Looking for a sweet treat with a side of nostalgia?
It’s time to embark on a frosty adventure through 6 of Florida’s most nostalgic ice cream parlors, where milkshakes aren’t just drinks, they’re works of art that’ll make your taste buds do the cha-cha!
1. Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlour (Dania Beach)
Holy cow! Or should I say, holy ice cream cow?
Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlour in Dania Beach is like stepping into a time machine that’s powered by sugar and childhood dreams.
This place has been scooping up happiness since 1956, and let me tell you, they’ve perfected the art of “Oh my goodness, I can’t believe I’m about to eat all of this.”
The moment you walk in, you’re hit with a wave of nostalgia so strong it could knock the socks off a centipede.
The walls are adorned with more knick-knacks than your grandma’s attic, and the jukebox in the corner is probably old enough to run for president.
But let’s be real, we’re here for the ice cream, and Jaxson’s delivers like a champion figure skater – with style, grace, and a few extra twirls for good measure.
Their milkshakes are the stuff of legend.
Picture this: a glass the size of a small bucket, filled to the brim with creamy, dreamy goodness.
It’s like they took all your favorite childhood memories, blended them with premium ice cream, and topped it with a cherry that’s seen more action than a soap opera star.
But the real showstopper?
The Famous Kitchen Sink.
This behemoth of a sundae comes served in – you guessed it – an actual kitchen sink.
It’s big enough to bathe a small child in (not that we’re recommending that).
Packed with scoops of various flavors, topped with every topping known to mankind, and finished with sparklers, it’s less of a dessert and more of a small-scale fireworks display.
As night falls, Jaxson’s transforms into a twinkling wonderland.
The neon signs cast a warm glow, and the line of eager ice cream aficionados stretches down the block.
It’s like Disneyland, but instead of rides, you get brain freeze – and honestly, I’m not mad about it.
2. Larry’s Ice Cream & Gelatos (St. Pete Beach)
Alright, folks, buckle up your taste buds and prepare for takeoff because we’re jetting over to Larry’s Ice Cream & Gelatos in St. Pete Beach.
This place is so cool, even the palm trees outside are jealous.
Larry’s is like that friend who always shows up to the party with the best snacks – reliable, crowd-pleasing, and always leaving you wanting more.
The shop itself is a cheerful yellow beacon of hope for the sugar-deprived, standing out against the Florida sky like a ray of sunshine that decided to set up shop and sell ice cream.
Now, let’s talk about their milkshakes.
These aren’t your run-of-the-mill, “I guess this’ll do” kind of shakes.
Oh no, these are the “I’ve just discovered the meaning of life and it’s creamy” kind of shakes.
They blend their homemade ice cream into these concoctions that are thicker than a Florida thunderstorm and smoother than a jazz saxophone solo.
But here’s where Larry’s really flexes its creative muscles – the gelato.
It’s like they took regular ice cream, sent it to finishing school in Italy, and welcomed it back as the sophisticated cousin who now speaks five languages and knows which fork to use at fancy dinners.
The flavors rotate faster than a beach umbrella in a hurricane, so there’s always something new to try.
And let’s not forget about the ambiance.
With its colorful outdoor seating area, Larry’s is the perfect spot to people-watch while you contemplate the complexities of your gelato flavor choice.
It’s like a mini-vacation for your taste buds, complete with a side of vitamin D.
As the sun sets and the sky turns into a painter’s palette of oranges and pinks, Larry’s becomes a beacon for night owls with a sweet tooth.
The lights twinkle, the ice cream scoops fly, and for a moment, all is right in the world.
Because let’s face it, it’s hard to have a bad day when you’re clutching a waffle cone filled with happiness.
3. Frostbite Ice Cream & More (Frostproof)
Hold onto your spoons, ice cream enthusiasts, because we’re about to dive into Frostbite Ice Cream & More in Frostproof.
Yes, you read that right – Frostproof.
It’s like the town was destined to host an ice cream shop, or maybe it’s just an elaborate marketing ploy.
Either way, I’m here for it.
Frostbite is the kind of place that makes you wonder if you’ve accidentally stumbled onto a movie set.
It’s got that quintessential small-town charm that’s as American as apple pie – or in this case, apple pie ice cream.
The white picket fence outside isn’t just for show; it’s there to contain all the happiness that might otherwise spill out onto the street.
Now, let’s talk milkshakes.
These aren’t your average “I blended some ice cream and milk together” shakes.
No sir, these are the “I think I just saw the face of God in my glass” kind of shakes.
They’re so thick, you could probably use them as mortar to build a house.
A delicious, dairy-based house that would melt in the Florida sun, but still – a house.
But Frostbite doesn’t stop at shakes.
Oh no, they’ve got a whole menu of frozen delights that’ll make your head spin faster than a soft-serve machine.
Their sundaes are like edible works of art, if art was made of hot fudge and came with a cherry on top.
And don’t even get me started on their banana splits – they’re so good, they might actually make you slip on a banana peel in excitement.
The best part?
The prices at Frostbite won’t give you frostbite in your wallet.
It’s like they’re stuck in a time warp where ice cream still costs a nickel – okay, maybe not that cheap, but you get the idea.
You can indulge your sweet tooth without having to sell a kidney, which is always a plus in my book.
As the day winds down and the Florida heat starts to subside, Frostbite becomes a hub of activity.
Families, couples, and solo ice cream aficionados all flock to this frozen oasis.
It’s like watching a nature documentary, but instead of wildebeest migrating to a watering hole, it’s humans drawn to the siren call of waffle cones and sprinkles.
4. Twistee Treat (Various locations)
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step right up to the wackiest, most whimsical ice cream experience this side of Willy Wonka’s factory – Twistee Treat!
This isn’t just an ice cream shop; it’s a giant ice cream cone that decided to settle down and start serving its own kind.
Talk about cannibalism with a cherry on top!
Twistee Treat locations are like beacons of joy scattered across Florida, standing tall and proud like lighthouses guiding sugar-starved sailors to safe harbor.
Except instead of rocks and rough seas, they’re saving you from the perils of a dessert-less existence.
These colossal cones are so eye-catching, they make the Leaning Tower of Pisa look like it’s trying too hard.
Now, let’s swirl our way to their milkshakes.
These aren’t just any milkshakes; they’re the kind that would bring all the boys (and girls) to the yard, and they’d be like, “It’s better than yours.”
They’re so thick and creamy, you might need to dislocate your jaw like a snake to get it through the straw.
But trust me, it’s worth the potential medical bills.
But Twistee Treat isn’t a one-trick pony – or should I say, a one-twist cone.
They’ve got a whole menu of frozen delights that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.
Their soft serve is so smooth, it makes silk feel like sandpaper in comparison.
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And don’t even get me started on their sundaes – they’re like a party in a cup, minus the awkward small talk and with 100% more hot fudge.
The best part about Twistee Treat?
It’s a drive-thru experience that doesn’t involve a clown or a king.
You can satisfy your ice cream cravings without even leaving your car.
It’s perfect for those days when you’re feeling like a sundae, but looking like a Monday.
As night falls, these giant ice cream cones light up like Christmas trees, beckoning to all night owls with a sweet tooth.
It’s like a Bat-Signal for dessert lovers.
You half expect to see a caped crusader swooping in for a late-night sugar fix.
Holy brain freeze, Batman!
5. Dairy Belle Ice Cream (Dania Beach)
Alright, ice cream aficionados, it’s time to loosen those belts and prepare for dairy nirvana because we’re heading to Dairy Belle Ice Cream in Dania Beach.
This place is so cool, even the cows are jealous.
Dairy Belle is like that friend who always knows how to cheer you up – reliable, sweet, and always ready with a scoop (or three) of happiness.
The shop itself is a no-frills, down-to-earth kind of place that lets the ice cream do the talking.
And boy, does it have a lot to say!
Now, let’s dive spoon-first into their milkshakes.
These aren’t your run-of-the-mill, “I guess this’ll do” kind of shakes.
Oh no, these are the “I think I just discovered the eighth wonder of the world and it’s made of milk fat” kind of shakes.
They’re so thick, you could probably use them as a foundation for a small building.
A delicious, dairy-based building that would melt in the Florida sun, but still – a building.
But Dairy Belle isn’t just about shakes.
Their menu is like a ‘Who’s Who’ of frozen delights.
From sundaes that could double as small mountain ranges to banana splits that make you question why you ever ate fruit any other way, they’ve got it all.
And let’s not forget their soft serve – it’s so creamy, it makes clouds look chunky in comparison.
What really sets Dairy Belle apart, though, is their Canadian flair.
Yes, you heard that right – Canadian.
They serve up poutine that’s so good, it’ll have you pledging allegiance to the maple leaf.
It’s like they took all the best parts of Canada (the politeness, the poutine) and left behind all the worst parts (the cold, the moose attacks).
As the sun sets and the neon signs flicker to life, Dairy Belle transforms into a beacon for the dessert-deprived.
Families, couples, and solo ice cream enthusiasts all flock to this frozen oasis.
It’s like watching a nature documentary, but instead of wildebeest migrating to a watering hole, it’s humans drawn to the siren call of waffle cones and sprinkles.
6. Sloan’s Ice Cream (West Palm Beach)
Hold onto your sweet teeth, folks, because we’re about to enter a world of pure imagination – and by imagination, I mean sugar-induced hallucinations.
Welcome to Sloan’s Ice Cream in West Palm Beach, where Willy Wonka meets Walt Disney, and they both decide to open an ice cream shop.
Sloan’s isn’t just an ice cream parlor; it’s a technicolor dreamcoat of a store that’s been dipped in glitter and sprinkled with joy.
Walking in is like stepping into a cartoon – you half expect the ice cream scoops to break into song and dance.
The decor is so over-the-top, it makes Las Vegas look understated.
It’s as if a unicorn sneezed and a ice cream shop materialized.
Now, let’s talk about their milkshakes.
These aren’t just milkshakes; they’re like drinkable works of art that make the Mona Lisa look like a doodle on a napkin.
They’re so extravagant, you’ll feel like royalty just holding one.
Forget about gold-plated anything – these shakes are the real luxury items.
But Sloan’s isn’t a one-trick pony – or should I say, a one-scoop sundae.
Their menu reads like a mad scientist’s experiment log, if that scientist was obsessed with creating the perfect dessert.
They’ve got flavors that’ll make your taste buds do a double-take.
“Coffee and Doughnuts”?
“Tracy’s Scrumptious Pretzel”?
It’s like they’re naming new planets in a sugar-coated solar system.
And let’s not forget about the ambiance.
The pink walls, the twinkling lights, the toy train that chugs around the ceiling – it’s like being inside a snow globe, minus the snow and plus a whole lot of ice cream.
Even the bathrooms are an experience, with see-through doors that frost over when you lock them.
It’s either brilliant or terrifying, depending on how much faith you have in modern technology.
As night falls, Sloan’s becomes a beacon of sweetness in the bustling streets of West Palm Beach.
The glow from the shop is so bright, it probably confuses migrating birds.
But who can blame them for being drawn to this sugary paradise?
After all, in a world full of plain vanilla, Sloan’s is a rainbow sprinkle explosion.
There you have it, folks – a whirlwind tour of Florida’s sweetest spots.
From giant cones to pink palaces, these ice cream shops are proof that sometimes, the best things in life are frozen, creamy, and come with a cherry on top.
So grab a spoon, loosen that belt, and dive in – your taste buds will thank you!