The Best New England Ice Cream Stands
by Eric Hurwitz. Article updated on 5/5/2024.
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The days of our
parents
taking us out to Bates Farm in
Carlisle, Mass., was one of my greatest childhood memories. Watching
Monday night baseball on a small Hitachi black
and white,
battery-powered television in the back of a phony, wood-paneled Ford
LTD station wagon, taking brief glimpses of the wonderful countryside
in between pitches, and then eating black raspberry ice cream on the
car's tailgate with my brother, Marc, and an occasional neighborhood
buddy, was something we looked forward to at every opportunity. The
stars and sky seemed bigger than in our hometown of urbanized
Arlington, Mass. The pace was more leisurely than a Perry Como concert
and the flavors infinitely better than any of the 28 or 31 offerings at
Howard Johnson's and Baskin Robbins, respectively. Plus, what Howard
Johnson's or Baskin Robbins offered fresh air? All Howard Johnson's
could offer was the smell of coffee, which we weren't allowed to drink
at, say, seven-years-old. Baskin Robbins usually had an air conditioner
that sounded like an supersonic jet.
Bates Farm eventually became Kimball Farm, retaining its rural charm
and great black raspberry ice cream (and so much more than that just
that flavor). The main Kimball Farm located in Westford, Mass.,
however, didn't retain its quiet nature, expanding their ice cream
stand with a miniature golf course, driving range, gift shop and an
area for concerts (Gary "Dream Weaver" Wright once played here). The
point is that even when an ice cream stand goes "Hollywood," you can't
take the ice cream away. Just sample Kimball Farm's cherry vanilla or
orange pineapple or just plain chocolate, and you'll realize that great
ice cream rules over everything else.
Sometimes the rural charm worked against a good ice cream experience.
For the longest time, the smell of cow dung overwhelmed the joys of
eating ice cream at Richardson's in Middletown, Mass. The smell isn't
there anymore -- we suspect that there is an Army of Sharper Image air
purifiers behind the trees that took care of this problem. Whatever the
case, the air is more fresh, which makes the ice cream taste fresher.
Most ice cream stands are seasonal. One of the saddest sites is
watching an ice cream stand "board-up" around Columbus Day. "Boarding
up" takes away our love of ice cream, and suggests that it's going to
soon snow like crazy -- a truly dreadful combination. You don't want to
wish away time, but you do waiting for March to come around.
Immediately after Columbus Day, you start thinking wishfully that the
local Stop and Shop supermarket will offer Bubbling Brook (Westwood,
Mass.) or Bedford Farms ice cream (Bedford and Concord, Mass.) to help
us get through the winter, but it usually ends up to be some turgid
brand, with no resemblance to our favorite ice cream stand ice cream.
When the long hard winter ends, there's nothing quite like seeing those
boards come off the walk-up windows. Sometimes the snow continues but
customers, nevertheless, line up. It makes you wonder how good a
business some of the ice cream stands would do if they stayed open all
year.
If spring suggests life in the form of ice cream stands, Memorial Day
weekend signifies, to many, the beginning of summer. For example, great
recent warm weather memories of White Farms in Ipswich, Mass., tie in
with how previous generations felt about this institution that has been
delighting families since 1953. Located on a
quiet part of Ipswich on
scenic Route 133 on the North Shore in Massachusetts, White Farms has
always been a family tradition, especially after a long day at the
stunning Crane's Beach or a day by the water and shops in the toy-like
village of Newburyport. White Farms remains a timeless New England
classic ice cream stand in one of the more beautiful areas of the state
-- but only during the warm weather. Theere's really nothing quite
like
eating homemade ice cream on a White Farms picnic bench under the
stars. Dad listens to the Red Sox game on the nearby car radio. Mom
loves the pastoral setting that calms the children. The children marvel
at the animal farm. They all love the ice cream. It is as much about a
New England summer as the beach, the Red Sox, Cape Cod, or New
Hampshire's White Mountains.
It would really be an injustice to not experience a New England ice
cream stand during the summer. Almost never the focal point of the day,
it is more a perfect companion to the beach, the mountains, a Sunday
drive, or as an alternative to staying in air conditioning during the
hot summer months. In its own right, the New England ice cream stand
many times stands on its own as a nice scenic place to be as many have
their own farms, animal displays, or at the very least a peaceful
atmosphere to enjoy the flavor of your day. New England boasts many
great ice cream stands, but we have set up a basic list for you to pick
from. Enjoy!
The top 10 New England ice cream stands:
1. Crescent Ridge Dairy Bar -
Sharon, Mass.
Crescent
Ridge Dairy Bar offers huge servings of the best ice cream we have
tasted, to date, in New England with 50-year-old family recipes handed
down through the generations (the dairy farm has been in business since
1932). National Geographic
twice named this modest, but always crowded little ice cream stand as
one of the best in the world in its The
10 Best of Everything: An Ultimate Guide for Travelers!
Top picks amongst the 40, or so choices: chocolate ripple, S'mores,
orange pineapple, peppermint stick, black raspberry and mint
chocolate chip. Crescent Ridge also boasts a wonderful atmosphere with
farm land and the magic of summer at a local New England ice cream
stand with fresh air, cows in the field, the
welcoming dairy bar lights on a starry night, and people leisurely
eating their ice cream at picnic tables. Crescent Ridge Dairy, 355 Bay
Rd., Sharon, Mass. Tel. (781) 784-2740. Open year-round. Read the full story on Crescent Ridge Dairy
S'mores ice cream from Crescent
Ridge Dairy Bar.
2. Kimball Farm Ice Cream - Westford,
Carlisle, Lancaster, Mass. and Jaffrey, N.H.
Famous
for its ice cream, great value, approximately 40 terrific
flavors and long lines, Kimball Farm (established in 1939) is just as
good
as ever. Expansion hasn't affected the quality of the ice cream with
wonderfully creamy, accurate-tasting flavors. The small is like a large
at many other places -- no "gourmet" attitude here to jack up the
prices. Our
recommendations: raspberry chocolate chip, cherry vanilla chip,
butterscotch, pistachio nut, featured flavors like Irish coffee,
gingersnap molasses, pumpkin and Heavenly Hash, and the gargantuan
Kimball Special with your choice of three flavors, bananas and all the
toppings. The flagship Westford, Mass., location is a tourist
attraction on its own with an outdoor restaurant featuring local
seafood, a country store with cafe, mini golf, bumper boats, batting
cages, arcades, driving range, zip lines and animal displays. It's all
fun and entertaining, but, to me, the amazing ice cream is still the
main draw in Westford. I also equally love the Carlisle location for
its more laid-back rural setting. Of course, the ice cream is just as
good in Carlisle and at the other locations!
Kimball Farm locations: Westford
400 Littleton Rd. Tel. 978-486-3891. 2 Lancaster
1543 Lunenberg Rd. 2018. Tel. 978-534-9800. Carlisle
343 Bedford Rd. Tel. 978-369-1910. Jaffrey
158 Turnpike Rd. Tel.
603-532-5765. Read the full
story on Kimball Farm
Kimball Farm in
Westford.
Black raspberry ice cream from Kimball
Farm in Carlisle.
3. Four Seas Ice
Cream - Centerville,
Mass.(Cape Cod)
What
a perfect combination: the fresh salt air oceanside presence of
Cape Cod and a great ice cream stand. Since 1932, Four Seas Ice Cream
has
been serving locals and vacationers some wonderfully innovative ice
cream flavors. Dating back to childhood (no, not from 1932!), this
writer has tasted amazing
flavors like cantaloupe, ginger and lemon stick, as well as the obvious
choices like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.
Regarding the
strawberry ice cream: In
June, owners Doug and Peggy Warren source fresh local strawberries that
Four Seas Ice Cream includes in the strawberry ice cream (and with no
artificial flavors and colorings).
Peach
ice cream gets similar treatment with the fruit delivered
in early July from Georgia and the Carolinas and sold in fabulous ice
cream form for about two months at Four Seas.
Four
Seas also makes its own hot fudge and whipped cream on a daily basis
during the peak business seasons.
Four Seas is a great
companion to a sunny Cape Cod day. It is much a part of the Cape Cod
experience as the beaches, sand dunes, seafood and lighthouses! Four
Seas Ice Cream, 360 S Main St, Centerville, Mass. Tel. (508)
775-1394. Read
the full story on Four Seas Ice Cream
Four Seas Ice
Cream.
4. Hayward's Homemade Ice
Cream -
Nashua, N.H.
Hayward's exemplifies
that straight-from-the-farm ice
cream taste
better than most in New England. Creative, bursting-with-flavor ice
cream selections like blueberry cobbler, strawberry cheesecake with a
strawberry and graham cracker crunch swirl, Southern apple pie,
Fluffernutter, and banana fudge make the trip worthwhile, but you can't
go wrong with good old fashioned vanilla, chocolate and strawberry,
either! A classic cream stand since 1940, Hayward's has certainly grown
its business through the years but never lowered the quality -- the
homemade ice cream taste, to go along with the well-known and
appreciated friendly service, is what's still prominent. Hayward's
Homemade Ice Cream, 7 Daniel Webster Highway, Nashua N.H. (Tel.
603-888-4663) and 364 Daniel Webster Highway,
Merrimack, N.H. (Tel. 603-888-4663) Read
the full story on Hayward's
Strawberry
cheesecake ice cream with a strawberry and graham cracker crunch swirl
from Hayward's Ice Cream.
5. The Ice Cream Machine
- Cumberland,
R.I.
The
Ice Cream Machine always seems to draw crowds, even during the colder
winter days in New England -- no surprise, given the friendly staff,
high quality ice cream, big servings and many flavor options.
During the peak season, the Ice Cream Machine offers around 40 ice
creams, including innovative gems like cinnamon, key lime pie, brownie
batter, ginger, raspberry cheesecake, raspberry truffle and also a
bluberry pie frozen yogurt. Sundaes are huge even at a small size, like
this delicious strawberry shortcake sundae with strawberry ice cream...
Strawberry shortcake sundae.
Located across from Diamond Hill State Park
in a rural, prototypical ice cream stand setting (walk-up windows
loaded with handwritten flavors and descriptions to the side), the Ice
Cream Machine's ice cream has a wonderful texture and taste -- heavy on
authentic flavors
and butterfat. The creative flavors, along with old standbys chocolate
chip, vanilla, strawberry and mint chocolate chip, make the Ice Cream
Machine a truly standout New England ice cream stand. Ice Cream
Machine, 4288 Diamond Hill Rd, Cumberland, R.I. Tel. (401)
333-5053. Open year-round. Read the full story on the Ice Cream Machine
The Ice Cream Machine, Cumberland, R.I.
6. Bedford Farms - Bedford, Mass.
Sixteen
percent butterfat equals very tasty ice cream. Yes, the fat
content might tip the diet scales in the wrong direction, but then
again, do you really want to pass on some of the best ice cream in New
England, including red raspberry chip, ginger, orange pineapple, Green
Monster (mint chocolate chip with Oeros and fudge) and
chunky chocolate pudding? Some consider Bedford Farms as the place to
go when nearby Kimball Farms in Carlisle is too busy, but proponents
say that the ice cream is every bit as good, if not better. Bedford
Farms, 18 North Rd. Bedford, Mass. Tel. (781) 275-6501.
Green
Monster ice cream featuring
mint chocolate chip, Oreo
pieces and fudge, from Bedford Farms.
7. Bubbling Brook Ice Cream - Westwood, Mass.
Bubbling Brook ice
cream stand and restaurant in
Westwood.
Bubbling
Brook, established in 1952, is a classic, idyllic ice cream stand with its
people lining up at the order windows, picnic benches on expansive
grounds alongside a brook, and bright under-the-roof yellow lights
warmly
illuminating the nighttime. A beautiful view of rolling farm land in
neighboring Walpole can be seen from the ice cream stand. Bubbling
Brook offers some excellent ice cream flavors, including pistachio,
butter crunch, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, mocha chip, black raspberry
chip, Heavenly Hash, "Chocolate, Chocolate Chip," and peppermint
stick. Very good soft serve ice cream is served, too, including the "Brook Blasts" with combinations of yummy mix-ins and toppings making a great thing that much better.
Strawberry Brook Blast.
A true local,seasonal tradition is the stuff that ice cream stand dreams are made of -- lucky for those seeing those dreams come true in the Boston area!
Bubbling Brook, 152 High St. (Route 109), Westwood, Mass. Tel. (781)
762-9860. Read the
full story on Bubbling Brook
8. White Farms Ice Cream - Ipswich, Mass.
Since 1953, families have been
magnetized to White Farms Homemade Ice Cream and with good reason: the
tranquil surroundings, family-friendly atmosphere and amazing ice cream
are a combination that captures the essence of New England summer fun.
Located on a quiet stretch on Route 133, White Farms offers both hard
and soft-serve ice cream. The key lime pie ice cream is an ambitious
idea that exceeds all expectations -- one try and you'll prefer it to
the traditional key lime pie dessert. Raspberry chocolate truffle and
M&M flavors may be offered by many quality ice cream stands, but
somehow it tastes best at White Farms. Of course, the basics
--chocolate, vanilla and strawberry -- ggo beyond basic at White Farms
with the richest taste possible. They also have a mini-golf course.
This is the "feel good" ice cream stand of New England. It also makes a
perfect companion to a day at nearby Crane's Beach, or Newburyport, a
lively, interesting coastal community in New England. White Farms Ice
Cream, 326 High Street, Ipswich, Mass. Tel. (978) 356-2633. Open
year-round.
White Farms
Ice Cream. Photo credit: White
Farms Facebook fan page.
9. Fox's Lobster House - York, Maine
This famous lobster house restaurant -- known for its fresh Maine
lobster and
spectacular views of the ocean -- also gets high makes for its attached
seasonal ice cream stand. Many opt for the delicious wild Maine
blueberry ice cream with the local fruit combining perfectly with the
thickly textured ice cream. Better yet, get that flavor with a slice of
wild Maine blueberry pie. It is simply to die for.
Wild Maine
blueberry pie and ice cream.
Also to die for are the views as Fox's just might have the best scenery
of any ice cream stand in New England: It's located right next to
Nubble Lighthouse, one of the most beautiful lighthouses in New
England!
Fox's
Lobster
House, 8 Sohier Park Rd. York Maine.
Tel. (207) 363-2643
Nubble Lighthouse.
10. Richardson's - Middleton, Mass.
Long lines
traditionally form at
the multiple ice cream stand windows at
Richardson's, and rightfully so -- they have stuck to time-tested
traditional homemade recipes for generations. The 16 percent
butterfat content lends a rich flavor with the highlight perhaps being
vanilla. Yes, that right, vanilla! It's made with pure bourbon vanilla
extract imported from Barcelona. This is hardly your basic vanilla
tasting ice cream. Additionally, other flavors shine including
peppermint stick, cherry vanilla, ginger and Toll House Cookie. The
portions are huge, thus offering excellent value for the money. Also,
the surroundings are most pleasant and fun with picnic benches, an
outdoor patio with waterfalls, mini-golf, a driving range and batting
cages. The iconic North-of-Boston landmark also features tours of the
farm and a chance to commune with the cows and other farm
animals. The Richardson family has sure come a long way since
starting a family farm in 1696! Richardson's Ice Cream, 156 South Main
St., Middleton, Mass. Tel. (978) 774-5450.
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