PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Let’s face it: July in Arizona is blazing hot, and sometimes there’s not a lot of ways families to escape the heat. But one way is with a delicious, cool ice cream treat!
Cones, bowls, scoops, splits, froyo, gelato, milkshakes, sundaes, sorbet, popsicles — no matter how you like it, the treat is a saving grace from Arizona summers. On this Field Trip Friday, we’re bringing you frozen fun around the Valley, leading up to National Ice Cream Day on Sunday.
Click or tap here to see our list of deals you can snag for National Ice Cream Day.
A Sweet Scottsdale TraditionThe Sugar Bowl is a can’t-miss sight in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale — a bubble gum pink restaurant and ice cream parlor.
The Sugar Bowl is a can’t-miss sight in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale — a bubble gum pink restaurant and ice cream parlor. While the Valley has certainly changed since the shop’s opening in the 1950s, the shop still has its vintage heart-shaped tables, pink booths and an original soda fountain.
Elle Maldonado is the third generation owner of the iconic spot. She took over for her father, who owned the restaurant for four decades.
While the shop is known for its banana splits and sodas shakes, don’t forget to try the savory menu of sandwiches, melts and salads.
Valley Favorites
Salt & Straw is a delicious staple in the Valley, where you walk in and just smell freshly made waffle cones. The most popular flavor is sea salt with caramel ribbons. They’re also all about sweet and savory — experimenting with flavors like goat cheese, berry and habanero, or bone marrow and smoked cherries.
Let’s move over to the Biltmore area to Negranti Creamery! It is a coffee shop and ice cream parlor, giving customers a “farm-to-spoon experience.” Their specialty? Sheep’s milk ice cream! Other favorites include the ice cream flight or ice cream nachos. Yum!
Don’t forget to add Skoop Premium Ice Cream to your ice cream tour around the Valley of the Sun! This Scottsdale favorite serves handmade, gluten free waffle cones. Get your pooch a pup cup, with proceeds benefiting the LovePup Foundation, a nonprofit that gets dogs off the street and into loving homes.
Family-Owned West Valley Shop
Head to downtown Glendale, home of Packer Family Ice Cream. The Packer family took over Papa Ed’s Ice Cream and converted it into their own. Guests can enjoy delicious flavors made by Karen’s Creamery, a local ice cream maker, and freshly made waffle cones.
Nationally Recognized Ice Cream
Sweet Republic was founded in 2008 by Jan Wichayanuparp and Helen Yung and have now expanded to four Valley locations. The ice cream shop, which focuses on using local ingredients, has been nationally recognized by The Food Network, Bon Appetit, Time Magazine and USA Today.
Helen, the ice cream chef at Sweet Republic, has created over 200 unique flavors, such as Cortez Cold Brew, Almond Buttercrunch and Crème Brûlée.
More Valley Must-Haves
Of course on your ice cream tour you have to try Novel Ice Cream, which was voted Yelp’s Best Ice Cream in the country! They’re known for their “Dough Melt” — ice cream inside a glazed doughnut. Match made in heaven!
If you’ve been to Churn in uptown Phoenix, you’ve most likely seen a line out the door, and for good reason! Customers love their sundaes, floats and freezies. Churn has in-house pastry chefs who develop their crave-worthy flavors.
As you trek through just some of the Valley’s best spots, take a step back in time at MacAlpine’s Diner & Soda Fountain. The soda fountain was established in 1929 and is back in full swing after a hiatus a couple years ago. Enjoy a milkshake, malt or float at the vintage counter.
Iced Out
Check out Iced Out — a new shop that just opened its doors in Peoria! All ice cream flavors are made fresh in-store. Or try the secret family recipe: an upside-down ice cream cone!
Ice cream isn’t the only thing you can get at this shop. Try their delicious crepes made-to-order, iced coffee, hot drinks and specialty beverages. Don’t miss their most popular in-store flavor: Ube.
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