By Christine Tarlecki, Culinary Feature Contributor

Now that summer has arrived, we need to get our fill of sweet treats!

Did you know July is National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month is National Ice Cream Day? What better way to celebrate than with creamy, dreamy ice cream, and we’ve got a few of the best spots around for cool ice cream on hot summer nights. Follow along and try them all!

Pink Moose Ice Cream & Cafe at 147 Main Street in Royersford – This adorable café offers take-out lunch, desserts, and ice cream. You won’t leave hungry! Enjoy specials like pork BBQ, meatball paninis, sausage and peppers sandwiches, salads, and smoothies along with ice cream.
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Click Here for a free map of
Montgomery County ice cream shops!

Merrymead Farms at 2222 S. Valley Forge Road in Lansdale has it all- a dairy farm, garden center, cute farm animals to check out, and a farm market with cakes, pies, groceries, milk, and excellent ice cream, like their limited edition ‘Merica Ice Cream flavored with strawberry, vanilla, and blueberry, and ice cream to go from their take-out window!

The Sweet Spot at 4019 Skippack Pike in Skippack offers ice cream floats, gelato, local raw honey, chocolates, penny candy, chocolate-covered bacon, even vegan fudge! Their latest is a refreshing float created with Shirley Temple soda and vanilla ice cream, perfectly sweet for summer.

This take-out only ice cream cafe offers 16 flavors of beloved Nelson’s Ice Cream. Along with gourmet cupcakes, sweet desert crepes, cold brew coffees and specialty coffees, you also can enjoy root beer floats, banana splits, and ice cream sundaes at Rivster’s on High at 250 E. High Street in Pottstown. Sit outside and enjoy yourself! They are also an asset to the community, with a food pantry and free water for those who need it.

Arrive at Zwahlen’s chalet in the Audubon Square Shopping Center on Shannondell Blvd in Audubon and you’ll find an old-fashioned, all-natural ice creamery and fine chocolate company offers amazing sweets, plus a specific ice cream flavor daily, like the Mayan, created with chocolate ice cream with cinnamon, chili powder, and honey, or fresh Peach ice cream with peaches mixed in, or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with pieces of cookie dough swirled throughout.
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Click Here for a free map of
Montgomery County’s top ice cream shops!

Petrucci’s Phoenixville at 472 Mutt Road in Phoenixville has been around since 1997 and offers a wide selection of made-in-store water ice, ice cream, ice cream sundaes and banana splits, gelatis, and milkshakes. There’s also a location in King of Prussia open for drive-thru service only.

And coming soon: Handel’s Royersford at 627 Main Street in Royersford. Located in the old Nelson’s ice cream shoppe, they will serve 48 flavors that are made on-site daily. “We never skimp and use the best ingredients. My husband Andy and I are quite excited to become part of the community. Everyone we have met has been so welcoming and we can’t wait to become part of it,”  says owner Maria Rick. “We ensure that everyone working has masks, we have social distancing markers as well as limiting how many people will be in the store at once. We also installed a serving window so that if we go backwards, we can still serve ice cream to the community safely. We also will take temperatures of our staff before they work and ensure that they are washing their hands regularly.”

Summer 2020 is a little different this year, as establishments are requiring masks be worn inside public spaces, and staff are placing out hand sanitizer stations, wiping down tables, door handles, and chairs, and some offer contactless payment. Please abide by each restaurant’s rules and have a safe, happy, and delicious summer!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christine Tarlecki is a food writer who resides in Phoenixville, always seeking out the best and the freshest food from local farmers markets and restaurants.

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