Yum! Frozen Yogurt topped with Gummy Worms - yes please!
There’s nothing that says summer more than scoops of your favorite ice cream flavors piled high in a waffle cone and topped with confetti sprinkles. Or maybe you prefer your ice cream on a stick, in a bowl, in a cup, or split; the possibilities are endless. There’s also gelato, sorbetto, frozen yogurt, soft serve. and shaved ice. And so many flavors and toppings! Plus, an added benefit, did you know that eating ice cream makes you happy? It’s a scientific fact.
Whichever way is your favorite and for whatever reason you eat it, you are sure to find a place that has your favorite in our list below. Indulge and enjoy!
Chapel Hill
1) Chapel Chill, one of the town's newest shops, makes handcrafted premium ice cream right in the store using premium ingredients. They always have 24 flavors, including classic flavors and some that will rotate. Can’t have dairy? They will always have several non-dairy options for you. Try their signature blend vanilla bean of pure Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar and Indonesia, strawberry made with real strawberries, classic chocolate, Chapel Hill Toffee and more. They are located on Weaver Dairy Road.
2) Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams comes to University Place as a free standing shop. From Pink Bubblegum, and Popcorn Brittle to Watermelon Taffy to Sweet Cream Biscuits & Peach Jam are just a few of the many unique flavors to enjoy. There are also dairy-free and gluten free selections.
3) Yogurt Pump, affectionately called YoPo, is the place to chill on the hill. Since 1982 (it was North Carolina’s first frozen yogurt shop) the family owned yogurt shop has been serving Chapel Hillians and students from their ‘80s décor style shop located in an alcove just off of W. Franklin Street. What’s currently swirling? Four flavors stay the same and four change daily. Try European Chocolate or Peanut Butter Cup.
4) La Vita Dolce Café serves up gelato and sorbetto that is made on-site using fresh fruit and spices, fine chocolate, and ingredients imported from Italy. Enjoy a scoop on their spacious outdoor patio.
5) Every town should have a Ben & Jerry’s. They are tried and true. You know you’ll always be satisfied. And they have an annual FREE cone day! Opt-in for a chocolate dipped waffle cone with rainbow sprinkles filled with Chunky Monkey, a nutty chocolatey chunky concoction gone bananas.
6) Another tried and true maker of the cold stuff, Cold Stone Creamery, has smooth and creamy super-premium customizable ice cream creations for the ultimate ice cream experience. You have to try their tasty, terrific ice cream cakes.
Carrboro
7) Head to Que Rico! Paletas and Ice Cream in Carrboro Plaza. Enjoy handmade fruit popsicles, yummy ice cream with flavors such as bubblegum, cotton candy, guava and many more. Try churros with your sundae.
Hillsborough
8) Probably the most popular of all ice cream venues in Orange County, NC is Maple View Farm Country Store. It’s true cow to cone. Maple View uses fresh local cream to make their award winning homemade ice cream, shakes, sundaes, creamery creations, banana splits, and more. They also carry local goods from Simply Natural Dairy, Cheese from Chapel Hill Creamery, Latta Farms eggs, Carolina Nutcracker pecans and more! Here's a visual to get your mouth watering with an added bonus of Union Grove Farm adjacent to the ice cream store.
9 & 10) Two more farms, Eno River Farm and Broken Spoke Farm, are making home made ice cream a part of their summer offerings along with berry picking, fresh picked produce and ornamental flowers.
11) Look for a different flavor of the week at Whit’s Frozen Custard of Hillsborough. Their custard is made daily and they have over 25 toppings to chose from. The shop is in West Hillsborough.
12) Hillsborough's newest ice cream shop is The Town Scoop. Try awesome flavors in cups and cones from banana pudding and cappuccino crunch to strawberry cheesecake and key lime pie. Also enjoy sundaes and milkshakes in the heart of downtown.
Fun Facts about Ice Cream
One scoop of ice cream needs about 50 licks to finish.
The average American eats roughly four gallons of ice cream each year.
The USA is second in the world in ice cream production.
Yes .. vanilla is the most popular ice cream flavor (followed by chocolate and strawberry). But if you are looking for some unique ice cream flavors in the US you can find lobster, roasted turmeric and candied ginger, thai basil coconut and honey jalapeno pickle.
What's your favorite flavor?
(Photo credit: header, The Yogurt Pump)
