10. Brown Dog Ice Cream | Cape Charles, VA
Brown Dog Ice Cream is named after a playful chocolate lab, named Foster, who loves children and ice cream. Staff members brainstorm new flavor ideas and test each one before serving to ensure perfect. Flavors can include blueberry lavender, mocha Scotch chip, and an avocado-based ice cream with strawberries, lime, and jalapeños known as Poncho Verde.
9. Woodside Farm Creamery | Hockessin, DE
Woodside Farm makes premium ice cream using fresh milk from its own cows. While the farm dates back to 1796, the creamery didn't open until 1998. The thing to try here is the bacon-flavored ice cream, which was once featured on Food Network's "Unwrapped."
8. Brickley's Ice Cream | Narragansett, RI
A true family business, Brickley's is the brainchild of owner Chris and his wife. Their children often work behind the counter, as do Chris' siblings. Even the nephews help out when their careers permit.
The shop offers over 45 different flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, no-sugar added ice cream, sherbets, and sorbet — all made on site at the Narragansett location.
7. Martha's Dandee Crème | Queensbury, NY
Originally a 100-acre chicken farm, Martha's history spans over six decades. After the amusement park Six Flags owned it for 10 years, the restaurant and ice cream shop returned to its family roots. With new flavors added daily, Mocha, Pistachio, and Raspberry Chocolate Twist are a few favorites. Make sure to check the flavor calendar before you go.
6. Island Creamery | Chincoteague Island, VA
The secret to Island Creamery's decadent ice cream is its all-natural, 17% butterfat mix from Lancaster County cows. Flavors range from plain chocolate to bourbon caramel crunch, a vanilla ice cream base with a hint of Virginia Gentlemen Bourbon, Heath Bar pieces, and caramel swirls. Meanwhile, the strawberry is made with local strawberries and the cookie dough is jam-packed with homemade cookie dough.
5. Scottish Highland Creamery | Oxford, MD
Owner Victor Barlow grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland above a family-owned Italian ice cream parlor. After becoming manager of the shop, he is the only man outside of the family to learn its secret recipes. At his own Oxford, Maryland shop, Barlow still uses ingredients imported from Italy. Popular flavors include Mexican vanilla, tiramisu, and mascarpone.
4. McConnell's Fine Ice Creams | Santa Barbara, CA
For almost 70 years, McConnell's has been making ice cream in small batches with dairy from Central Coast Creamery in Pasa Robles, California. The non-conventional flavors make the shop stand out. A few of its 16 flavors include "eureka lemon & marionberries," Turkish coffee, and churros con leche.
Click here to learn more about McConnell's Fine Ice Creams »
3. Dietsch Brothers Inc. | Findlay, OH
Dietsch Brothers Inc. has been serving scoops for over 70 years. The shop serves year-round and seasonal ice cream, sherbet, and sugar-free options. Popular flavors include lime sherbet, toffee caramel crunch, moose tracks, mint chocolate chip, butter pecan, and plain vanilla, which is the best-seller.
2. Bellvale Farms Creamery | Warwick, NY
Open seasonally from April through October, Bellvale Creamery features 50 homemade ice cream flavors served in a cup, cone, or homemade waffle cone. Here you'll find a mix of basic flavors and specialty creations like Black Dirt Blast, a chocolate-coffee ice cream with fudge and toffee pieces.
1. Harborwalk Scoops and Bites Ice Cream | Punta Gorda, FL
This Charlotte Harbor shop steals first place for its delicious product and fabulous views. Of the 22 homemade flavors, rum-raising, Kit-Kat crunch, and coffee chip are among the must-trys. The milk shakes, banana splits, and Brazilian coffee are also popular orders.
Click here to learn more about Harborwalk Scoops and Bites Ice Cream »