We all scream for ice cream: Where to go in Greater Gardner and beyond for a great cone
Warm spring-like temperatures have finally appeared on the 10-day forecast, which means cold, sweet treats like ice cream are a must.
Several small ice cream shops and dairy farms offer locally sourced homemade ice cream in or around the Greater Gardner area.
These local ice cream shops give residents the opportunity to try a cup or cone of the best of what Central Massachusetts agriculture has to offer. If you don't have a sweet tooth, many ice cream places in the area also offer savory New England classics on their menus.
Here are seven ice cream shops where you can support a local ice cream maker, dairy farmer, or small ice cream seller this spring and summer.
Greater Gardner classics
Kay's Dairy Bar at 196 State Road West in Westminster is a year-round ice cream shop that is not only a summer staple for locals to get their ice cream fix during the heat but also offers a menu with a variety of New England comfort foods, from Quebec-styled fries to lobster rolls and fried seafood platters. The Westminster dairy bar is a one-stop for all cravings.
The dairy bar is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Another Greater Gardner staple is Lickity Splitz at 231 Main St. in Winchendon. The ice cream shop is open year-round to satisfy cravings during any season. In addition to ice cream, Lickity Splitz also offers comfort foods all year long. The Winchendon ice cream shop has dishes for every meal, from breakfast burritos to steak and cheese sandwiches. The shop is open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Murdock Farm & Diary Bar, located at 62 Elmwood Road in Winchendon, is the place to go not only to get a cone of fresh homemade ice cream but also to befriend some farm animals. This season marks the dairy farm and bar's 60th ice cream-making anniversary. The staff at the dairy bar plans to open for the season on Saturday, May 4, and will be open seven days a week from 1 to 9 p.m.
One of the newest additions to the list of local ice cream spots in Greater Gardner is Izzie's Ice Cream at 227 Gardner Road in East Templeton. The shop, formerly known as Bunny's Dairy Bar, was bought by Nicole Besse and her mother, who own Nicole's Christmas Trees down the road from Izzie's. This will be the second season Izzie's Ice Cream will open. Besse said they plan to open for the season on Sunday, May 12, for Mother's Day. The shop's hours are seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If you're willing to drive a bit
Cherry Hill Ice Cream is known locally for its homemade and, at times, unusual ice cream flavors. The ice cream stand opened for its 26th season on April 5, at 826 Leominster Road in Lunenburg. Its second location in Townsend, Cherry Hill Ice Cream Too, opened on April 19. The Lunenburg location is only a 25-minute drive from the Gardner area. The Townsend location is a 30- to 40-minute drive for most residents in the Greater Gardner area, but it's only a 25-minute drive from Ashburnham. Both locations are open from 2 to 9 p.m.
Another regionally known favorite for its unique homemade ice cream flavors is Rota Spring Farm at 117 Chace Hill Road in Sterling. The ice cream shop promotes a monthly flavor. The April flavors were Lemon Dream and Mint Oreo. The May ice cream flavor has yet to be announced; check their website for updates.
The Sterling staple is not only known for its ice cream but also for its meatball subs and its petting zoo. The ice cream stand is open every day at 11:30 a.m. from March to October, and closes between 8 and 9:30 p.m., depending on the month. The food menu is available from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. all season long.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Where to get local ice cream in Westminster, Winchendon, East Templeton
