July is ice cream month – let's have some cool fun!

In 1984 President Reagan officially designated July as National Ice Cream Month.  Thus, we couldn’t resist giving you the inside scoop (yes, pun intended!) on some places to find a good cone along with some unusual recipes too.  Afterall, if a President thinks the month should be dedicated to the frozen concoction, so should the DINE blog!

A summer getaway in New England would hardly seem complete without some ice cream, so we’ve asked Distinctive Inns of New England innkeepers for their ideas on great places to find the best ice cream along with some of their favorite recipes you can try at home.

Here’s the scoop on places to find a good cone in DINE country

Leslie Mulcahy tells us when visiting Rabbit Hill Inn, no Northeast Kingdom or Vermont vacation is complete without making a pilgrimage to the ice cream Mecca of the world – Ben & Jerry’s.  As a bonus, this ice cream icon is also part of the Rabbit Hill Inn’s delicious and fun-filled Tasters Tour!  Other stops on the Taster’s Tour include Goodrich Maple Farm, Cabot Cheese Factory, Grand View Winery, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, plus a few more, making for quite a tasty day.

Additionally, if you choose to follow Rabbit Hill Inn’s “Scooper Duper Trail” you’re in for a tour of  delicious, fun, and unique ice cream spots. Plus each stop has a “Must See” BONUS to do while there.  Here’s a peek just one of the stops on this list: Bishops Ice Cream Shop (Yankee Mag’s Top Pick 2011).  As a bonus, take a fun stroll on nearby Main Street. Visit Chutters – they have the World’s Longest Candy Counter (according to Guinness Book of World Records).  Stay tuned in future blogs for more stops along the Scooper Duper Ice Cream trail.

Jill Meyer at Captain’s House Inn on Cape Cod has done a thorough review of ice cream shops on Cape Cod for those planning a Cape Cod summer getaway (it’s a tough job, but someone had to blog about it!).  Here’s Jill’s review of one nearby shop called Jimmies in Cotuit:  “Jimmies Ice Cream screams flavor packed homemade decadence.  With an eclectic variety of options from Grape Nut to Grapefruit to Moose Tracks to regular old Vanilla, there is a flavor for all tastes at Jimmy’s and plenty of options for chocoholics like me. I give them a 9 out of 10 rating losing a point only because I would have enjoyed a slightly creamier consistency.”  We’ll share more of Jill’s ideas this month.  Keep tuning into the DINE blog for more cool ideas for hot summer days.

The Chef’s blog at the Manor On Golden Pond was recently dedicated to sharing some great ice cream ideas.  One of the many suggestions made was a visit to the Sandwich Creamery.  According to the Manor’s chefs, the Sandwich Creamery is not only worthwhile for the cones but also to see from whence the creamy treat came!  Though available at a number of retail outlets in the area, the chefs suggest guests should consider taking the time to meet the (bovine) ladies responsible by visiting the creamery itself.  Less than 20 miles from The Manor on Golden Pond, the Sandwich Creamery is well off-the-beaten-path.  The chefs tell us “it’s also a working dairy, so don’t be surprised if, on any given day, the retail presence at the creamery amounts to a self-serve cooler and “honest john” cash box.  Excellent ice cream (and cheese!), and sorbet as well.”  There’ll be more suggestions and recipes coming from the Manor on Golden Pond’s Chefs soon, don’t worry.

Keep your eyes on the DINE blog for more great ice cream ideas.  Our next entry will feature some ice cream recipes, including one surprise treat made from an ingredient you’d never expect!  Meanwhile, while the summer is well underway, it’s never too late to plan your summer escape to DINE country.