Sweet Spots

Summer in Alexandria means ice cream. It’s basically a food group from June through August. Several spots around town serve cones, sundaes, shakes, and other frozen treats that are worth the stop — and the inevitable mess in the car on the way home.

What’s Available

You’ll find classic soft serve, hard scoop ice cream, frozen custard, and specialty desserts depending on where you go. A few places make their own, others serve trusted brands. Either way, portion sizes tend to be generous and prices are reasonable.

Beyond Ice Cream

A couple of spots also serve candy, fudge, baked goods, and other treats that make good gifts or road trip snacks. If you’re looking for something sweet that isn’t frozen, there are options.

Seasonal Hours

Most ice cream spots are seasonal — they open around Memorial Day and close sometime in September. A few stay open year-round or reappear on warm fall weekends. In peak summer, lines can get long after dinner, but they move fast.