All hail Virginia’s ICE CREAM trail

Take a trip to taste some of the state’s finest sugary delights

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS

BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

Virginia’s dream team of homemade ice cream, custard and sorbet is only a scenic road trip away.

The “Mouthwatering Ice Cream Trail,” crafted by OnlyInYourState in 2021, entices visitors to taste some of Virginia’s finest frozen treats. Winding through Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, the seven-stop route features true “farmto-cone” delights, including frozen custard, seasonal sorbets and gelato— along with breathtaking sights along the way.

Hit the road with friends or family, and cool off this summer with these sweet treats.

From traditional favorites like strawberry and vanilla to new twists like banana cream pie and green tea, visitors to the Virginia ice cream trail can find cool treats to please any palate.

The Dairy Godmother ALEXANDRIA

The Dairy Godmother offers Wisconsin-style frozen custard in the heart of Alexandria.

The popular shop features a daily flavor of fresh custard, like “Bordeaux Cherry Chip,” as well as chocolate and vanilla each day. It also offers a variety of sorbets that change daily. The custard is prepared with at least 1.4% egg yolk and 10% milkfat, made in a special custard machine and stored at 17˚ to 20˚ to enhance every flavor and buttery-smooth bite.

The sorbet is made with frozen fruit, herbs, water and sugar.

Visit thedairygodmother.com for more information.

Sugar Mama's FAIRFAX

The “mini scoops” at Sugar Mama’s in Fairfax are the perfect way to explore the shop’s unique ice cream flavors, and you can pile them high in a homemade waffle cone or cup.

The “Banana Cream Pie” and “Coco Choc Crunch” are crowd favorites, offering sweetness and texture in each rich, creamy bite. Other ice cream flavors like coffee and green tea provide balanced bitter-sweet bites for those with less of a sweet tooth.

Visit sugarmamasicecream.com for more information.

Moo Thru REMINGTON

The charming Moo Thru is a Remington staple that offers a true “farm-to-cone” experience.

Established 13 years ago by the Smiths, a fourth-generation farming family, this barn shop takes “homemade” to a new level by sourcing from local dairy farmers and using fresh, local ingredients whenever possible.

The slow-churned ice cream frequently incorporates new, seasonal flavors. Blackberry, cake batter and dark chocolate are among the most popular choices.

You can grab any of their rotating flavors via the drive-thru or pick-up window, or enjoy your cone beneath the shop’s spacious pavilion.

Find a Moo Thru location nearest you by visiting moothru.com

Carl's FREDERICKSBURG

Carl’s in Fredericksburg has been serving up classic soft-serve frozen custard for 76 years, and visitors may experience a wave of nostalgia when visiting this retro ice cream stop.

Made with a much higher concentration of eggs and butterfat and the earliest Electro Freeze® machine models, the famous Carl’s custard is a richer, creamier dessert than most traditional ice cream.

Part-owner Ramona Settle said their treats are “as fresh as you can get,” with every flavor sold out daily and new batches made every morning. Their most popular orders are strawberry or a combination of vanilla custard topped with hot fudge and maple nuts.

The shop is open seasonally from the Friday before President’s Day through the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and is cash only.

Visit carlsfrozencustard.com for more information.

Chaps Ice Cream CHARLOTTESVILLE

Chaps Ice Cream in the Charlottesville Historic Downtown Mall pairs the charm of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor with innovative flavors.

All ice cream is made on-site and features custom-created flavors to satisfy every palate, along with rotating seasonal flavors July through September.

The most popular orders are chocolate and vanilla; the “Four C’s,” which is chocolate ice cream with cherries and chocolate chips; black raspberry; and the “Golden Nugget,” which is vanilla ice cream with pecans and caramel.

Visit chapsicecream.com for more information.

Opened in 2008, the popular parlor features a variety of gelato and sorbet made with fresh ingredients sourced locally. Flavors include “Lemon Lavender,” which incorporates lavender from local farmers markets and “Highland County Maple” made with maple syrup from neighboring farms.

Popular orders include “Sticky Rice Gelato,” made with jasmine rice and coconut, which pairs a subtle sweetness with the gelato. Pistachio is another crowd favorite made with Californiasourced nuts for a sweet and salty treat.

Upon entering, visitors will likely smell the sweet aroma of the shop’s homemade waffle cones that are made daily.

Visit thesplitbanana.com for more information.

The Split Banana STAUNTON

The Split Banana in downtown Staunton is the place for authentic gelato with local flavors.

Kline's Dairy Bar HARRISONBURG

The original Kline's Dairy Bar in downtown Harrisonburg has been serving up custard-style ice cream since 1943.

High-quality ingredients and an oldfashioned ice cream-making technique transformed the Kline family’s homebased ice cream stand in 1943 into six bustling locations today. Each regional location makes its own fresh ice cream each morning, and features weekly specials that change on Wednesdays.

Fan favorites include black raspberry, banana pudding and peach.

Find a Kline's Dairy Bar location nearest you by visiting klinesdairybar.com.