digital, old-school toys: alphabet blocks, marbles, Tonka trucks and even bona fide vintage toys
   
•  Thoughtful creations: tea sets made from recycled BPA-free plastic, colourful brain-teasing puzzles, DIY crafts and hand-knit plush wool puppets
   
•  Outright treasures: unimposing taxidermy, a lap loom, a marvellous book selection and original pieces of art

“Batteries not included” is more like the principle of stock selection here than it is a mantra on the back of packaging-heavy boxes.

The brainchild of an equally imaginative shop for adults founded by a pair of landscape designers, Paxton Gate's Curiosities For Kids also prizes interaction. There's a reading corner and a stamp station equipped with inks, pens and paper, plus randomly scheduled activities such as puppet shows, book-making, music lessons and more.

From the layout to the programming to many of the items for sale (which range from one dollar to hundreds), there's definitely a pleasantly offbeat thread that runs through this year-old shop.

But its unconventional style just might be poised to inspire the next Tim Burton.