As the mercury rises, cooling off with a bowl of creamy ice cream is a great way to beat the Sacramento summer heat. Here three of the best places to get your fix.
1. Gunther’s Quality Ice Cream
Visiting the 67-year-old parlor on Franklin is like going back in time. Gunther's still makes rich handmade ice cream at the Midtown store and Jugglin Joe still hasn’t missed a scoop. There are plenty of ice cream, sherbet, sorbet and yogurt flavors. Bing cherry is a crowd favorite. Buy a float, sundae, split, or opt for sinfully delicious chocolate-dipped treats like bananas, cherries, and cheesecake. Health conscious eaters can also scream of ice cream with fat- and sugar-free choices.
- Address: 2801 Franklin Blvd.
- Phone: (916) 457-6646
- Hours: Sun.-Thu., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
2. Leatherby’s Family Creamery
Leatherby’s in the Arden area has that big ice cream parlor feel. All that’s missing is Fonzie at the juke box. Leatherby’s serves piled-up-to-the-sky splits and sundaes covered in gooey fudge, rich caramel, sweet pineapple sauce or homemade whipped cream. You can order extra if that’s not enough. If you want dessert with your dessert, try ice cream-topped cakes and brownies. Malts, shakes, scoops, sodas, simple sundaes, nonfat yogurt, and light- and sugar-free flavors are also sold.
- Address: 2333 Arden Way
- Phone: (916) 920-8382
- Hours: Sun.-Thu., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-12 a.m.
3. Vic’s Ice Cream
Vic’s is a Land Park staple that has been serving homemade ice cream for 60 years. The '50s-style creamery is a popular after school hangout for kids and parents, a summer respite for residents, and a must-see stop for travelers. Vic’s offers many flavors and seasonal concoctions such as pumpkin in the winter and lemon chiffon in the summer. Favorites include butter brittle and mint chip. You can also indulge on shakes, malts, splits, sundaes, frappes, ice cream pies, and sherbet freezes. Fat free ice cream is also sold.
- Address: 3199 Riverside Blvd.
- Phone: (916) 448-0892
- Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.