This summer, get back to Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland, for the lush, green views, endless outdoor adventure, and a delicious ice cream trail that will lead you to an ultimately sweet ending.
Some of Mountain Maryland’s greatest assets are open spaces and the great outdoors. Your adventure begins with access to hiking and biking on two world-class trails, the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath; over 60,000 acres of public land and 100+ miles of trails between three state parks and one state forest; and the Potomac River that forms the entire southern border of the county, perfect for day floats and fishing.
Allegany County is situated in Maryland’s breezy mountains, but don’t be fooled; the region certainly isn’t spared from the sultry dog days of summer. Whether you’re here to bike, paddle, hike, or just to enjoy the views, a trip to Mountain Maryland is not complete without a sweet retreat from the summer heat along the Allegany County Ice Cream Trail, home to some truly notable ice cream stops. Check out our favorites below.
Oak Barrel Café
On this first stop, don’t let the outside trick you! Located right off Exit 72 from Maryland’s Interstate 68, this charming cafe goes above and beyond convenience-stop fare with a spectacular food menu, complete with all the ice cream classics, including soft-serve ice cream cones and cups, specialty sundaes, coffeehouse chillers, milkshakes, floats, smoothies, and more.
Twisteez
With combinations like the Fireside S’more, Peanut Butter Pretzel, and Apple Strudel, this seasonal ice cream stand, located minutes from downtown Cumberland, is “the twist you can’t resist!” Stop by this neighborhood favorite!
Queen City Creamery Cafe & Deli
Offering some of the Cumberland area’s best homemade frozen custard, Queen City Creamery provides a creative “flavor of the day” menu with flavor combos from Kahlua Mocha Cheesecake to Lemon Poppy Muffin and White Russian to Caramel Old Bay. While you are sure to be delighted by a cone with the “flavor of the day,” what makes the creamery even more appealing is their “Grown-ups Only Drinkery” menu, with drinks like the Frozen Dirty Banana—a mixture of vanilla custard, Kahlua, banana liqueur, bananas, and milk.
Livvy’s Soft Serve
Known for their rotating soft-serve “flavors of the day” like yellow cake batter and salted caramel, their generous portion sizes, and indulgent sundaes like the “Start your diet tomorrow” sundae or the “Half Nuts” sundae, Livvy’s is a Cresaptown-area favorite stop. Nestled in a small neighborhood right off Route 220, Livvy’s offers big taste with all the classic offerings.
The FroYo Factory
Locally owned and operated, this frozen yogurt shop features Honey Hill Farms – all gluten-free – frozen yogurt. Make your way through the self-serve line to build your sundae with a selection of toppings like M&Ms, chocolate chips, crushed Oreos, gummy bears, syrups, and more.
Mountain City Coffeehouse And Creamery
Mountain City Coffeehouse and Creamery, boasting unique Gothic architecture and a cobblestone patio for outdoor dining, sits right in the heart of downtown Frostburg. Featuring locally made ice cream, sourced from Lakeside Creamery at Deep Creek Lake in nearby McHenry, MD, Mountain City Coffeehouse and Creamery serves hand-dipped cones, milkshakes, sundaes, and floats!
Princess Restaurant
A Pappas family tradition for four generations, the Princess Restaurant is packed with history. A Frostburg favorite past-time, you can often find Frostburg residents pulled up to the diner counter, sipping on milkshakes and malts or spooning assorted sundaes and banana splits. New to the menu are the super shakes, built with decadence in mind, with rotating specialty shakes like the Cookie-Cookie Super Shake and the Super Fudge Chocolate Brownie Shake!
Frostburg Freeze
What is that Boston Shake? Is it a hot fudge sundae inside a milkshake or is it a milkshake poured over top of a hot fudge sundae? That’s the question we hope you can help us answer when you swing by the Frostburg Freeze. Family owned and operated for over 50 years, The Frostburg Freeze is a seasonal community hub, serving the area’s best soft-serve to patrons on an outdoor patio, along Old Route 40 National Road. With “oldies, but goodies” like the Boston Shake and root beer floats to the new “pick your own” flavor bursts in a soft-serve cone, you will not regret making this a priority stop on a hot summer’s day.
Busters Treats
Historic Lonaconing, home to the Lefty Grove Memorial Park, boasts this pop-up ice cream stand along the Main Street drag. Known for their homemade peanut butter sauce and fresh toppings, Busters Treats serves all the soft-serve classics from milkshakes and sundaes to malts and ice cream sandwiches. Animal Lovers – Bring your four-legged friend for a dog-friendly summer treat!
To learn more about Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland, and all of our great ice cream spots, visit www.mdmountainside.com.
All photos courtesy of Allegany County
