If you love ice cream, vacation destinations don’t get much better than Sandwich, Massachusetts. This town, one of the oldest in the entire country, is full of small ice cream shops providing ideal spots for a frozen treat in the afternoon or evening.

Some of these shops are only open in the spring and summer, while others remain in business year-round, ensuring you won’t miss out on a delicious dessert if you check out the Cape during the offseason.

Here’s a look at the top five ice cream shops you’ll find while spending your vacation in Sandwich, MA.

1) Twin Acres Ice Cream Shoppe

Twin Acres Ice Cream Shoppe sits in a historic building on a two-acre plot of land, making it more of a destination than an ice cream parlor. This venue has a dining area with picnic tables, giving you a place to stop and enjoy your dessert, and a large parking lot with plenty of space for your vehicle.

The ice cream menu at Twin Acres is massive, featuring dozens of unique flavors. You can also get frozen yogurt, sherbet, sorbet, soft serve, sundaes, milkshakes, and freezes. They even have vegan ice cream available.

It’s possible to grab a quick meal at Twin Acres, too, as they sell hot dogs, sausages, and Cape Cod potato chips. One visit and you’ll quickly see why Twin Acres is one of the Cape’s most popular ice cream shops.

2) The Shipwreck Ice Cream

The Shipwreck Ice Cream is conveniently located across from the Sandwich Marina, making it the ideal place to stop after a day on the water. The facility has a small zoo with turtles and rabbits, an outdoor picnic area, and tons of ice cream options from which to choose.

In addition to the traditional hard scoop and soft serve options, you can grab a banana split, sundae, float, or frappe from The Shipwreck, and there are dozens of dry and wet toppings you can add to your cone for an additional fee.

Remember that The Shipwreck is cash-only, so you’ll have you hit up a bank machine before your visit.

3) Ice Cream Sandwich

The Ice Cream Sandwich is only about a block from The Shipwreck, giving you a couple of choices when you’re in the area. As you might expect based on its name, this venue specializes in ice cream sandwiches, with options made with cookies or donuts available.

Ice cream sandwiches aren’t the only thing on the menu, though, as you can choose between dozens of homemade ice cream flavors, sorbets, sundaes, and brownies. They also have banana splits and s’mores available, and you can grab a hot dog, lobster roll, grilled cheese sandwich, or cup of clam chowder if you’re in the mood for a little bit more.

4) Penguin Ice Cream Factory

The Penguin Ice Cream Factory is away from downtown Sandwich, near the town’s Forestdale village. It’s a little secluded but features a large parking area and shares a building with Graziella’s Artisan Pizza Co., so you can buy a meal while you visit.

Penguin Ice Cream has a large and diverse ice cream flavor list and features sorbets, frozen yogurts, and sugar-free and vegan options, too. You can also choose from a decent list of toppings or opt for a banana split, sundae, ice cream sandwich, or ice cream soda.

The one offering that sets Penguin Ice Cream apart from other shops is its selection of ice cream cakes and pies. They always have a few options available, and you can even call ahead with a special order if there’s something specific you want them to make.

5) Sweet Caroline’s Ice Cream

Another parlor in the Forestdale region is Sweet Caroline’s Ice Cream. This shop has a large outdoor area to enjoy your dessert and a menu featuring dozens of hard-serve flavors and some soft-serve options.

Sundaes, hot dogs, chips, banana splits, ice cream sandwiches, and frappes are also available at Sweet Caroline’s, and the shop even has a special dessert featuring five scoops of ice cream and multiple toppings. If you’re really craving a substantial helping of ice cream, Sweet Caroline’s has you covered.

Cape Cod Ice Cream Options

Ice cream shops are everywhere on Cape Cod, but you’d be hard-pressed to beat the dessert scene in Sandwich, MA. This community loves its ice cream, and the abundance of small parlors proves it.

Don’t forget to check out a few of these wonderful ice cream havens after booking a vacation rental in Sandwich or anywhere else on Cape Cod.