Dreaming of a road trip filled with delicious treats and nostalgic vibes?
Florida’s most charming ice cream parlors are ready to delight your sweet tooth!
1. Larry’s Ice Cream & Gelatos (St. Pete Beach)
First stop on our dairy-fueled odyssey is Larry’s Ice Cream & Gelatos in St. Pete Beach.
This place is like the Willy Wonka factory of frozen treats, minus the Oompa Loompas (though I wouldn’t put it past them to hire some).
The moment you lay eyes on Larry’s, you know you’re in for a treat.
The cheerful yellow building with its red trim looks like it jumped straight out of a 1950s postcard.
And that vintage car parked out front?
It’s not just for show – it’s there to remind you that you’re about to take a delicious trip down memory lane.
Step inside, and you’re hit with the sweet aroma of waffle cones and happiness.
The menu is so extensive, you might need to take a seat just to read it all.
From classic flavors to wild concoctions that sound like they were invented during a sugar-induced fever dream, Larry’s has it all.
But here’s the real scoop: Larry’s isn’t just about ice cream.
They’ve got gelato too!
It’s like they couldn’t decide whether to be an American ice cream parlor or an Italian gelateria, so they said, “Eh, why not both?”
And let me tell you, that indecision has never tasted so good.
So whether you’re a vanilla purist or the kind of person who thinks “too many toppings” is a myth, Larry’s has got you covered.
Just remember to pace yourself – we’ve got five more stops to go, and nobody likes a quitter in the ice cream game.
2. Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlour (Dania Beach)
Next up on our frosty tour is Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlour in Dania Beach.
This place isn’t just an ice cream shop; it’s a time machine disguised as a sugar shack.
From the moment you spot Jaxson’s, with its red and white striped awning and carnival-like atmosphere, you know you’re in for more than just a scoop of vanilla.
It’s like the Ringling Brothers decided to retire from the circus business and open an ice cream parlor instead.
Step inside, and you’re transported to a bygone era.
The walls are adorned with enough vintage memorabilia to make the American Pickers weep with joy.
It’s like someone raided your grandpa’s attic, but instead of musty old clothes, they found treasures from the good ol’ days.
But let’s talk about the main event: the ice cream.
Jaxson’s doesn’t mess around when it comes to portion sizes.
Their sundaes are so massive, they should come with their own zip code.
The “Kitchen Sink” sundae is particularly legendary – it’s served in an actual kitchen sink and is meant for parties of four or more.
Or one very ambitious ice cream enthusiast with a death wish.
Your choice.
And it’s not just about quantity here.
The quality is top-notch too.
Each scoop is a creamy masterpiece, crafted with the kind of care usually reserved for fine art or newborn babies.
But Jaxson’s isn’t content with just being an ice cream parlor.
Oh no, they’ve got a full restaurant menu too.
Because nothing says “balanced diet” like following up your burger and fries with a gallon of ice cream, right?
So come for the ice cream, stay for the nostalgia, and leave with a newfound appreciation for elastic waistbands.
Jaxson’s isn’t just serving dessert; they’re dishing out memories with a cherry on top.
3. Frostbite Ice Cream & More (Frostproof)
Our next stop takes us to the quaintly named town of Frostproof.
Now, I don’t know about you, but a town called Frostproof sounds like the perfect place for an ice cream shop.
It’s like they’re daring the ice cream to melt.
Spoiler alert: the ice cream always wins.
Frostbite Ice Cream & More is the kind of place that makes you wonder if you’ve accidentally stumbled onto a movie set.
With its charming white picket fence and homey atmosphere, it looks like it was plucked straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting – if Norman Rockwell had a serious sweet tooth, that is.
The shop itself is unassuming, but don’t let that fool you.
It’s like that quiet kid in school who turns out to be a secret comedy genius.
Frostbite may not have the flashy exterior of some of our other stops, but what it lacks in pizzazz, it more than makes up for in flavor.
Their menu is a delightful mix of classic favorites and creative concoctions.
And let’s talk about those portion sizes – they’re not messing around.
Each scoop is big enough to make you question your life choices, but in the best possible way.
But Frostbite isn’t content with just serving up scoops.
Oh no, they’ve got a whole array of frozen treats.
Milkshakes so thick you need arms like Popeye to drink them, sundaes that look like edible works of art, and floats that make you wonder why you ever drank soda without ice cream in it.
And the best part?
The prices won’t give you brain freeze.
It’s like they haven’t realized it’s not 1950 anymore, and I’m certainly not going to be the one to tell them.
So whether you’re a local looking for your daily sugar fix or a tourist seeking refuge from the Florida heat, Frostbite is the place to be.
Just remember, in Frostproof, the only thing that’s not frost-proof is your willpower when faced with their menu.
4. Twistee Treat (Various locations)
Hold onto your cones, folks, because our next stop is a Florida icon that’s harder to miss than a snowball in the Sahara.
I’m talking about Twistee Treat, the ice cream shop that decided regular buildings were too boring and opted for a giant ice cream cone instead.
Because why not?
These colossal cones dot the Florida landscape like beacons of dairy delight.
It’s architecture meets dessert in the most delicious way possible.
I mean, who needs the Eiffel Tower when you can have a 20-foot tall soft serve?
Step inside (or up to the window, rather), and you’re greeted with a menu that reads like a sugar-coated fever dream.
From classic soft serve to sundaes that look like they were designed by a five-year-old with an unlimited budget, Twistee Treat has it all.
But let’s talk about their signature item: the twist.
It’s not just a clever name; it’s a work of art.
Watching them swirl that soft serve is like witnessing Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel, except you can eat this masterpiece without getting arrested.
And the flavors?
Oh boy.
They’ve got your standard chocolate and vanilla, sure.
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But they also rotate through a cast of flavors that sound like they were invented during a particularly vivid sugar rush.
Blue raspberry?
Check.
Birthday cake?
You bet.
Bubblegum?
Why not!
But Twistee Treat isn’t content with just serving ice cream.
They’ve also got shakes, floats, and sundaes that look like they’re trying to win a “Most Likely to Induce a Sugar Coma” contest.
And let me tell you, they’re strong contenders.
The best part about Twistee Treat?
They’re everywhere.
It’s like playing the world’s most delicious game of whack-a-mole.
Turn a corner in Florida, and bam!
There’s another giant ice cream cone beckoning you with its siren song of sprinkles and hot fudge.
So whether you’re a Florida native or just passing through, keep an eye out for these towering treats.
Because nothing says “I’m on vacation” quite like eating ice cream from a building shaped like ice cream.
It’s meta.
It’s delicious.
It’s Twistee Treat.
5. Dairy Belle Ice Cream (Dania Beach)
Our penultimate stop on this creamy crusade takes us back to Dania Beach, home of Dairy Belle Ice Cream.
Now, don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t your run-of-the-mill dairy bar.
Oh no, this place is where American ice cream dreams and Canadian poutine fantasies collide in a beautiful, artery-clogging symphony.
Dairy Belle looks like the kind of place that time forgot, in the best possible way.
It’s got that classic drive-in vibe that makes you want to roll up in a ’57 Chevy, order a milkshake, and pretend you’re an extra in “Grease.”
Just don’t try any impromptu dance numbers in the parking lot – trust me, it never ends well.
But let’s talk about the star of the show: the ice cream.
Dairy Belle serves up scoops that are bigger than some small countries.
Their soft serve is so creamy, it makes clouds look chunky in comparison.
And don’t even get me started on their sundaes – they’re like edible skyscrapers, towering monuments to the glory of frozen dairy.
But here’s where things get interesting.
Dairy Belle isn’t content with just being an ice cream shop.
Oh no, they’ve got an identity crisis of the most delicious kind.
You see, the owners are from Quebec, and they’ve brought a taste of the Great White North to the Sunshine State.
That’s right, folks – you can get authentic Canadian poutine right here in Florida.
For the uninitiated, poutine is a heart-stopping combination of french fries, gravy, and cheese curds.
It’s like someone looked at a plate of fries and thought, “You know what this needs? More calories.”
So picture this: you can start your meal with a plate of poutine, follow it up with a cheeseburger (because why not?), and then cap it all off with a massive ice cream sundae.
It’s like a culinary tour of North America, all in one meal.
Your cardiologist might not thank you, but your taste buds certainly will.
Dairy Belle is proof that sometimes, the best things in life come from unexpected combinations.
Who would have thought that Canadian comfort food and Florida ice cream would be a match made in heaven?
It’s like the dessert equivalent of a bilingual romance novel – a little bit foreign, a little bit familiar, and a whole lot of delicious.
6. Sloan’s Ice Cream (West Palm Beach)
Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve reached the final stop on our frozen fantasy tour, and boy, have we saved a treat for last.
Sloan’s Ice Cream in West Palm Beach isn’t just an ice cream shop; it’s what would happen if Willy Wonka decided to focus exclusively on frozen treats and went absolutely bonkers with the decor.
From the moment you lay eyes on Sloan’s, you know you’re in for something special.
The storefront looks like it was designed by a committee of unicorns and Lisa Frank enthusiasts.
It’s a riot of pink, glitter, and whimsy that makes Disney World look positively subdued in comparison.
Step inside, and you’re transported to a world where calories don’t exist and diabetes is just a myth told to scare children.
The interior is a sensory overload in the best possible way.
Chandeliers drip from the ceiling, toys line the walls, and there’s more pink than in Barbie’s dream house.
It’s like someone took every childhood fantasy you ever had and crammed it into one gloriously over-the-top ice cream parlor.
But let’s not forget why we’re here: the ice cream.
Sloan’s doesn’t just serve ice cream; they serve works of art that happen to be edible.
Their flavors read like a mad scientist’s experiment log.
“Tracy’s Scrumptious Pretzel”?
Check.
“Mom’s Apple Pie”?
You bet.
“Coffee and Doughnuts”?
Why not!
Each scoop is a flavor adventure that makes your taste buds feel like they’ve gone on a rollercoaster ride.
And the sundaes?
Oh boy.
They’re not just desserts; they’re challenges.
Towers of ice cream, whipped cream, and toppings that defy both gravity and common sense.
Eating one is like embarking on a quest – a delicious, brain-freeze-inducing quest.
But Sloan’s isn’t content with just serving ice cream.
Oh no, they’ve got a whole candy shop going on too.
It’s like they looked at their ice cream menu and thought, “You know what this needs? More sugar!”
From gummies to chocolates to things you didn’t even know could be candied, Sloan’s has it all.
In the end, Sloan’s isn’t just an ice cream shop; it’s an experience.
It’s a place where adults can feel like kids again, where diets go to die, and where the phrase “too much of a good thing” simply doesn’t exist.
It’s the perfect finale to our ice cream odyssey – a sugar-coated cherry on top of our Floridian sundae.
There you have it, folks – a whirlwind tour of Florida’s finest frozen treats.
Let the feast begin!
This map is your guide to every flavor, dish, and unforgettable bite ahead.
Remember, life’s too short for bad ice cream!