Sweet Spots: America's Favorite Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Shops

At the turn of the century, pharmacies became the place to satisfy your sweet tooth. There, uniformed soda jerks would crank out egg creams, root beer floats, and hot fudge–laden sundaes. They were a place all generations gathered and everyone was happy. Sadly, many soda fountains and ice cream parlors have since closed, but thankfully a few good ones have survived. Pay a visit to these heavenly sweet spots that have stood the test of time. They are certainly worth a road trip and will make you feel like a kid all over again.

Where: Homer's, Wilmette, IL First Lick: 1935 Fun Facts: What started out as just a two-table ice cream parlor in pre-World War II Chicago eventually grew into a mail order business that ships containers of decadent flavors across the country. In the last 75 years, Homer's has been lauded as Best in Chicago by Chicago Magazine and named one of Bon Appetit's Top Ten Ice Cream Shops in America. Another of Homer's fans? Al Capone was said to frequent the shop with some of his pals. Most Unusual Item: Toasted Coconut Pineapple Shake. Try This Recipe: Bobby Flay's Dark Chocolate Milkshake with "Fluffy" Coconut Whipped Cream

Where: Mitchell's Ice Cream, San Francisco, CA First Lick: June 6, 1953 Fun Facts: More than fifty years before the first scoop, the Mitchell family ran a dairy farm in San Francisco. It was from dairy farming that the brothers, Larry and Jack Mitchell, honed the proper skills to make their rich flavors that begin with an ice cream base of 16 percent butterfat. Most Outrageous Flavors: Avocado and Ube a.k.a.Purple Yam. Try This Recipe: Olive Oil Vanilla Ice Cream

Where: Cliff's Ice Cream, Ledgewood, NJ First Lick: 1975 Fun Facts: High school teacher Cliff Freund opened his roadside stand with the idea that if you made good ice cream, people would come. And that they have. USA Today just polled experts around the country to name their favorite ice cream and Cliff's was at the top of the list for the state of New Jersey. In addition to 60 handmade flavors, Cliff's serves up 11 soft serves. Signature Flavors: Chocolate Gusher. Also: Smurf, Oreo Cheesecake, and Peanut Butter Pretzel Madness! Try This Recipe: Banana Split Shake

Where: McConnell's, Santa Barbara, CA First Lick: 1949 Fun Facts: After a vacation in Mexico City, Gordon "Mac" McConnell and his wife Ernesteen wanted to bring the same quality ice cream to California. So the couple started using the "French Pot" method, a small-batch production that creates a very dense and creamy consistency. Though they prefer to keep things uncomplicated, for a White House event, McConnell's prepared a special flavor in honor of then President Ronald Regan: Jelly Bean. Other famous followers? California residents Barbara Streisand and Kelsey Grammer. Signature Flavor: French vanilla. Try This Recipe: Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Where: Crown Candy Kitchen, St. Louis, Missouri First Lick: 1913 Fun Facts: Best friends Harry Karandzieff and Pete Jugaloff brought their sweet confectionery skills with them when they immigrated to the United States from Greece. Shortly after they arrived, the pair decided to set up the Crown Candy Kitchen, which soon became known for its malts, shakes, and homemade chocolates. The shop still looks very much like it did when it first opened, complete with vintage Coca-Cola signs and jukebox. Most recently, the sweet shop was host to Travel Channel's Man vs. Food, when Adam Richman attempted to suck down five of their malteds in 30 minutes. Signature Flavor: Ozark Black Walnut ice cream. Try This Recipe: Chocolate Cookie and Walnut Crunch Ice Cream

Where: Graeter's, Cincinnati, Ohio First Lick: 1870 Fun Facts: Graeter's ice cream has been around longer than the first freezer. Back before refrigeration, the ice cream was kept cool by using rock salt. The Graeter family was fortunate to have a strong matriarch, Regina, who, after her husband was tragically killed, grew the business until her death in 1955. The family-owned and operated company prides itself on making their fresh ice cream the same way Regina did, using the French Pot method. Fresh-cream custard and milk is poured into a stainless steel pot where it is spun and folded very gently so no air is whipped in. That results in a very dense flavor with high butterfat and a smooth mouthfeel. No wonder Oprah declared Graeter's one of her favorites! Signature Flavor: Black Raspberry Chip. Made from Washington State's finest black raspberries. Try This Recipe: Chocolate-Raspberry Frozen Yogurt Pops

Where: Four Seas, Centerville, MA First Lick: 1934 Fun Facts: Insurance salesman W. Watson Wells opened the roadside shop to service Bostonians who summered along the Cape. After he worked out a few kinks, word spread. In the 1950s, Dick Warren began working as a manager and there met his soon-to-be bride, who was a scooper. Dick became an expert, author, and educator on the ice cream. Now his son, Doug, runs the business and continues to source fresh peaches, black raspberries,c and strawberries from the farmstand down the road. Over the years, the store has been visited by the every member of Kennedy family. Signature Flavor: Vanilla is the best-seller and they even sell a pet-sized version! Outrageous Contest: In less than 30 minutes, customers are dared to eat a 16-scoop sundae appropriately named The Hurricane. Winners get a t-shirt, free meal, and their name on the wall of fame. Try This Recipe: Summer Fruit Sundaes

Where: Bassett's Ice Cream, Philadelphia, PA First Lick: 1861 Fun Facts: Back in the mid-1800's when there were no Cuisinarts or motorized blenders, mules were used to power up Basset's churning mechanism. Five generations later, Bassett's is still making their flavors using original recipes, minus the mules. In 2010, the shop served President Obama a few scoops of mint chocolate chip at their Redding Terminal location, and 2011 marks 150 years in business. Signature Flavor: Gadzooks! Rich chocolate ice cream laced with caramel swirl, bite-sized brownies, and chocolate chips. Try This Recipe: Chocolate Lover's Ice Cream Pie

Where: The Red Rooster Drive-In, Brewster, NY First Lick: 1963 Fun Facts: This local haunt draws kids from all over the county for its miniature golf plus its decadent soft serve cones and hot fudge sundaes eaten beside outdoor picnic tables. Its iconic 1960s architecture has attracted famous photographers, some who fetched approximately $10,000 for their snaps of the shop. Most Outrageous Item: Banana Boat, a mammoth-sized banana split Try This Recipe: Banana Split Shake

Where: Doumar's, Norfolk, VA First Lick: 1907 Fun Facts: It was at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair that the first-ever ice cream cone was invented by none other than Abe Doumar. A few years later, he opened his shop and installed his signature waffle cone machine. And you'll still find 89-year-old Al Doumar there, making fresh, hot waffle cones from scratch. Signature Flavors: They like to keep things simple at Doumar's. Having only six flavors — chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, butter pecan, orange sherbet, and lime sherbet — allows them to do them all well. Try This Recipe: Lemon-Mascarpone Sherbet

Where: Cole's Drug, Big Timber, MT First Lick: 1935 Fun Facts: This little soda fountain still maintains its original interior and fixtures, including their first counter seating with red stools. It is the only original soda fountain left in the state of Montana. Signature Item: Huckleberry sundae. A sweet and tart sauce made from fresh Northern Plains huckleberries is doused over vanilla ice cream along with whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry. Try This Recipe: Berry Sundae with Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce