New Englanders love their ice cream, whether it's in the height of summer or as the leaves start to turn and the cooler fall weather arrives. It's no different in Newburyport, home of our boutique Plum Island hotel Blue—Inn on the Beach, where several shops are turning out freshly churned ice cream from local dairies. Try the local specialty—a frappe, aka a milkshake, which is pronounced "frap" in this area. Next time you're on a lark to Plum Island, stop into one of these ice cream shops for some of the best ice cream in Newburyport.
Harbor Creamery | 39 Pleasant St, Newburyport | (978) 255-2440
This classic New England ice cream shop makes it ice cream right on-site and uses local maple syrup in its Maple Walnut ice cream. The shop is busiest in the summer, but people also stop in through fall and the holidays for seasonal flavors like Cinnamon Spice, Eggnog, and Gingerbread House. The shop's most buzzed-about special is its "spaghetti sundae," a dish that resembles (in looks alone!) spaghetti and meatballs, with a special ice cream press that forms the "strands" of vanilla ice cream, strawberry sauce, and a Ferrero Rocher truffle on top. You may laugh, but it's delicious!
Dolce Freddo Gelato | 38 Market Square, Newburyport | (978) 462-1002
Open year-round in Market Square, this Newburyport gelato shop is known for its authentic Italian treats. Of course, there's gelato here, Italian ice cream made with flavors from Nutella to cannoli. This café also serves sorbetto (dairy-free), espresso, and other Italian desserts like tiramisu. Enjoy these delicate treats while you relax in the cozy shop or take yours to go as you explore the boutiques and galleries of downtown Newburyport.
The Cottage Creamery | 14 Plum Island Blvd B, Newbury | (978) 255-1008
Just 1/2-mile from Blue—Inn on the Beach, this seasonal shop on Plum Island serves beachgoers and day-trippers visiting this peaceful barrier island. You'll easily spot the bright green shop and its matching Jeep Wagoneer as you approach. Classic flavors are available here in giant sugar cones, as shakes, and in the specialty—a Plum Island Sandy, a scoop of ice cream sandwiched between two cookies or a donut. Ice cream on the beach—is there anything better?
