Scoop, There It Is

Eskimo King opens on April 1 for all your ice cream needs

Photo by Jeanette St. Pierre

That first ice cream cone of the season just might top our list of things we love about spring. Now that warmer days are here to stay, the little ice cream shops across Rhode Island are opening their doors. It’s just the thing we all need to charge full steam ahead out of sweater weather.

Eskimo King opens its doors April 1 to our delight. From here on out it’s nothing but banana splits, 26 flavors of hard ice cream and 300 plus flavors of soft serve and frozen yogurt. 29 Market Street, Swansea. 508-379-0202.

The Ice Cream Barn opened on the first day of spring to serve up ice cream that’s made right on site. They’ve got 20 plus ice cream flavors that rotate on a whim in addition to a handful of sugar-free and frozen yogurt options. 289 Locust Street, Swansea. 508-567-6278.

Get ready for chocolate chip cookie sandwiches, frozen chocolate dipped bananas, non-dairy ice cream, traditional ice cream and soft serve at Sundaes. They also carry Only 8, a soft serve that boasts eight calories, no cholesterol and is low in carbs. 259 Taunton Avenue, Seekonk. 508-336-5584.

Frosty Freez is opening back up on April 1 to offer up ice cream sandwiches, cups and cones, banana splits, pints and quarts, and the Nor’easter, which blends a topping of your choice into a cup of soft serve. 496 East Main Road, Middletown. 846-1697.

Satisfy your craving for Black Raspberry, Pistachio and Thin Mint frozen yogurt at Riverside Creamery. If you need a little something savory beforehand, feel free to grab a few hot dogs. 447 Willett Avenue, Riverside.

Schultzy’s Snack Shack serves up shakes, sundaes and scoops to round out their burgers and seafood, plus from June through August they’re putting movies on their big outdoor screen every Wednesday night. 346 Park Avenue, Portsmouth. 401-683-2663.

Whether you’re vegan or an avoider of all things dairy, find solace at Like No Udder with handmade ice cream flavors like Maple Grapenut or Thai Iced Tea, serving weekends only through the end of March. 170 Ives Street, Providence. 228-3880.

Three Sisters is serving up some refreshing, gluten-free realness to soothe your soul for the warmer seasons ahead. Check out the award-winning Kulfi flavor, or find your new favorite from a hefty selection of homemade delicacies. 1074 Hope Street, Providence. 273-7230.

Make a stop by Hope Creamery starting April 1 for some quality summer luxuries like Strawberry Cheesecake or Cherry Vanilla, or settle for their beast of a banana split. 569 Branch Avenue, Providence. 454-0407.

Summer is no match for the delicious chill of a hand-scooped ice cream cone. Cool-Licks is serving up quality hard and soft-serve sweets to help you beat the heat. 1808 Smith Street, Providence. 353-2615.

Check out the award-winning ice cream that family-owned Inside Scoop is serving up this Spring. Chill out and enjoy a spectrum of ice cream flavors, sorbets and smoothies for a midday indulgence. 30 Ten Rod Road, North Kingstown. 294-0094.

Orange Pineapple, Rum Raisin and more can be found at Brickley’s in Wakefield, a locally-owned spot with over 40 flavors to suit your ice cream-loving desires. 322 Main Street, Wakefield. 789-1784.