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15 Places to Fly for Ice Cream on Southwest Airlines!

dishtrip
Explorer A

July is National Ice Cream Month and Sunday July 15th, 2012 is officially National Ice Cream Day! Well, you know, Dish Trip loves to travel for food and that certainly includes the frozen, creamy kind. To celebrate we’ll be taking flight to one of the spots we’ve listed below, to buy some fellow Southwest Airlines fans and ice cream lovers some sweet scoops, compliments of the LUV Airline. We’ll also be handing out coupons for FREE frozen treats from our friends at Skinny Cow (a decadent ice cream snack company that believes you should never deny yourself a creamy treat!) to new comrades that we meet in the airports and on the planes! 

If you’re traveling on Sunday, July 15th, keep an eye out for the Dish Trip crew, and send us a tweet, so we can hook you up with some FREE ice cream.

But, in the meantime, dive into our sweet destinations below and if you show up at the one ice cream destination that we have chosen to go to, you will likely have some complimentary fine scoops of ice cream in your near future. 

 Ice Cream

Brooklyn, NY: Blue Marble
186 Underhill Avenue, Brooklyn, New York
bluemarbleicecream.com
Fly To: LaGuardia Airport, Drive Approx.: 20 min.

Founders Jennie Dundas and Alexis Miesen’s charming, eco-friendly concoctions are crafted only from farm-fresh ingredients, consistently swirling locally-sourced, organic goods into life-changings scoops. Debuting in 2007 in New York, the shop that purveys as “oh-my-god-yum” has since expanded to a second shop in Prospect Heights. For their third shop, Blue Marble opened in Rwanda–as a project that helps locals dream of a brighter future. How’s that for a sweet story with your scoop?

Must-Try Flavor: Simple Strawberry – 9 pounds of fresh strawberries go into every two-gallon tub

Kansas City: Glacé Artisan Ice Cream
4960 Main St., Kansas City, MO
glaceicecream.com
Fly to: Kansas City International Airport, Drive Approx.: 30 min.

Globe-trotting chef Christopher Elbow landed in Kansas City to perfect his chocolate-making craft as a pastry chef. Soon, he transformed into a master chocolatier and began articulating his love for making use of unusual ingredients in his ice cream making. Glacé, a grown-up sweet treat shop, debuted just in 2010, immediately churning out boundary-pushing, brilliantly-executed concoctions like Fleur de Sel Caramel and Blackberry Chocolate Flake.

Must-Try Flavor: Tie – Salted Pretzel and Goat Cheese and Honey

Philadelphia, PA: Franklin Fountain
116 Market Street  Philadelphia, PA
franklinfountain.com
Fly to: Philadelphia International Airport, Drive Approx.: 20 min.

In 2004, brothers Ryan and Eric Berley introduced their early 1900's soda fountain in Philadelphia’s Old City district as an incredibly-cool blast from the past packed with endless choices of hard ice cream, ice cream sodas, phosphates, and sundaes. Few places remain where you can sip a satisfyingly simple fruit soda concocted with fresh syrup and soda dispensed from an actual (still working!) antique fountain.

Must-Try Flavor: Teaberry Gum Ice Cream

Austin, TX: Amy's Ice Creams
3600 Presidential Blvd. #20, Austin, TX
amysicecreams.com
Fly to: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, located inside airport

Amy's Ice Creams has been a local Texas institution since the '80s, swirling up seven signature flavors aside an array of mix-in options and dozens of rotating, always-interesting flavors. They continue to cling to one of their better ice cream making ideas (thank god!) – splashing beer into their creamy blends. What’s their suds of choice? Shiner Bock, an iconic Texan beer.

Must-Try Flavor: Cop Stop (Coffee Ice Cream with Donuts)

Denver, CO: Sweet Action Ice Cream
52 Broadway, Denver, CO
sweetactionicecream.com
Fly to: Denver International Airport, Drive Approx.: 40 min.

In 2009, owners Samantha Kopicko and Chia Basinger introduced progressive flavors like horchata, cinnamon roll and salted butterscotch at their petite, 100-percent wind-powered ice cream shop. Scooping signature confections for all palates, they even serve up blends for vegans and those who are lactose-intolerant. Two vegan options are on the roster at all times.

Must-Try Flavor: Baklava Ice Cream

Columbus, OH: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1281 Grandview Avenue, Columbus, OH
jenisicecreams.com
Fly to: Port Columbus International Airport, Drive Approx.: 20 min.

Jeni Britton Bauer and her team has reinvented ice creams that they time-and-time-again fall madly in love with and devour out of Mason jars, coffee mugs—whatever they can get their hands on. With one visit, you’ll be pining for some just as the staff does! What is best about Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is that they craft handmade American ice cream with silky, Snowville milk and cream from grass-fed cows as their foundation. From there, they create magical ice creams, sorbets and frozen yogurts in imaginative flavors like wildberry lavender and Thai chili.

Must-Try Flavor: Salty Caramel Ice Cream

Scottsdale, AZ: Sweet Republic
9160 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ
sweetrepublic.com
Fly to: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Drive Approx.: 20 min.

Since 2008, Sweet Republic owners Jan Wichayanuparp and Helen Yung have perked ice cream connoisseurs–Alton Brown included–with their homemade, locally-sourced small batches. But, what sets this lush indulgence one step above the rest is that they even create all of their tasty toppings by hand too – we’re talking everything from the waffle cones, to the brownie bits and even, the marshmallows!

Must-Try Flavor: Cheese Course Duo (Blue Cheese with Arizona Medjool Dates)

San Francisco: Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th Street, San Francisco, CA
biritecreamery.com
Fly to: San Francisco International Airport, Drive Approx.: 20 min.

You’ll spy this West Coast landmark nestled in the heart of the San Francisco’s Mission District, a cool creamery that acts not only as an ice cream hot spot, but also a bakeshop. This means the adorable cafe has all the necessary parts to build a perfect ice cream sandwich, an ultimate popsicle, and of course, incredible ice cream toppings. Melding sophistication with an air of nostalgia, owners Anne Walker and Kris Hoogerhyde know how to successfully satisfy your desire for sweet-and-savory in any and every bite.

Must-Try Flavor: Ricanelas (Cinnamon with Snickerdoodles)

Seattle, WA: Molly Moon’s Ice Cream
917 E Pine St., Seattle, WA
mollymoonicecream.com
Fly to: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Drive Approx.: 20 min.

Ice cream purists who prefer their waffle cones to be topped with traditional scoops of Vanilla Bean will live harmoniously with the adventurous eaters who may choose Salted Caramel or Balsamic Strawberry. Molly Moon’s Ice Cream couples creamy dairy from happy, hormone-free Western Washington cows with seasonal, local, and (when available) organic fruits and spices to make combinations that are both familiar and surprising.

Must-Try Flavors:  Theo Chocolate or Balsamic Strawberry

Atlanta, GA: Morelli's Gourmet Ice Cream
749 Moreland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA
morellisicecream.com
Fly to: HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport, Drive Approx. 20 min.

In 2008, Donald Sargent left the pharmaceutical world to do something that he always loved to do as a kid–make ice cream! Donald and wife Clarissa Morelli's goal is simple: create the best and most unique ice cream in the city. Their densely-textured homemade ice cream is affordable, gourmet goodness with fun and imaginative flavors. Food critics have raved and we agree, this small walk-up ice cream parlor in East Atlanta was named the 4th best ice cream shop in America (Bon Appétit Magazine, 2009), as well as winning “Best Of Atlanta” categories by Atlanta Magazine and Creative Loafing (2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011).

Must-Try Flavor: Ginger-Lavender

Portsmouth, NH: Annabelle's Natural Ice Cream
49 Ceres Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
annabellesicecream.com
Fly to: Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, Drive approx.: 1 hour

A small ice cream shop, tucked alongside the waterfront in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, opened in July of 1982. Before long the small shop was attracting customers from all over New England and lines still form today for this super premium, rich, creamy, and loaded with "stuff" ice cream. Lewis E. Palosky is keeping this sweet tradition going with a reputation for “fine quality, friendly service and a fair value.”  They serve all-natural scoops in more than 30 regular flavors, plus rotating seasonal ones.

Must-Try Flavor: Mint Summer Night's Dream

Hillsborough, NC: Maple View Farm and Dairy
3109 Dairyland Road  Hillsborough, NC
mapleviewfarm.com
Fly to: Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Drive Approx.: 40 min.

Journey to the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina and find Bob and Chris Nutter’s family-owned dairy farm where they’ve been scooping up hormone- and antibiotic-free ice creams since 2001. While their traditional, high-quality flavors (vanilla, chocolate, butter pecan, etc.) are perfect spoonfuls for taking in the farm’s scenery, it is their ever-evolving, seasonal lineup that delights sweet-toothed enthusiasts. A tease of their special blends include Candied Bacon, Banana Puddin’, Eggnog and Pumpkin Pie.

Must-Try Flavor: Signature Item: Carolina Crunch

South Carolina: Berry Island Ice Cream Café
Newpoint Corners, Lady's Island, SC
berryislandcafe.com
Fly to: Charleston International Airport, Drive approx. 1.5 hour

Located on Lady’s Island in the charming coastal town of Beaufort, Berry Island Ice Cream Cafe has been making their our own ice cream since the last century! They offer 24 flavors at a time, including Barbra Streisand’s favorite–Prince of Tides, a coffee-almond fudge flavor that is star-studded deliciousness. But, we think that Nuts About Southwest fans should go for The Nutcase: it’s a homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookie under a scoop of butter pecan drizzled with caramel topped with praline walnuts, pecans, and pistachios.

Must-Try Flavor: “Prince of Tides” – Barbra Streisand’s favorite

Boulder, CO: Boulder Ice Cream
4747 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO
bouldericecream.com
Fly to: Denver International Airport, Drive Approx.: 50 min.

From California to Missouri and as far south as Texas, you may spy Boulder Ice Cream’s eco-conscious, innovative pints that are perfectly simple–they’re hand-manufactured with only the following ingredients: local cream and milk, sugar, egg yolks, guar gum and carob bean gum. Operating on 100% wind power and in the process of converting their entire line of 150 ice cream flavors to all organic, the sustainable manufacturer’s farm-focused strides are always impressive–and of course, all their work tastes darn good too!

Must-Try Flavor: Island Coconut

Waterbury, VT: Ben & Jerry’s
1281 Waterbury Stowe Rd., Waterbury, VT
benjerry.com
Fly to: Albany International Airport, Drive Approx.: 3 hours

We’ve all had a night where we grabbed a Ben & Jerry’s pint. Whether you opted for Chubby Hubby, Cherry Garcia, or Whirled Peace, with just one bite your evening becomes a bit brighter and you tip your hat to Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield for never failing to bless your taste-buds with their otherworldly flavors. Opening for business back in 1978, the daring duo forever-continues to churn out iconically quirky combinations, with production now exceeding 190,000 pints per day. Head over for a tour of  their HQ if you’re a fanatic like us–it includes everything from tie-dye t-shirts to a “Flavor Graveyard,” taste-testing and even, an elevated view of the factory floor.

Must-Try Flavor: Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Late Night Snack’

(Featured photo at the top of this post, courtesy: G. Widman, GPTMC)

1 Comment
blusk
Aviator C
You guys missed the Tillamook Creamery in Tillamook, Oregonl. Not only do they make amazing cheese, their Ice Cream is the best I've found anywhere.