Places to go in your Chevrolet – Top Five Ice Cream Shops in Ohio

The smells and sounds of summer in the Midwest (freshly cut grass, grazing cows in overgrown pastures and the shrieks of summer softball games) bring with them one of Ohioans’ favorite warm-weather pastimes — ice cream. When the work is done for the day, Ohioans spend their long warm evenings gathered at the local ice cream joint meeting with neighbors and friends.

Almost anyone in central Ohio can tell you about Young’s Jersey Dairy, which is notable, considering Young’s is located in the middle of nowhere. Located near Yellow Springs, Young’s dairy farm is surrounded by many miles of corn fields and cow pastures. Young’s homemade ice cream is made on-site, just a few hundred feet away from the cows that produce the milk for this creamy treat. The 15 percent buttermilk ice cream is generously scooped out for patrons and comes in flavors like black raspberry and salty caramel pretzel crunch. To learn more, visit http://youngsdairy.com.

If you long for the nostalgia of the 1950s, Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl in Zanesville is the place to go. Not much has changed at this local McIntyre Avenue diner since its inception more than 50 years ago. The wait staff still sport bow ties, and the antique bakery cases display wonderful homemade chocolates. The ambiance complements the handcrafted ice cream, which is still made using the original recipe. Learn more by visiting http://www.tomsicecreambowl.com.

With their sleek, modern Ikea-inspired interiors, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream scoop shops have reinvented ice cream. From Wildberry Lavender, Goat Cheese with Red Cherries, and Banana French Toast ice cream to Hot Toddy sorbet, Jeni’s is a foodie’s paradise. Founded by Jeni Britton Bauer in 2002, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams began with one North Market Columbus storefront, but has now expanded to over 10 Columbus locations. Additional information is available at http://www.jenis.com.

As the oldest dairy in Ohio, Toft Dairy has come a long way since the days its drivers delivered milk to customers in horse-drawn carriages. Now a Lake Erie landmark, locals and tourists flock to the ice cream shop on Venice Road in Sandusky to taste more than 70 different types of ice cream, crafted only from ingredients from local dairy farmers. Toft’s also has shops in Fremont and Port Clinton. Learn more by visiting http://www.toftdairy.com.

Step back in time with a visit to Aglamesis Brothers Ice Cream in the Oakley neighborhood of Cincinnati. Not much has changed since brothers Thomas and Nicholas Aglamesis founded the place in 1908. The French vanilla ice cream is still made in small batches with fresh cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla beans. Learn more about Aglamesis Brothers by visiting http://www.aglamesis.com.

No matter where you visit in Ohio, there is sure to be a charming local ice cream hangout. Take advantage of the warm weather evenings and visit some of Ohio’s favorites.