The Essential Shore: Ice Cream

Dry Dock
This sunny, picnic-table-fronted spot comes complete with burgers and thin fries served in red plastic baskets, and
airy cake cones dripping with Moose Tracks. 1440 Texas Avenue, Cape May, 609-884-3434; capemaydrydock.com.

Sea Shell
Across the street from the motel of the same name, this parlor makes

Dry Dock
This sunny, picnic-table-fronted spot comes complete with burgers and thin fries served in red plastic baskets, and
airy cake cones dripping with Moose Tracks. 1440 Texas Avenue, Cape May, 609-884-3434;
capemaydrydock.com.

Sea Shell
Across the street from the motel of the same name, this parlor makes Baskin Robbins’s 31 flavors appear paltry. 300 East Rio Grande Avenue, Wildwood; 609-522-7822.

Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream
For more than 70 years, this spot has been making and scooping its homemade ice cream. (The pumpkin and teaberry are relatively new.) 9420 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor, 609-368-4631; springers-icecream.com.

Avalon Freeze
This circa-1950s spot is so popular that its owners built an upscale restaurant around it. 23rd Street and Dune Drive, Avalon; 609-967-4141.

Marita’s Homemade Ice Cream
This one stands out for its in-shop-churned, creamy goodness. 5912 Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City; 609-263-6800.

Dairy Bar
The turquoise paint, the fluorescent lights, the pink picnic benches, the retro signage: If this spot ever gives way to condos, we’ll pack up our Shore houses and head to the Cape. 9510 Ventnor Avenue, Margate; 609-822-9559.

À La Mode
For the homemade waffles bathed in ice cream, brownie sundaes — and cute boys behind the counter. 301 East 55th Street, Ocean City; 609-398-2207.

Hobby Horse
Outside, there’s a life-size brown bear greeting kids, alongside a brightly painted equine carousel. Paradise. 800 Ocean Avenue, Ocean City; 609-399-1214.

Custard’s Last Stand
Belgian waffles slathered in French vanilla and hot fudge, and hours until 1 a.m. 107 North Dorset Avenue, Ventnor Heights; 609-823-4033.

Aunt B’s
This spot delivers exactly what we crave: ice-cream twists and cocoa gelato milkshakes. 3307 West Brigantine Avenue, Brigantine; 609-266-1600.

Barry’s Do-Me-A-Flavor
Walls full of fishing photos, thick black-and-white shakes, and on Fridays, Pat’s pot-roast sandwiches. 309 Centre Street, Beach Haven; 609-492-8259.

EVERYWHERE
A push-up pop or Nutty Buddy tastes better from a pedal cart, a beach truck, or, in Wildwood, a beach walker.