Guest blogger. Jamie Feinberg of InSearchOfAScoop.com, shares her passion for ice cream and her top picks as you travel in search of sweetness. For more discussion on this sweet topic, join our Forums to share and debate the best scoops.
One of my favorite things about RVing and the full-time RV life is that I get to try tons of ice cream places during my travels. I can almost always find a delicious option (ALMOST) within an hour or two’s drive of where I am, but there are some places that are truly destinations in and of themselves.
Ice cream is also one of the most affordable ways to be a foodie, so it can fit into almost anyone’s budget! I’ve been blogging at In Search of a Scoop since 2014, so if you want more guidance on the best spots for a scoop in your travels, I’ve got you covered.
Just the Wright Place For Ice Cream has the best low or fat free soft serve around (seriously!) and great hard ice cream, and both Jeni’s and Van Leeuwens are absolutely favorites of mine, but I figure they get enough attention already.
And Uncle Eddy’s on the Outer Banks has exceptional soft serve custard – ask for it with hot fudge mixed in! But I was asked for a top five, so that’s what I will share.
These are my favorite spots for a scoop in the U.S.
#5 Tie: Frankie & Jo’s, Seattle, Washington and Little Chickpea, Portland, Oregon
Interested in vegan or dairy-free ice creams? Want some gluten-free cones or baked goods with your ice cream? Both of these places are completely vegan and gluten-free – they’re delicious and well worth a visit! Frankie & Jo’s has amazing waffle cones, and Little Chickpea has chickpea-based ice cream. How cool is that?
#4 Torico, Jersey City, New Jersey
If you want the classic, beautiful ice cream parlor experience, this place is tops! Outstanding ice cream and super-friendly staff. Very affordable too – if they’ve got black sesame or peppermint on the menu, they’re a must-try!
#3 Hatchland Farm’s Dairy Delites, Haverhill, New Hampshire
If soft serve is your thing, or if you just enjoy delicious ice cream, you do NOT want to miss a trip to Hatchland. It’s in the middle of nowhere, basically, but it’s worth it! Come here for the soft serve, made from their own cows’ cream – that’s why it’s so rich. Maple soft serve is LIFE-CHANGING, as is their sweet cream. But any of the soft serve is exceptional, and available seasonally. It’s also almost absurdly cheap. Off-season, visit their little store, full of local goods and with pints and quarts of their hard ice cream.
#2 Pumphouse Creamery, Minneapolis
This is a delightful spot for the true ice cream connoisseur. Try their three versions of cinnamon ice cream, and don’t miss their outstanding chocolate ice cream. This stuff is pure, simple ingredients made with incredible love by great staff. Bring a cooler and take some to go!
#1 Chokola, Taos, New Mexico
While their specialty is chocolate in all forms (drinking chocolates mostly), they also carry baked goods and about a half dozen flavors of ice cream at any time. It’s all delicious and worth a try, but their chocolate ice cream is extraordinarily creamy and rich. It’s literally the best chocolate ice cream I’ve ever had. If you’re in Taos, or honestly anywhere in northern New Mexico, I can’t recommend a visit more highly.
Wherever you go in your travels, be sure to do a quick Google and figure out the best spot (or two) nearby for a homemade scoop. And let me know when you find a winner!
Please add your comments below to share your vote for best ice cream or parlor. We all scream for ice cream! Or join our Forums where we share the scoop on all parts of travel including favorite ice cream stops.
About the author: Jamie Feinberg is a traveler, entrepreneur, and creative problem-solver helping aspiring adventurers get the mindset and tools to create the life of their dreams. She shares her ice cream travels at InSearchOfAScoop.com and offers inspiration and free resources like the “Four Steps To Your Dream Life Blueprint” as well as coaching for aspiring adventurers at RossAndJamieAdventure.com.
Leave a Reply