Now that school is out, we think it’s time for a sweet summer treat! Cool off with seasonal flavors, specialty sundaes, and freshly made frozen delights from your favorite local ice cream shops.

Here’s the scoop on our top five local ice cream spots:

Andia’s Homemade Ice Cream
We’ll start with the cover models from our June/July issue – the Gimme S’more Monster Shake returns this summer, and it lives up to its delicious name. Andia’s recently refreshed their brand and made the switch from premium ice cream to super premium ice cream. What does that mean? They have reduced the amount of air that gets churned into their homemade ice cream to make it denser and creamier.

What to try: An Andia’s shake, a scoop in a rainbow cone, or for ice cream with a Southern twist, try Carolina Comfort, a butter pecan ice cream with roasted pecans.
10120 Green Level Church Road, Suite 208, Cary
1008 Ryan Road, Cary

1. 

   Blueberry ice cream from Fresh Local Ice Cream in Cary is a tasty way to cool off.

FRESH. Local Ice Cream
If you’re visiting downtown Cary or Apex, no trip is complete without a stop at FRESH. With refreshing seasonal flavors like peach and pistachio, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. What makes FRESH. Local special? Their ice cream is made with ingredients from local farms and produced fresh at each location.

What to try: Chocolate lovers will enjoy Midnight Brownie Crunch, or tap into your kid-at-heart with Salted Caramel Animal Cracker, a white cake batter ice cream with animal crackers mixed in.
109 North Salem St., Apex
138 East Chatham St., Cary

1. 

   Kristen and Luis Hernandez visited Kilwins with their children, and they now own and operate three locations of the confection franchise in the Triangle.

Kilwins
Beat the heat with a trip to Kilwins for their original recipe ice cream. With dozens of flavors to choose from, you can enjoy rich, super premium ice cream at any of their area locations. And Kilwins knows about making the perfect scoop. Waffle cones are made fresh in store and create a delicious summer treat with handcrafted hot fudge or caramel toppings.

What to try: Try a freshly made waffle cone (or waffle dish, if you’re really hungry) with a scoop of Toasted Coconut or Sea-Salt Caramel to satisfy your sweet tooth.
2004 Boulderstone Way, Cary
3308 Village Market Place, Morrisville

1. 

   At Milk Lab in Cary, a milk-based mixture is poured onto a super-cold surface and stirred as it freezes, creating a creamy texture. Once frozen, the mixture is spread across the icy grill and pushed into rolls.

MILKLAB
Locally owned and founded by N.C. State grads, MILKLAB is a must-visit for ice cream lovers. They specialize in Thai-style rolled ice cream served with unlimited toppings, and their menu is packed with delicious flavors and fun treats. MILKLAB makes using the best ingredients their top priority. Ice cream and specialty tea drinks are made with grass-fed, organic milk, and everything is made fresh in house every day.

What to try: Even if it’s not your birthday, try Birthday Cake rolled ice cream, a special treat with birthday cupcake ice cream mixed with Teddy Graham crackers, or combine premium tea and organic ice cream for a MILKLAB Float.
6418 Tryon Road, Cary

Goodberry’s Frozen Custard
While not technically ice cream, Goodberry’s is a North Carolina staple and well worth the wait in the long summer lines. Their all-natural frozen custard recipe is made hourly at each location with fresh cream, eggs, milk, and pure cane sugar. Choose from chocolate, vanilla, and a daily rotating flavor to create a delicious summer treat.

What to try: Choose your flavor, two toppings, and endless possibilities in their famous Carolina Concrete.
1146 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary
2325 Davis Drive, Cary