Your Guide to Puzzles in Alaska
Alaska Stores by City
Anchorage
Classic Toys
Classic Toys is a beloved, family-owned toy store in midtown Anchorage, operating since 1985, known for imaginative, educational, and high-quality toys. Among their shelves you’ll find a well-chosen selection of jigsaw puzzles, especially themed ones like LEGO or brain teasers that enhance their creative toy line-up. The store balances boutique toy offerings with big name brands, making it a place where puzzle lovers can browse both casual fun sets and more collectible designs. Visiting Classic Toys gives you the chance to explore puzzle sets in person, feel the material, and select something perfect as gift or personal challenge.
Photo Source: https://www.toydango.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=53
Over The Rainbow Toys
Over The Rainbow Toys is a locally owned toy store in Anchorage’s Huffman Business Park, focused on quality, creative, and educational products. Among their wide selection of toys, games, and plush items, they also carry puzzles including brain teasers and jigsaw puzzles with varying piece counts. Their stock supports both fun gift ideas for kids or more involved puzzles for adults looking for a challenge. With friendly service and specialty offerings, browsing here is always a chance to find something unique.
Photo Source: https://www.facebook.com/OverTheRainbowToys/
Trapper Jack’s Trading Post
Trapper Jack’s Trading Post is a downtown Anchorage staple, offering an expansive collection of Alaskan gifts, native art, clothing, and home décor. Its shelves are packed with handcrafted items, souvenirs, and items that reflect Alaska’s culture and wilderness. If they carry jigsaw puzzles, they would likely be themed around regional art, scenery, or heritage. Visiting in person gives you a chance to spot gift-worthy puzzles among the wide variety of souvenirs.
Photo Source: https://mindtrip.ai/attraction/anchorage-alaska/trapper-jacks-trading-post/at-aozWumgp
Polar Bear Gifts
Polar Bear Gifts is a sprawling Anchorage gift emporium known for souvenirs, Alaskan art, clothing, local goods, and decorative items. While puzzles aren’t the main focus, the store’s vast inventory and rotating goods make it a place to keep an eye out, especially for puzzles with Alaskan themes, wildlife, or scenic imagery. The experience of browsing here is immersive, with row upon row of items that evoke Alaska. Even if a puzzle isn’t guaranteed, the store’s size and variety make it a worthwhile stop for puzzle seekers.
Photo Source: https://www.anchorage.net/listing/polar-bear-gifts/37438/
Juneau
Hearthside Books
Hearthside Books & Toys is a beloved independent book and toy store in Juneau, proudly offering a wide array of Alaska and general interest books, kids’ toys, games, and gift items. Among its inventory, you can often find jigsaw puzzles, especially ones that align with the shop’s local and creative sensibilities. These puzzles tend toward thematic, artistic, or Alaska-inspired designs rather than mainstream landscapes. Browsing here gives you a chance to mix reading, play, and discovery all in one cozy setting.
Photo Source: https://aksbdc.org/success_stories/hearthside-books-2/
Juneau’s Imagination Station
Juneau’s Imagination Station is a beloved local toy & gift shop in downtown Juneau, offering an inviting mix of books, art supplies, STEM toys, games, and playthings for all ages. Among their eclectic offerings, you’ll also find jigsaw puzzles, often ones that match their focus on educational value, unique design, or regional relevance. Their puzzle selection varies, with smaller to mid-size sets likely alongside other toys and games. It’s a place where you can browse thoughtfully, support local business, and enjoy browsing puzzles as part of a broader toy experience.
Photo Source: https://www.facebook.com/juneausimaginationstation/photos
Friends of the Library Amazing Bookstore
The Amazing Bookstore is a volunteer-run, used bookstore in Juneau that supports the local library through its wide selection of books, media, and donated goods. Among those donations are puzzles found alongside games and books. Prices are often very affordable, making it a great spot for bargain hunters or casual puzzlers. Even though the selection fluctuates and puzzle stock isn’t guaranteed, the store’s mission and variety make it an important stop if you're exploring unique puzzle options in Juneau.
Photo Source: https://www.friendsjpl.org/theamazingbookstore
Trove
Trove is a boutique gift shop in downtown Juneau carrying jewelry, accessories, art pieces, décor, and artisan goods. Among their unique offerings are Lubiwood wooden puzzles, which reflect the shop’s commitment to craftsmanship and curated products. These puzzles aren’t mass-market; they tend to be specialty designs that align with the store’s aesthetic. Visiting Trove offers the chance to discover puzzles that feel like art or keepsakes, not just entertainment.
Photo Source: https://www.facebook.com/troveshops/photos
Ben Franklin Store
Ben Franklin in Juneau is a wide-ranging variety store packed with quirky gifts, hobby supplies, souvenirs, and travel essentials. Among its offerings are mystery puzzle boxes and model-oriented items, hinting that jigsaw or puzzle style products may appear here. The shop’s downtown location and extensive merchandise make it a fun stop for treasure hunters or puzzle lovers hoping to find something unexpected. While it’s not primarily a puzzle shop, its charm and variety mean you might walk out with something interesting.
Photo Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=521147956481498&set=a.521147916481502
Rainy Retreat Books
Rainy Retreat Books is a charming bookstore in downtown Juneau that blends new and used books with vinyl, stationery, journals, and small treasures. Among their unique stock are literary-themed jigsaw puzzles, tucked among the aisles of well-worn pages and cozy nooks. The atmosphere feels personal and intimate, with helpful staff, local flavor, and surprises waiting on every shelf. Even if puzzles aren’t the main focus, they make the visit richer for puzzlers and booklovers alike.
Fairbanks
Photo Source: https://shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3029#m36943
Enchanted Forest Toys
Enchanted Forest Toys is a beloved boutique toy store in Fairbanks offering a rich variety of books, games, craft kits, gifts, and fun items for all age ranges. Among their mix, there is a thoughtful selection of jigsaw puzzles, especially ones that match their style of design, education, and playful quality. Most puzzle sets tend to be smaller or mid-size and are chosen to align with the store’s overall toy and learning focus. It’s the kind of place where doing a bit of browsing feels joyful, since you likely discover puzzles you won’t find at generic chain stores.
Photo Source: https://enchanted-forest-toys.wheree.com/
The Toy Quest
The Toy Quest is a well-loved toy shop in Fairbanks that stocks a wide variety of toys, games, puzzles, and educational kits. Their puzzle section includes both simpler sets for kids and more challenging, higher piece-counts like 1500-piece puzzles. Because they’re locally owned, their selection tends to be curated, with quality brands and options you might not find at the big box stores. Visiting The Toy Quest gives you a chance to see the puzzles in person, check piece quality, and find pieces that match your style or age needs.
Photo Source: https://www.facebook.com/TheToyQuest/photos