Summertime in Southern California means seeking out lots of ice cold treats to refresh us in the SoCal heat. For the ultimate SoCal adventure, why not turn this quest for the best ice cream in town to a fun and tasty road trip! Take a look at this interactive map of some of our favorite ice cream shops and follow along on the dreamiest SoCal road trip your taste buds could possibly imagine.

Southern California has a mouthwatering ice cream trail and you'll want to devour each and every ice cream treat on this list.

Here are 10 of our favorite ice cream shops. Of course there are many more top spots in SoCal, but this list will be more than enough to get you started on your ice cream adventure. Take a look...

1. Cauldron (1421 W MacArthur Blvd,Ste F, Santa Ana)

One look at an ice cream cone from Cauldron and you instantly know this is one unique treat. What makes this cone so different from the rest? For starters, the homemade ice cream flavors rotate frequently so each and every time you step into Cauldron you'll have something new to try. But what makes this cone EXTRA special is the "puffle" cone -- a thick and flavorful puffy cone that turns every bite into something to savor.

2. Eiswelt Gelato (9605 Bolsa Avenue, Westminster).

Eiswelt Gelato serves up some of the cutest frozen desserts you'll ever eat. Tucked inside a small strip mall, you'll be delighted to discover this tiny little shop that turns homemade gelato into delightful and delicious animal shapes that will put a smile on everyone's face.

3. Sweet Lucie's (12222 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles).

If you want to indulge in ice cream that's good for you, go ahead and order a double scoop from Sweet Lucie's as it's the first USDA certified organic ice creamery in SoCal. Whether you prefer ice cream or sorbets, you'll find a tasty selection of flavors to choose from that are all handcrafted and quite delicious.

4. Fosselman's (1824 W Main Street, Alhambra).

For an old-timey ice cream parlor experience, you must check out Fosselman's for some of the best old fashioned ice cream and milkshakes around. This gem in SoCal has been whipping up homemade ice cream since 1919 and it just seems to get better year after year.

5. Mother Moo Creamery (17 Kersting Ct, Sierra Madre)

For some of the best small batch ice cream in SoCal, you'll want to make at stop at Mother Moo Creamery in Sierra Madre. Not only is the ice cream made fresh daily, but it's made right here inside the store, so you know it must be fresh. Additionally, you'll also find freshly made waffle cones that will go great with a few giant scoops of your favorite flavor.

6. Handel's (373 S Mountain Avenue, Upland)

Whether you like it in a cup or a cone, the creamy texture of Handel's ice cream will melt in your mouth. This local gem is full of unique flavors that you won't stop craving from the moment you have your first bite of Handel's ice cream.

7. South Swell Hand Dipped Ice Cream (137 Avenida del Mar, San Clemente).

For an ice cream fix that's a little bit heartier than a cone, you should head over to South Swell Hand Dipped Ice Cream where you'll be able to indulge in dreamy ice cream bar with all of your favorite toppings. Just one bite of an ice cream treat at South Swell and you'll be hooked.

8. The Baked Bear (7610 Via Campanile, Ste 142, Carlsbad, plus other SoCal locations)

What's better than a scoop of ice cream? How about a scoop of ice cream stuffed inside a donut or between two cookies!? At Baked Bear, you'll find giant mouthwatering ice cream sandwiches that are large enough to qualify as a meal.

9. Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream (3077 University Avenue, San Diego)

This gourmet ice cream shop in San Diego serves up locally made ice cream goodness that has quite a following. The line here may be long, but it's truly worth the wait. With so many unique flavors to choose from at Hammond's, your best bet is to order the mini ice cream flights that allow you to have a sample of all your top choices.

10. Niederfrank's (726 A Ave,National City)

Niederfrank's is an old-fashioned ice cream shop in the town of National City that makes ice cream like they did in the good ol' days from a recipe and freezing process that's been passed down for generations.

Don't you just love the idea of an ice cream road trip?! It doesn't seem possible to ever have enough ice cream, so let us know in the comments where to find some of your favorite SoCal ice cream shops.

If you love SoCal and you love learning about the many hidden gems in our favorite part of the Golden State, take a look at our home page for hundreds ideas for restaurants, hikes, insider secrets and off the beaten path adventures.