With sunshine filling the sky, pools opening, and less than a week until NCHS graduation, it is clear that summer is finally here. Although every New Canaanite spends their summer differently, the best way to cool off on a hot summer day is to grab an ice cream or frozen yogurt.
The New Canaanite took a tour around town to all of the shops around town to see which place is the best for each type of occasion.
A scoop of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream in a sugar cone. Photo by Mackenzie Lewis
Baskin Robbins—The Classic
103 Main St.
If you are looking for 31 flavors of classic ice cream, B&R is the way to go. The Main Street store offers all sorts of flavored ice creams including the classic vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Gold Medal Ribbon, Rocky Road, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough are some favorites too.
We decided to settle for a scoop of Mint Chocolate Chip in a sugar cone. At Baskin Robbins you take your favorite ice cream flavor and turn it into something more. The ice cream store is not only a good place to stop for classic ice cream, but also for milkshakes and personalized ice-cream birthday cakes.
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A mix of strawberry and raspberry ice cream topped with fresh strawberries and strawberries flavored boba beads. Photo by Mackenzie Lewis
Swirl-Easy Stop on Cherry Street
111 Cherry St.
Next we stopped at the locally owned, self-serve frozen-yogurt shop on Cherry Street, we decided to try a mix of strawberry and raspberry yogurt topped with strawberries and strawberry flavored boba beads to keep the fruit flavor. Swirl has an assortment of fresh fruit and other toppings to choose from to make your sweet treat a little bit healthier. If fruit flavors and toppings isn’t for you, they also have flavors such as cookies n’ cream, peanut butter and chocolate which you can top with cookie dough, M&M’s and or even chocolate syrup. With self-serve, there are endless possibilities to mix and match flavors and toppings to suit everyone’s personal preference.
Swirl is the perfect place to grab something when you are driving home from work or practice on a hot day with its great parking available.
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A scoop of Fresh Orange gelato in a sugar cone. Photo by Mackenzie Lewis.
Gelatissimo Artisan Gelato-The Taste of Another Culture
26 Forest St.
At our next stop we visited Gelatissimo on Forest Street. Just beyond the strip of restaurants such as Cava, Tequila Mockingbird and the New Canaan Diner, this is the perfect summer spot after a night out at one of the restaurants on Forest. If you won’t be traveling this summer, Gelatissimo will give you a taste of Italy. If you close your eyes and taste the many differents type of gelato such as Stracciatella (Mint chocolate-chip) and Hazelnut, you will feel as if you are sitting in a European cafe.
On our visit to the gelato shop we decided to try the Fresh Orange gelato in a sugar cone. This fruit flavored treat will definitely refresh you on a hot summer day.
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Salted Caramel frozen yogurt with chocolate pretzels, cookie dough bites, and Reese’s pieces for toppings. Photo by Mackenzie Lewis
Peachwave-Frozen Yogurt With A Taste of Music
11 Forest St.
We made our way across the street to the neighboring Peachwave frozen yogurt. This time we decided to try Peachwave’s Salted Caramel yogurt and topped it with chocolate covered pretzels, cookie dough bites, Reese’s Pieces, and a chocolate fudge drizzle. With the multiple different flavors and toppings that the frozen yogurt store has to offer, it’s hard to choose just one. Luckily, Peachwave lets its customers serve themselves and pick whichever flavors and toppings they want to add to their cup.
If you are looking for entertainment paired with your treat, Peachwave also frequently has local bands that perform for its customers in the Battle of the Bands competition along and karaoke and open mic nights.
P.S. The spoons change colors when you put them in your frozen yogurt.
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A kid’s scoop of Pina Colada (left) and a small (two scoops) of Blue Raspberry and Watermelon Italian Ice. Photo by Mackenzie Lewis
The Candy Scoop—The Refresher off Elm
72 Park St.
Tucked in alleyway behind Sara Campbell and Chef Luis, and next to New Canaan Music lies the Candy Scoop which, speaking for its name, serves a variety of different sweets and treats. One of those treats happens to be Italian Ice. With eight different flavors to choose from the Candy Scoop’s Italian Ice can be the best way to refresh yourself on a sunny day.
When the New Canaanite took a visit to the store we decided to try two scoops of the ice: Blue Raspberry and Watermelon which left us wanting more.
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It’s clear that with all of these options there is no wrong place to go when you need to cool off with an ice cream or treat this summer.
What a delightfully colorful, flavorful, and refreshing swirl of an article! Beautifully written and stylishly photographed! Thanks for giving us the scoop!