The Scoop Starts Here!
Some holidays ask you to dress up. This one just asks you to grab a spoon. National Ice Cream Month is in full swing, and National Ice Cream Day on July 19 is the sweetest excuse yet to hit the road in search of your next favorite scoop.
From old-fashioned scoops to rolled creations and towering sundaes, there's no shortage of places ready to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Cone Voyage
Every ice cream shop has its own personality, which is exactly what makes celebrating National Ice Cream Day so much fun. Some specialize in nostalgic recipes that have been served for generations. Others pile on inventive toppings, unexpected flavors, or fresh-made waffle cones that somehow smell even better than the ice cream itself. Whether you're grabbing dessert after dinner or making frozen treats the main event, locally owned shops turn an ordinary stop into something worth remembering.
There's also no wrong way to celebrate. Maybe you're loyal to a simple chocolate cone, or perhaps you're the type who orders cookie dough, caramel, brownie bites, whipped cream, and a cherry all in one glorious creation. National Ice Cream Day gives everyone permission to skip the debate and simply order what sounds good.
If you're looking for inspiration, these Alabama favorites are worth adding to your summer driving list:
- Skylar's Skoops – Muscle Shoals
- Cowbell Rolled Ice Cream – Gulf Shores
- Milky Moo's Deli & Creamery – Enterprise
- O Town Ice Cream – Opelika
- La Monarca Creamery & Snack Bar – Pelham
- Cammie's Old Dutch Ice Cream – Mobile
- Freezy's Creamery – Helena
Each stop offers something a little different. Family-owned favorites continue traditions that span decades, while newer shops put creative spins on classic desserts with rolled ice cream, specialty shakes, loaded waffles, and colorful sundaes. You'll also find everything from handcrafted small-batch flavors to recipes inspired by Mexican traditions, proving that the celebration can taste completely different depending on where you stop.
National Ice Cream Day also happens to be one of the easiest excuses to explore somewhere new. Pick a destination you've never visited, spend the afternoon browsing nearby shops or attractions, then reward yourself with a scoop before heading home. Whether you end the day with a simple scoop or a towering sundae, it’s a pretty sweet reminder that some of the best summer traditions come served in a cone!
Searching for even more sweet stops? Find your next dessert destination at https://www.guidetoalabama.com/desserts.