When on Cape Cod during the summer months, getting an ice cream will surely be a priority. After all, it gets hot here in July and August, and there’s no better way to cool off than with a cone of your favorite flavor. But, where do you go for that perfect ice cream cone? There are plenty of options for ice cream all over the Cape, but if you vacation in Falmouth this summer, check out one or more of the following shops that have been rated as the area’s best.
1) Somerset Creamery
As its name suggests, Somerset Creamery is based in Somerset, Massachusetts. It has had a shop in Cataumet since 1997, however, that serves perhaps the best ice cream on the Upper Cape. Although Cataumet is technically part of Bourne, Somerset Creamery is within walking distance of North Falmouth, so we’ll count it as part of this list.
What makes this place unique is that every flavor of ice cream at Somerset Creamery is created using homemade ingredients. These flavors include their famous Cranberry Bog Ice Cream, which uses local cranberries, in addition to walnuts, craisins, and dark chocolate, to create a taste not available anywhere else. With over 30 flavors of ice cream, in addition to sherbet and frozen yogurt, you’re sure to find something that you love at Somerset Creamery.
2) Lazy Sundaes
Lazy Sundaes Ice Cream is also located in Cataumet, but is even closer to North Falmouth and has some delicious ice cream that makes it worth a visit. There’s also an amusement center featuring bumper boats, mini golf, a batting cage, and a pitching booth with a radar gun on-site at this venue so that you can make a day of your visit in the summer.
The ice cream served at Lazy Sundaes is made at Richardson’s Dairy in Middleton, Massachusetts, a world-class farm that has been in business since 1695. Although this ice cream shop sits at number two on this list, they claim to have the best ice cream in the world, and anyone with that much confidence in their products deserves a chance. This shop closes every winter and opens back up in early April in advance of the summer season.
3) Smitty’s Homemade Ice Cream
At Smitty’s Homemade Ice Cream, you’ll have the chance to experience a real small-town ice cream shop in East Falmouth. Everything about Smitty’s moves at its own pace, as you can sample as many of the delicious flavors as you wish before making your choice and enjoying your cone under a tree on their large lawn area or grabbing a picnic table.
There are more than 30 flavors from which to choose and the line moves quickly, perhaps due to their cash-only policy. This business closes for the season at the end of September, but if you’re on Cape Cod in the summer, make sure you check it out. For some high-quality ice cream and an authentic slice of life on Cape Cod, Smitty’s is unmatched.
4) Ben & Bill’s
Right in the heart of downtown Falmouth is Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium, which has been around since the 1950s and now has stores in Massachusetts and Maine. The ice cream here is made fresh daily, and since a variety of dessert options are available, you don’t have to be a fan of ice cream to love Ben & Bill’s.
In total, you’ll find over 60 flavors of ice cream and 12 types of gelato, so it’s easy to locate the perfect dessert anytime to head to Ben & Bill’s Main Street address. You can also make this shop part of your night on the town in Falmouth, as it is within easy walking distance of many restaurants along Route 28.
5) Dairy Queen
Yes, it’s part of a multinational restaurant chain, but this particular Dairy Queen has been in the same location on Main Street in downtown Falmouth for over 60 years and is reminiscent of ice cream parlors of the past. It doesn’t have the cookie-cutter appearance shared by most newer Dairy Queen stores and, in fact, doesn’t even serve food, as it is a dessert-only shop.
In addition, this Dairy Queen is one of Falmouth’s most popular places to get soft serve ice cream, as people line up down the block for a cone filled with their favorite treat in the summertime. Blizzards and sundaes are also on the menu, and you’ll find Mary Ellen’s Portuguese Bakery behind the shop, should you want to pick up some baked goods at the same time.
Ice Cream in the Summer
While most of these shops close in the fall and don’t open again until the spring, if you’re visiting Cape Cod in the summer, you’ll have plenty of choices in Falmouth and area when searching for the ideal ice cream cone. The good news is that you can easily sample all of these great shops from your vacation rental on this year’s holiday and decide for yourself which one is the best.
