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Kimball Farm sundae
Kimball Farm sundae
Kimball Farm/Facebook

Around Massachusetts in 20 Ice Creams

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Kimball Farm sundae
| Kimball Farm/Facebook

New England is a fantastic place to be an ice cream lover. Massachusetts alone has countless incredible ice cream destinations hidden in small towns all across the state, not to mention a few distinctive chains that got their start in the Boston area, such as J.P. Licks, Emack & Bolio’s, and, further west, Friendly’s.

Consider this map a starting point for a whirlwind ice cream road trip that will take you as far north as White Farms in Ipswich, out west to Herrell’s in Northampton, and all the way out to Provincetown to Lewis Brothers. This map is updated periodically to highlight additional spots.

Note: We’ve only included classic spots here — the ones that have been around for quite some time, delighting ice cream lovers for years (in most cases, decades). For the next generation of excellent ice cream spots, check out The Coolest New Boston Ice Cream Shops, a map that highlights the best ice cream shops that have opened in the last few years, from Gracie’s Ice Cream in Somerville to New City Microcreamery in Hudson.

Further reading:

This map was originally published on June 8, 2017; the date of the most recent update appears above.

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White Farms Homemade Ice Cream

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Just look for the giant cow on the roof. This cash-only spot has been around since 1958 (serving ice cream since 1963) and features dozens of flavors of ice cream, soft serve, and frozen yogurt, as well as ice cream cakes, ice cream pies, sundaes, frappes, frozen lemonade, raspberry lime rickeys, slushes, and more. Quarts and pints are available to take home. Plus, there’s miniature golf — and even mini golf leagues for kids as well as adults.

Sample flavors: red raspberry chip, key lime, peppermint stick, vanilla fudge brownie, reverse chocolate chip

White Farms ice cream
White Farms ice cream
White Farms/Official Site

Richardson's Ice Cream

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Think some of the places on this map are old? Nothing beats Richardson’s, a continuously operating dairy farm since 1695. (Ice cream came into play in the 1950s at Richardson’s, and wholesale business began in 1978.) The eighth and ninth generations of the Richardson’s family are in charge these days. The flagship Middleton location includes cows, sheep, ducks, and more animals; mini golf, batting cages, and a driving range; and, of course, plenty of ice cream. There’s also a location at Jordan’s Furniture in Reading.

Sample flavors: double chocolate, coffee Kahlua brownie, totally turtle, bubble gum, Maine black bear

Richardson’s ice cream
Richardson’s ice cream
Richardson‘s/Facebook

Kimball Farm

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Kimball Farm’s massive Westford location includes more than 50 flavors of ice cream, mini golf, bumper boats, batting cages, arcade games, a driving range, a zip line, pony rides, a country store, a cafe, a seafood shack, and space for private events for up to 4000 attendees. (There are also smaller locations in Lancaster, MA; Carlisle, MA; and Jaffrey, NH.) Kimball Farm has been making ice cream since 1939, and in addition to a few dozen staple flavors, there are also special flavors that rotate week to week.

Sample flavors: rum raisin, gingersnap molasses, peanut butter butterfinger, malted moo crunch, cherry vanilla chip

Kimball Farm ice cream
Kimball Farm ice cream
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Cedar Hill Dairy Joy

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Open seasonally since 1961 and run by the same family the whole time, Dairy Joy serves soft serve, sherbet, sorbet, raspberry lime rickeys, lobster rolls, hamburgers, fried clams, and more. Cash only.

Sample flavors: javaberry, coffee, chocolate-vanilla twist, creamsicle, raspberry sherbet

Dairy Joy ice cream
Dairy Joy ice cream
Dairy Joy/Facebook

Christina's Homemade Ice Cream

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An Inman Square hotspot since 1983, Christina’s has snapped up plenty of acclaim and awards over the years thanks to its big selection of creative flavors. Owner Raymond Ford, previously a professor of social theory, left academia and bought the shop from its previous owner in 1993. Open daily until 10:30 p.m. Note: Full-service catering is available on weekdays with three days’ notice.

Sample flavors: dulce de leche, chocolate banana, herbal chai, burnt sugar, egg nog

Christina’s ice cream
Christina’s ice cream
Christina’s/Official Site

Toscanini's

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A Cambridge legend since 1981, Toscanini’s can frequently be spotted with a long line snaking out the door and down Main Street thanks to its fun and often unusual flavors. There are 32 flavors available at any given time, but many of them change often, and there are also ice cream sandwiches (cookies made in-house), affogato (espresso poured over ice cream), and “micro sundaes” (one small scoop with whipped cream, hot fudge, nuts, and sprinkles). Also on the menu: baked goods (some made in-house and some sourced from Iggy’s), cakes, coffee, and tea. Free samples. Note: This location is temporarily closed due to construction, but there’s a new offshoot nearby.

Sample flavors: B3 (brown sugar, brown butter, brownies), strawberry mascarpone, mango habanero, burnt caramel, brown sugar miso soft serve

A scoop of chocolate ice cream in a branded yellow cup from Toscanini’s, with chunks of chocolate scattered in the background
Toscanini’s ice cream
Toscanini’s/Official Site

Cabot's Ice Cream & Restaurant

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This classic Newton ice cream parlor has been around since 1969, serving up more than 70 flavors of ice cream and a variety of sundaes, including multiple types of banana boats and Belgian waffle-based combos. Also on the menu: frappes, freezes, apple pie, ice cream sodas, and more — not to mention plenty of non-dessert options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Sample flavors: peanut butter Oreo, grapenut custard, strawberry pop tart, cherry vanilla, Almond Joy

Cabot’s sundae
Cabot’s sundae
Cabot’s/Official Site

Emack & Bolio's

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Emack & Bolio’s is now a chain with locations in five states (including nine in Massachusetts) and throughout Asia, but it was born in a Brookline basement in the 1970s thanks to a “hippie lawyer” working in the music industry and looking to provide musicians a place to “mellow out and satisfy their munchies” after gigs. In addition to numerous ice cream flavors (and cones dipped in almost absurd amounts of candy, cereal, and other toppings), Emack & Bolio’s serves chocolates and fudge, smoothies, ice cream pizza, and micro-brewed sodas.

Sample flavors: heaven (vanilla, marshmallow, white chocolate chips), mud pie, grasshopper pie, trippin’ on espresso, bananas Foster

Emack & Bolio’s ice cream
Emack & Bolio’s ice cream
Emack & Bolio’s/Instagram

The rest of the points on this map tend towards the quick-service direction — ice cream stands with picnic tables outside, for the most part. But Picco is a full-service South End destination that specializes in two things: pizza and ice cream. Both are among the best in their class in the Boston area. In addition to dishes and cones of ice cream, Picco also serves boozy and non-boozy frappes and ice cream sodas as well as sundaes.

Sample flavors: PB chip, dark chocolate, caramel swirl, coffee chip, ginger

Ice cream at Picco
Ice cream at Picco
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Herrell's Ice Cream

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Herrell’s has been a big name in Massachusetts ice cream for decades. Founder Steve Herrell first opened Steve’s Ice Cream in Somerville’s Davis Square in 1973, pioneering the idea of adding mix-ins to order. In 1980, Herrell opened the first Herrell’s in Northampton, which is still operating today. (Herrell retired a few years ago and is working on a book about ice cream but still works on special projects with current owner Judy Herrell.) In addition to ice cream, Herrell’s serves frozen yogurt, sorbet, and sherbet. There are also dairy-free (“No-Moo”) and sugar-free ice cream options.

Sample flavors: English toffee crunch, malted vanilla, blackberry chiffon, caliente chocolate, jalapeño poppers

Herrell’s sundae
Herrell’s sundae
Herrell’s/Facebook

J.P. Licks

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Jamaica Plain’s famous ice cream chain was “accidentally” founded by a 26-year-old in 1981; owner Vince Petryk fell into ice cream-making by working as an ice cream shop dishwasher after graduating college with a psychology degree. What he had once thought of as a temporary job became his life as he moved up the ladder and ultimately opened his own place. There are now more than a dozen locations around the Boston area. J.P. Licks serves hard ice cream and yogurt, tart soft frozen yogurts, frappes, sundaes, cakes, and more. Keep an eye out for new seasonal special flavors each month.

Sample flavors: fresh mint, brownie brownie batter, mint cookies ‘n’ cream, sweet cream, coconut almond chip

JP Licks ice cream
J.P. Licks ice cream
J.P. Licks/Facebook

Crescent Ridge Dairy

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The kind of ice cream stand where “small” means “massive.” In addition to serving some of the best ice cream in the state, this Sharon-based dairy (which has plenty of cows onsite) still provides milk delivery service throughout the region, which it’s been doing since its founding in 1932. It’s been owned by the Parrish family the whole time. Crescent Ridge also has a stand at Boston Public Market in downtown Boston.

Sample flavors: Mississippi mud, s’mores, peanut butter cup, extreme chocolate, coconut

Crescent Ridge ice cream
Crescent Ridge ice cream
Crescent Ride [Official Photo]

Friendly's

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Say what you will about modern-day Friendly’s, a massive chain with nearly 400 locations around the East Coast, but the company’s importance to Massachusetts’ ice cream history can’t be ignored (and let’s be honest, the candy-bedecked sundaes are always a good choice.) The first location — then called Friendly — opened in Springfield way back in 1935. That location is long gone, but we’re picking another Springfield address for this map point in honor of that first one. From being on the forefront of take-home half-gallon packaging in the 1950s to massive supermarket distribution in the 1980s, it’s been a wild ride full of “happy ending” sundaes, Fribbles, and Wattamelon Rolls.

Sample flavors: hunka chunka PB fudge, black raspberry, Vienna mocha chunk, nuts over caramel, rockin’ poppin’ cotton candy

Friendly’s ice cream
Friendly’s ice cream
Friendly’s/Facebook

Lewis Brothers Ice Cream

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A relative newcomer on this list, Lewis Brothers opened in 1997. The seasonal shop’s selection includes banana splits, ice cream sodas, frappes, sherbet and sorbet freezes, fruitees (dairy-free frozen fruit purees), and more. There’s also a solar-powered Lewis Brothers Ice Cream truck that makes appearances at the Truro farmers market and various Truro beaches throughout the summer.

Sample flavors: mojito, chocolate Guinness, peanut butter and jelly, cake batter, limoncello

Lewis Brothers ice cream
Lewis Brothers ice cream
Rachel W./Yelp

Kool Kone

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There’s ice cream, soft serve, ice cream sandwiches, fried banana sundaes, Kool Wiz (soft serve with mix-ins), and lots more on the dessert front, not to mention whole meals, from steak tips to fried pickles and ranch, fried seafood platters to lobster rolls. Mini golf, too. Credit cards accepted.

Sample flavors: frozen pudding, extreme chocolate, butter crunch, salted caramel chocolate pretzel, orange pineapple

Kool Kone ice cream
Kool Kone ice cream
Kool Kone/Instagram

Acushnet Creamery

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Open seasonally since 2003, Acushnet Creamery serves up over 50 flavors of ice cream — try one in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone. There are also ice cream cakes, frappes, freezes, “Nor’easters” (blended ice cream with mix-ins), ice cream sandwiches, sundaes, and more. There’s a second Acushnet Creamery in South Dartmouth, with a third in the works for New Bedford.

Sample flavors: macaderry nut, caffeine crunch, raspberry serenity, cranberry harvest, coffee Oreo

Acushnet Creamery ice cream
Acushnet Creamery ice cream
Acushnet Creamery/Facebook

Kream 'n Kone

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It’s all about the soft serve here — 27 flavors of it. Also on the menu: onion rings, fried seafood, seafood rolls, burgers, and more, plus beer and wine. Open daily from mid-February through late October. Kream ‘n Kone originally opened in 1953, and the current owners have been in charge since 1990. This location opened in 2003 after a fire earlier that year destroyed the original location.

Sample flavors: peach, banana, cheesecake, coffee, blackberry

Kream ‘n Kone ice cream
Kream ‘n Kone ice cream
Kream ’n Kone/Official Site

Cape Cod Creamery

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With locations in Hyannis and South Yarmouth, Cape Cod Creamery has been around for over a decade, pleasing Cape Cod ice cream fans all the while. (Look for quarts at a variety of supermarkets around the area.)

Sample flavors: Dennis double chocolate, Nauset peach, Bourne butter pecan, Chilmark chocolate almond, Sandy Neck Snickers

Cape Cod Creamery banana split
Cape Cod Creamery banana split
Cape Cod Creamery/Instagram

Oxford Creamery

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Open since 1931 (originally called Gulf Hill Ice Cream), Oxford Creamery serves ice cream, burgers, chowder, fish and chips, and more. (The extensive ice cream selection also includes six flavors of dairy-free, vegan-friendly ice cream from Boston-based FoMu.) It’s open seasonally, April to October, and also operates a food truck dubbed “the Oxcart,” which serves lobster rolls, hot dogs, and more. The current owners have been in charge since 2003, barely changing anything from the previous ownership, aside from adding sweet potato fries.

Sample flavors: death by chocolate, green monster, strawberry cheesecake, butter pecan, moose tracks

Oxford Creamery ice cream
Oxford Creamery ice cream
Susan B./Yelp

Mad Martha's

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Open since 1971, this Vineyard favorite is a cash-only, seasonal spot that serves up massive sundaes, cookiewiches, and more until midnight daily. Try the “pigs delight” sundae — a dozen scoops, “tons” of toppings, a couple bananas, whipped cream, “many” cherries, and a “nose full of nuts” — order by saying “oink.”

Sample flavors: blueberry, pistachio, mint chocolate chip, Reese’s, maple walnut

Mad Martha’s ice cream
Mad Martha’s ice cream
Mad Martha’s/Facebook

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White Farms Homemade Ice Cream

Just look for the giant cow on the roof. This cash-only spot has been around since 1958 (serving ice cream since 1963) and features dozens of flavors of ice cream, soft serve, and frozen yogurt, as well as ice cream cakes, ice cream pies, sundaes, frappes, frozen lemonade, raspberry lime rickeys, slushes, and more. Quarts and pints are available to take home. Plus, there’s miniature golf — and even mini golf leagues for kids as well as adults.

Sample flavors: red raspberry chip, key lime, peppermint stick, vanilla fudge brownie, reverse chocolate chip

White Farms ice cream
White Farms ice cream
White Farms/Official Site

Richardson's Ice Cream

Think some of the places on this map are old? Nothing beats Richardson’s, a continuously operating dairy farm since 1695. (Ice cream came into play in the 1950s at Richardson’s, and wholesale business began in 1978.) The eighth and ninth generations of the Richardson’s family are in charge these days. The flagship Middleton location includes cows, sheep, ducks, and more animals; mini golf, batting cages, and a driving range; and, of course, plenty of ice cream. There’s also a location at Jordan’s Furniture in Reading.

Sample flavors: double chocolate, coffee Kahlua brownie, totally turtle, bubble gum, Maine black bear

Richardson’s ice cream
Richardson’s ice cream
Richardson‘s/Facebook

Kimball Farm

Kimball Farm’s massive Westford location includes more than 50 flavors of ice cream, mini golf, bumper boats, batting cages, arcade games, a driving range, a zip line, pony rides, a country store, a cafe, a seafood shack, and space for private events for up to 4000 attendees. (There are also smaller locations in Lancaster, MA; Carlisle, MA; and Jaffrey, NH.) Kimball Farm has been making ice cream since 1939, and in addition to a few dozen staple flavors, there are also special flavors that rotate week to week.

Sample flavors: rum raisin, gingersnap molasses, peanut butter butterfinger, malted moo crunch, cherry vanilla chip

Kimball Farm ice cream
Kimball Farm ice cream
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Cedar Hill Dairy Joy

Open seasonally since 1961 and run by the same family the whole time, Dairy Joy serves soft serve, sherbet, sorbet, raspberry lime rickeys, lobster rolls, hamburgers, fried clams, and more. Cash only.

Sample flavors: javaberry, coffee, chocolate-vanilla twist, creamsicle, raspberry sherbet

Dairy Joy ice cream
Dairy Joy ice cream
Dairy Joy/Facebook

Christina's Homemade Ice Cream

An Inman Square hotspot since 1983, Christina’s has snapped up plenty of acclaim and awards over the years thanks to its big selection of creative flavors. Owner Raymond Ford, previously a professor of social theory, left academia and bought the shop from its previous owner in 1993. Open daily until 10:30 p.m. Note: Full-service catering is available on weekdays with three days’ notice.

Sample flavors: dulce de leche, chocolate banana, herbal chai, burnt sugar, egg nog

Christina’s ice cream
Christina’s ice cream
Christina’s/Official Site

Toscanini's

A Cambridge legend since 1981, Toscanini’s can frequently be spotted with a long line snaking out the door and down Main Street thanks to its fun and often unusual flavors. There are 32 flavors available at any given time, but many of them change often, and there are also ice cream sandwiches (cookies made in-house), affogato (espresso poured over ice cream), and “micro sundaes” (one small scoop with whipped cream, hot fudge, nuts, and sprinkles). Also on the menu: baked goods (some made in-house and some sourced from Iggy’s), cakes, coffee, and tea. Free samples. Note: This location is temporarily closed due to construction, but there’s a new offshoot nearby.

Sample flavors: B3 (brown sugar, brown butter, brownies), strawberry mascarpone, mango habanero, burnt caramel, brown sugar miso soft serve

A scoop of chocolate ice cream in a branded yellow cup from Toscanini’s, with chunks of chocolate scattered in the background
Toscanini’s ice cream
Toscanini’s/Official Site

Cabot's Ice Cream & Restaurant

This classic Newton ice cream parlor has been around since 1969, serving up more than 70 flavors of ice cream and a variety of sundaes, including multiple types of banana boats and Belgian waffle-based combos. Also on the menu: frappes, freezes, apple pie, ice cream sodas, and more — not to mention plenty of non-dessert options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Sample flavors: peanut butter Oreo, grapenut custard, strawberry pop tart, cherry vanilla, Almond Joy

Cabot’s sundae
Cabot’s sundae
Cabot’s/Official Site

Emack & Bolio's

Emack & Bolio’s is now a chain with locations in five states (including nine in Massachusetts) and throughout Asia, but it was born in a Brookline basement in the 1970s thanks to a “hippie lawyer” working in the music industry and looking to provide musicians a place to “mellow out and satisfy their munchies” after gigs. In addition to numerous ice cream flavors (and cones dipped in almost absurd amounts of candy, cereal, and other toppings), Emack & Bolio’s serves chocolates and fudge, smoothies, ice cream pizza, and micro-brewed sodas.

Sample flavors: heaven (vanilla, marshmallow, white chocolate chips), mud pie, grasshopper pie, trippin’ on espresso, bananas Foster

Emack & Bolio’s ice cream
Emack & Bolio’s ice cream
Emack & Bolio’s/Instagram

Picco

The rest of the points on this map tend towards the quick-service direction — ice cream stands with picnic tables outside, for the most part. But Picco is a full-service South End destination that specializes in two things: pizza and ice cream. Both are among the best in their class in the Boston area. In addition to dishes and cones of ice cream, Picco also serves boozy and non-boozy frappes and ice cream sodas as well as sundaes.

Sample flavors: PB chip, dark chocolate, caramel swirl, coffee chip, ginger

Ice cream at Picco
Ice cream at Picco
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Herrell's Ice Cream

Herrell’s has been a big name in Massachusetts ice cream for decades. Founder Steve Herrell first opened Steve’s Ice Cream in Somerville’s Davis Square in 1973, pioneering the idea of adding mix-ins to order. In 1980, Herrell opened the first Herrell’s in Northampton, which is still operating today. (Herrell retired a few years ago and is working on a book about ice cream but still works on special projects with current owner Judy Herrell.) In addition to ice cream, Herrell’s serves frozen yogurt, sorbet, and sherbet. There are also dairy-free (“No-Moo”) and sugar-free ice cream options.

Sample flavors: English toffee crunch, malted vanilla, blackberry chiffon, caliente chocolate, jalapeño poppers

Herrell’s sundae
Herrell’s sundae
Herrell’s/Facebook

J.P. Licks

Jamaica Plain’s famous ice cream chain was “accidentally” founded by a 26-year-old in 1981; owner Vince Petryk fell into ice cream-making by working as an ice cream shop dishwasher after graduating college with a psychology degree. What he had once thought of as a temporary job became his life as he moved up the ladder and ultimately opened his own place. There are now more than a dozen locations around the Boston area. J.P. Licks serves hard ice cream and yogurt, tart soft frozen yogurts, frappes, sundaes, cakes, and more. Keep an eye out for new seasonal special flavors each month.

Sample flavors: fresh mint, brownie brownie batter, mint cookies ‘n’ cream, sweet cream, coconut almond chip

JP Licks ice cream
J.P. Licks ice cream
J.P. Licks/Facebook

Crescent Ridge Dairy

The kind of ice cream stand where “small” means “massive.” In addition to serving some of the best ice cream in the state, this Sharon-based dairy (which has plenty of cows onsite) still provides milk delivery service throughout the region, which it’s been doing since its founding in 1932. It’s been owned by the Parrish family the whole time. Crescent Ridge also has a stand at Boston Public Market in downtown Boston.

Sample flavors: Mississippi mud, s’mores, peanut butter cup, extreme chocolate, coconut

Crescent Ridge ice cream
Crescent Ridge ice cream
Crescent Ride [Official Photo]

Friendly's

Say what you will about modern-day Friendly’s, a massive chain with nearly 400 locations around the East Coast, but the company’s importance to Massachusetts’ ice cream history can’t be ignored (and let’s be honest, the candy-bedecked sundaes are always a good choice.) The first location — then called Friendly — opened in Springfield way back in 1935. That location is long gone, but we’re picking another Springfield address for this map point in honor of that first one. From being on the forefront of take-home half-gallon packaging in the 1950s to massive supermarket distribution in the 1980s, it’s been a wild ride full of “happy ending” sundaes, Fribbles, and Wattamelon Rolls.

Sample flavors: hunka chunka PB fudge, black raspberry, Vienna mocha chunk, nuts over caramel, rockin’ poppin’ cotton candy

Friendly’s ice cream
Friendly’s ice cream
Friendly’s/Facebook

Lewis Brothers Ice Cream

A relative newcomer on this list, Lewis Brothers opened in 1997. The seasonal shop’s selection includes banana splits, ice cream sodas, frappes, sherbet and sorbet freezes, fruitees (dairy-free frozen fruit purees), and more. There’s also a solar-powered Lewis Brothers Ice Cream truck that makes appearances at the Truro farmers market and various Truro beaches throughout the summer.

Sample flavors: mojito, chocolate Guinness, peanut butter and jelly, cake batter, limoncello

Lewis Brothers ice cream
Lewis Brothers ice cream
Rachel W./Yelp

Kool Kone

There’s ice cream, soft serve, ice cream sandwiches, fried banana sundaes, Kool Wiz (soft serve with mix-ins), and lots more on the dessert front, not to mention whole meals, from steak tips to fried pickles and ranch, fried seafood platters to lobster rolls. Mini golf, too. Credit cards accepted.

Sample flavors: frozen pudding, extreme chocolate, butter crunch, salted caramel chocolate pretzel, orange pineapple

Kool Kone ice cream
Kool Kone ice cream
Kool Kone/Instagram

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Acushnet Creamery

Open seasonally since 2003, Acushnet Creamery serves up over 50 flavors of ice cream — try one in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone. There are also ice cream cakes, frappes, freezes, “Nor’easters” (blended ice cream with mix-ins), ice cream sandwiches, sundaes, and more. There’s a second Acushnet Creamery in South Dartmouth, with a third in the works for New Bedford.

Sample flavors: macaderry nut, caffeine crunch, raspberry serenity, cranberry harvest, coffee Oreo

Acushnet Creamery ice cream
Acushnet Creamery ice cream
Acushnet Creamery/Facebook

Kream 'n Kone

It’s all about the soft serve here — 27 flavors of it. Also on the menu: onion rings, fried seafood, seafood rolls, burgers, and more, plus beer and wine. Open daily from mid-February through late October. Kream ‘n Kone originally opened in 1953, and the current owners have been in charge since 1990. This location opened in 2003 after a fire earlier that year destroyed the original location.

Sample flavors: peach, banana, cheesecake, coffee, blackberry