This Mouthwatering Ice Cream Trail In Michigan Is All You’ve Ever Dreamed Of And More
Warmer weather is slowly making its way into the Great Lakes State, and you know what that means: it’s nearly ice cream season! We’ve compiled a list of some of the best spots in Michigan to indulge in your favorite sweet treat — and it makes for one of the most delightful weekend adventures imaginable. For an interactive map of our trail, click here.
Please note that for the sake of driving time, we’ve only included ice cream shops in the Lower Peninsula in this particular article. That said, we would love to hear your recommendations for the best U.P. creameries in the comment section! In the meantime, take a look at our picks for six of the best ice cream spots in Michigan — and prepare your taste buds for an incredible journey.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
This Ann Arbor fixture has been serving up sweet treats for decades, and you’ll quickly understand why people keep coming back for more. Enjoy a generous scoop of one of the dairy’s various hard-serve flavors — whether you go for mint chocolate chip or moose tracks, you’ll never leave dissatisfied.
2. Erma's Original Frozen Custard (6451 Auburn Rd, Shelby Township)
For several generations, Erma’s has been delighting Michiganders and visitors alike with its cold, creamy creations. The shop has multiple locations, but we recommend checking out the Shelby Township locale to get a taste of Erma’s authentic sweet treats. Try a coconut cream pie parfait or mix it up with a strawberry shortcake sundae — there’s something here for everyone!
3. MSU Dairy Store (474 S Shaw Ln, Anthony Hall, East Lansing)
Stop in at this East Lansing ice cream shop, which sits on the campus of Michigan State University and is operated by the college’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. There’s nowhere else in town that provides such fresh, delicious ice cream — and you’ll certainly be back for more.
4. Pinkie's Ice Cream and Desserts (1127 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids)
Head to Grand Rapids and try a scoop or two from Pinkie’s, which combines friendly service with some truly top-of-the-line ice cream. You’ll enjoy generous portions, unbeatable tastes, and a fantastic atmosphere within the shop. Our personal favorite flavor? Chocolate-covered cherry!
No visit to West Michigan is complete without a stop at the original Captain Sundae, which serves up all sorts of amazing nautical-themed ice cream creations. Try the famous "Tommy Turtle" or indulge in a "Kiss The Captain," which perfectly combines vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, crushed cookies, chocolate chips, whipped cream, a cherry, and a Hershey’s kiss on top!
6. Sherman Dairy Bar (1601 Phoenix St, South Haven)
This South Haven fixture is a classic in the area, and people travel from all across Michigan to get their Sherman Dairy fix each summer. With a long history (Sherman Dairy has been around since 1916) and all sorts of Michigan-made ingredients, it’s impossible to go wrong with a cone from this sweet spot.
What’s your all-time favorite ice cream flavor? Which sweet shops should we include on our next Michigan ice cream list? We’d love to hear from you in the comment section!
