Let’s be honest – one of the best parts of summer in Indiana is all the delicious ice cream we get to indulge in. From dairy farms in the rural part of the Hoosier State to tiny beloved ice cream shops in Indiana cities, we know how to do ice cream right. If you’re a fan of this frozen treat, check out the ultimate mouthwatering Northern Indiana ice cream trail below!
Follow along with these handy Google Map directions, you can put in your address to start. The entire trail takes just over 4 hours to complete.
- Ivanhoe’s Drive In (Upland)
Ivanhoe’s Drive In/Facebok
Daniel C./Yelp Ivanhoe’s is a staple in Upland. They offer over 100 ice cream and milkshake varieties, plus a ton of hand-dipped choices. You’ll have to wait in line (along with the rest of the town), but you’ll be so glad you stuck it out!All 100 flavors of milkshake are listed on their website, so you might be better off deciding in advance!
- South Side Soda Shop (Goshen)
South Side Soda Shop/Facebook
South Side Soda Shop/Facebook If you’re a huge fan of milkshakes, then you’ll be a huge fan of our next stop. South Side Soda Shop was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives - and for good reason. You’ll find yourself in heaven with their ice cream sundaes and delicious milkshakes. This is an old-fashioned diner with a 1940s soda fountain that will make you feel like you just stepped onto the set of Happy Days.They have their full menu and more photos on their website.
- Chief Ice Cream (Goshen)
The Chief/Facebook
3duckdave/TripAdvisor This tiny ice cream shop made Thrillist’s list of best ice cream places in America, and locals know how true that is. The lines are long, but they move quickly, and the reward is worth every minute. They’re only open seasonally, so you’ll want to check them out while the weather is warm!Their Facebook lists their Flavors of the Week.
- Rocket Science Ice Cream (Nappanee)
Gina S./Yelp
Yelp Try ice cream a new way at Rocket Science. You’ll order by picking your ingredients and dairy (including fresh cream) and using liquid nitrogen, they’ll freeze it right in front of your eyes. Science never tasted so good!There are lots of photos on their website.
- Valpo Velvet Shoppe (Valparaiso)
Dane E./Yelp
Meeganism/TripAdvisor Valpo Velvet is a family-owned local gem that serves up some of the best ice cream you’ve ever tasted. They have more creative flavors and ice cream creations than you could ever hope to try. Find your new favorite flavor!Their fun and exotic flavors, like Aztec Hot Chocolate and Coffee Espresso Fudge Oreo, are listed on their website.
- Fair Oaks Farms (Fair Oaks)
Billy H./Yelp
Billy H./Yelp If you want to try farm fresh ice cream, look no further than Fair Oaks Farms. They make their own ice cream right here, so you can try some of the freshest, best flavors around. They regularly hosts concerts and also hold tours so you can see all the behind-the-scenes processes of a working farm.Find out more information on their website.
Which place are you dying to try? If you are a fan of food trails in Indiana, you won’t want to miss this awesome Indiana donut trail!
Ivanhoe’s Drive In/Facebok
Daniel C./Yelp
Ivanhoe’s is a staple in Upland. They offer over 100 ice cream and milkshake varieties, plus a ton of hand-dipped choices. You’ll have to wait in line (along with the rest of the town), but you’ll be so glad you stuck it out!All 100 flavors of milkshake are listed on their website, so you might be better off deciding in advance!
South Side Soda Shop/Facebook
If you’re a huge fan of milkshakes, then you’ll be a huge fan of our next stop. South Side Soda Shop was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives - and for good reason. You’ll find yourself in heaven with their ice cream sundaes and delicious milkshakes. This is an old-fashioned diner with a 1940s soda fountain that will make you feel like you just stepped onto the set of Happy Days.They have their full menu and more photos on their website.
The Chief/Facebook
3duckdave/TripAdvisor
This tiny ice cream shop made Thrillist’s list of best ice cream places in America, and locals know how true that is. The lines are long, but they move quickly, and the reward is worth every minute. They’re only open seasonally, so you’ll want to check them out while the weather is warm!Their Facebook lists their Flavors of the Week.
Gina S./Yelp
Yelp
Try ice cream a new way at Rocket Science. You’ll order by picking your ingredients and dairy (including fresh cream) and using liquid nitrogen, they’ll freeze it right in front of your eyes. Science never tasted so good!There are lots of photos on their website.
Dane E./Yelp
Meeganism/TripAdvisor
Valpo Velvet is a family-owned local gem that serves up some of the best ice cream you’ve ever tasted. They have more creative flavors and ice cream creations than you could ever hope to try. Find your new favorite flavor!Their fun and exotic flavors, like Aztec Hot Chocolate and Coffee Espresso Fudge Oreo, are listed on their website.
Billy H./Yelp
If you want to try farm fresh ice cream, look no further than Fair Oaks Farms. They make their own ice cream right here, so you can try some of the freshest, best flavors around. They regularly hosts concerts and also hold tours so you can see all the behind-the-scenes processes of a working farm.Find out more information on their website.
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Address: Ivanhoes Drive, Ivanhoes Dr, Upland, IN 46989, USAAddress: 1122 S Main St, Goshen, IN 46526, USAAddress: 502 W Lincoln Ave, Goshen, IN 46526, USAAddress: 401 E Market St, Nappanee, IN 46550, USAAddress: 57 Monroe St, Valparaiso, IN 46383, USAAddress: Fair Oaks Farms, 856 N 600 E, Fair Oaks, IN 47943, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Summer In Indiana May 10, 2021 Lisa Sammons Are there any good outdoor swimming spots in Indiana? Even though Indiana is landlocked from oceans, we have plenty of excellent locations for outdoor swimming! We’ve got quite a few recreation areas and state parks that have excellent rivers and lakes just perfect for summer frolicking. One that we are particularly fond of is the Indiana Dunes State Park, which features tons of shoreline right along Lake Michigan and has crystal clear blue water. What are some good water parks in Indiana? If you are more a fan of water parks with slides and activities to enjoy, don’t worry, we have lots of those too! Pine Lake Water Park in Berne is guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again. It’s a natural water park set up along a sandy shore that’s got a slide and swing bridge. It’s been in business for nearly 100 years! If you prefer your water parks chlorinated, Splash Island in Plainfield has a great indoor/outdoor water park that features a 900-foot lazy river. What are some fun outdoor activities in Indiana? Indiana has so many spots just waiting for adventurers to find! We have plenty of hikes and waterfalls to check out, and we’ve even got some really neat caves that will make you feel like you have entered another world. We also have several fantastic state parks, like Turkey Run State Park and McCormick Creek State Park.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Summer In Indiana
May 10, 2021
Lisa Sammons
Are there any good outdoor swimming spots in Indiana? Even though Indiana is landlocked from oceans, we have plenty of excellent locations for outdoor swimming! We’ve got quite a few recreation areas and state parks that have excellent rivers and lakes just perfect for summer frolicking. One that we are particularly fond of is the Indiana Dunes State Park, which features tons of shoreline right along Lake Michigan and has crystal clear blue water. What are some good water parks in Indiana? If you are more a fan of water parks with slides and activities to enjoy, don’t worry, we have lots of those too! Pine Lake Water Park in Berne is guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again. It’s a natural water park set up along a sandy shore that’s got a slide and swing bridge. It’s been in business for nearly 100 years! If you prefer your water parks chlorinated, Splash Island in Plainfield has a great indoor/outdoor water park that features a 900-foot lazy river. What are some fun outdoor activities in Indiana? Indiana has so many spots just waiting for adventurers to find! We have plenty of hikes and waterfalls to check out, and we’ve even got some really neat caves that will make you feel like you have entered another world. We also have several fantastic state parks, like Turkey Run State Park and McCormick Creek State Park.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Even though Indiana is landlocked from oceans, we have plenty of excellent locations for outdoor swimming! We’ve got quite a few recreation areas and state parks that have excellent rivers and lakes just perfect for summer frolicking. One that we are particularly fond of is the Indiana Dunes State Park, which features tons of shoreline right along Lake Michigan and has crystal clear blue water.
What are some good water parks in Indiana?
If you are more a fan of water parks with slides and activities to enjoy, don’t worry, we have lots of those too! Pine Lake Water Park in Berne is guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again. It’s a natural water park set up along a sandy shore that’s got a slide and swing bridge. It’s been in business for nearly 100 years! If you prefer your water parks chlorinated, Splash Island in Plainfield has a great indoor/outdoor water park that features a 900-foot lazy river.
What are some fun outdoor activities in Indiana?
Indiana has so many spots just waiting for adventurers to find! We have plenty of hikes and waterfalls to check out, and we’ve even got some really neat caves that will make you feel like you have entered another world. We also have several fantastic state parks, like Turkey Run State Park and McCormick Creek State Park.
