Get Your Licks
Sample regional ice cream specialties one scoop at a time at these local shops.
Remember riding in the “way back” of the station wagon on humid summer nights to line up outside an ice cream stand for a butter-brickle cone? That tradition lives on in New England, even though in many places chocolate-chip cookie dough and the SUV have replaced butter brickle and the family wagon. Stop in one of these shops and try a cone for yourself.
CONNECTICUT
Ashley’s Ice Cream Café Guilford, 203-458-3040. Chocolate banana was Ashley’s favorite flavor—she’s the dog for which the cafe is named.
Collins Creamery Enfield, 860-749-8663. Try the peanut-butter-cup sundae. You choose three scoops of your favorite flavors and Collins will add peanut butter sauce, hot fudge, Reese’s Pieces and whipped cream topped with a cherry.
James Gallery and Soda Fountain Old Saybrook, 860-395-1222. Have an ice cream soda at this spot—it’s on the National Register of Historic Places.
Salem Valley Farms Ice Cream Salem, 860-859-2980. With so many flavors to choose from, you’ll need extra time just to read the menu.
UConn Dairy Bar Storrs, 860-486-2634. Coffee espresso crunch carries plenty of students through all-nighters.
MAINE
Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium Bar Harbor, 800-806-3281. Don’t be afraid to taste the lobster ice cream.
John’s Ice Cream Liberty, 207-589-3700. You’ll go nuts for the homemade pistachio ice cream—it’s made with real nuts.
Round Top Ice Cream Damariscotta, 207-563-5307. Stop for a seasonal treat, like peach or pumpkin ice cream, before a show at the nearby Round Top Center for the Arts.
Smiling Hill Farm Westbrook, 207-775-4818. This farm’s been in business since the 1700s. Take home some apple pie ice cream for a twist on pie à la mode.
Tubby’s Ice Cream Wayne, 207-685-8181. Enjoy the view of Pocasset Lake with your old-fashioned ice cream cone.
MASSACHUSETTS
Bubbling Brook Westwood, 781-762-9860. The annual opening of Bubbling Brook is a sure sign of spring. Don’t want ice cream? Sip a raspberry lime rickey instead.
Crescent Ridge Dairy Sharon, 781-784-2740. Lucky locals can have ice cream delivered home by the half gallon.
Flayvors of Cook Farm Hadley, 413-584-2224. Home of the old-fashioned ice cream float.
Four Seas Ice Cream Centerville, 508-775-1394. The only things better than the ice cream are the toppings, like crème de menthe and walnuts in maple syrup.
J. P. Licks Jamaica Plain, 617-524-6740. Homemade bittersweet hot-fudge sauce makes even the best sundae taste better.
Peaceful Meadows Ice Cream Stand Whitman, 81-447-3889. This stand stakes claim to the best frappe anywhere.
Somerset Creamery Somerset, 508-672-5510. Pack a pint of chocolate coconut to go.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Arnie’s Place Concord, 603-228-3225. On Tuesday nights, vintage cars pack this lot for thick black-raspberry shakes.
Blake’s Creamery Manchester, 603-623-7242. Where else can you find Graham Central Station ice cream?
Jake’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream & Sweet Shoppe Amherst, 603-594-2424. Call ahead if you and 28 of your closest friends want to make your own sundaes.
JB Scoop’s Meredith, 603-279-6703. Choose from 40 toppings for your homemade ice cream at the make-your-own-sundae bar.
RHODE ISLAND
Brickley’s Ice Cream Narragansett, 401-789-1784. Ice cream is served in huge waffle cones at this cool spot.
Gray’s Ice Cream Tiverton, 401-624-4500. Try the famous coffee ice cream or a scoop of ginger ice cream made from the root.
The Ice Cream Machine Cumberland, 401-333-5053. You’ll feel like you’re at camp, thanks to the s’mores ice cream with chocolate, marshmallow and graham crackers.
Maxmillian’s Ice Cream Café Providence, 401-273-7230. Locals love the coffee crunch, Max’s mud pie, and cookies and cream.
Powder Mill Creamery and Coffee Roasters Greenville, 401-949-3040. They’ll make you a “cabinet” (what Rhode Islanders call a frappe or milkshake) from more than 60 flavor combinations.
VERMONT
Ben & Jerry’s Waterbury, 802-882-1240. Fans of Wavy Gravy will be happy to hear this retired flavor is back.
Mountain Creamery Woodstock, 802-457-1715. Try the maple-walnut ice cream made with local maple syrup.
Seward’s Family Restaurant Rutland, 802-773-2738. Drive a classic car? Get a free ice cream cone every second Tuesday night of the month.
Wilcox Ice Cream Stand Manchester Center, 802-362-1223. Five generations have been making ice cream at this Vermont farm, where the vanilla is made with pure bourbon extract.