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Two Porter County businesses are competing for the title of Best Local Toy or Hobby Store in Indiana.

Alice's Garden Toy Boutique in Chesterton and Galactic Greg's in Valparaiso are two among 22 small stores eligible to win this Best of Indiana's Winter Award from the Indiana Office of Tourism Development.

The department also will name the Best Christmas Tree Farm in Indiana. Nominees for both categories were recommended by members of Indiana's travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Voters can go online to browse the candidates. Everyone is allowed up to five nominees in each section.

Zack Kinsey and Tracy Melcher of Burns Harbor, own Alice's Garden Toy Boutique at 206 S. Calumet Road in Chesterton. The store opened in Porter in October 2012 before moving to downtown Chesterton in 2013. As the name suggests, this is a toy store, unique because they do not carry battery-operated toys.

"Everything is kid-powered," Kinsey said. "Toys here are educational and imaginative."

Toys at Alice's are aimed for children ages 0-13 and include everything from stuffed animals to board games.

"It's definitely the best toys from all around the world," Kinsey said.