A trip to Kittery is incomplete without a stop at Bob’s, where they’ve been serving up fried New England goodness since 1956. Walk up to the window and obey the sign on the awning directing you to “Eat clams!” Quick Facts: Both ice cream and soft-serve are available; Bob's fans can purchase merch and gift cards online; heated indoor seating available; open year-round.

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A quick walk across Route 1A from the North Hampton State Beach lands you in front of over seventy flavors of ice cream and simple but award-winning shack food like lobster rolls and clam chowder. Quick Facts: This location is open from early April to mid-October each year. Two other locations (in Portsmouth, NH and Epping, NH) are open year-round.

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The Brown's-versus-Markey's rivalry runs deep and long, but locals head to Brown’s for the real lobster pound experience looking out over the marshes. This is rustic New England at its best — picnic tables, bubbling lobster tanks, and lots of fried fare from the sea. Brown’s is BYO, too, so bring your cooler and trade beers with the regulars. Quick Facts: Cash-only (there's an ATM); founded in 1950; indoor and outdoor seating available.

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Any clam shack built in the shape of a box of clams deserves some love. Architectural wonders aside, the Clam Box is a beloved North Shore spot on the merits of its fried clams alone — they’re hand-selected every morning, washed in evaporated milk, battered, and twice-fried. Quick Facts: Open almost all year but not quite (generally from early February through late November); indoor and outdoor seating available; credit cards accepted ($10 minimum); founded in 1935.

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Does your sweet tooth trump your clam cravings? Head to Russell Orchard after a day at Crane Beach for warm cider doughnuts and homemade fudge. Quick Facts: Open seasonally, with pick-your-own berries available June through August and apple picking in September and October; wine tastings on weekend afternoons.

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Clams, clams, clams! This little shack has big clout in the heated North Shore clam shack battle. Perched on the edge Route 133, J.T. Farnham's boasts dayboat fish specials and moorings for visiting boaters, and the outdoor picnic tables provide serene views of the Essex marshes. Quick Facts: Open seasonally, from the first Friday in March through December; beer and wine available for people dining inside; founded in 1941 as Wilson's Fried Clams

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With a claim to the invention of the fried clam and over 100 years of service, Woodman’s has earned its place in the hearts of seafood-loving New Englanders. A corn flour batter gives the fried clams a signature crunch some folks prefer, and there’s plenty of other good New England fare to be found here, including a gluten-free menu.Quick Facts: Woodman's ships seafood throughout the continental US.

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While Woodman’s and JT Farnham’s battle it out for the Best Clam Shack belt, locals hit Essex Seafood, a BYO clam-haven just off the main drag of Route 133 (aka “Clam Highway”) that offers clam bakes, fried seafood, and more. Quick Facts: Fresh seafood is available for purchase to cook at home ("If we cook it, we sell it!!!"); open year-round.

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You don’t have to be Cape-bound to get the clam shack experience. Just across the street from Wollaston Beach is The Clam Box, the perfect spot to achieve that summer vacation feeling without sitting in Cape traffic.Quick Facts: Beer and wine available; indoor and outdoor seating available; open seasonally, generally beginning in early May; founded in 1968.

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All ice creams are made daily in-house at this P-town haven, which features classic (pistachio, mint chip) and “adult” (mojito, chocolate Guinness) flavors. Bonus: You'll find the solar-powered ice cream truck patrolling the Truro ‘hood if you’re lucky.Quick Facts: Founded in 1997.

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“Where there’s something for everyone” is this Cape haven’s motto, and the expansive menu at this classic clam shack rings true. All of the traditional seafood selections are there, in addition to salads, barbecue, burgers, hot dogs, grilled sandwiches, and even a gluten-free section.Quick Facts: Credit cards accepted; only open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday (hours are 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. the rest of the week).

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Hit Kool Kone for homemade ice cream sandwiches, sundaes, slushes, and a round of mini golf. Need something savory before your sweet? Kool Kone has you covered with the likes of “Fabulous Fried Pickles,” seafood plates, and crab rolls.Quick Facts: Credit cards accepted.

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How hot, deep-fried dough became a staple summer treat is perhaps unknowable, but some stones are better left unturned. Head to Iggy’s for their famous doughboys, fried clam cakes, stuffies, and award-winning chowder. Quick Facts: Open year-round in Warwick, and there's a seasonal location in Narragansett (open March through Columbus Day); shirts, doughboy mix, and more are available for purchase online.

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This little white ice cream stand has been providing chilly treats for vacationers since 1931, when it opened as Gulf Hill Ice Cream. Today, in addition to frozen delights, it also serves up fish and chips, burgers, and fries. Quick Facts: Open April to October. There's also a food truck, the Oxcart, which serves hot dogs, lobster rolls, and more.

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Flo’s has been slinging all things clam (clam rolls, clam cakes, clam chowder) since the 1930s. Today, beach-goers hit the Newport-area hot spot for old-school seafood at the outdoor picnic tables, while folks looking for something a little fancier can wander upstairs for the raw bar with a view. Quick Facts: Closed Thanksgiving weekend through March. There's also a location at Island Beach Park in Portsmouth, RI.

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This Edgartown favorite has been supplying the Vineyard with homemade ice cream since 1971. Though they’ve expanded quite a bit, the brightly decorated original is still a beacon of summer vacation for New Englanders. Quick Facts: Cash only; open until midnight.

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