Maryland is well-known for a lot of things -- crabs, horse races, lacrosse, all the classics. But one thing Maryland has a lot of that is less well-known is ice cream! From the shores of Ocean City to the Appalachian Mountains, there are ice cream shops all over this state. Maryland's home to 340 dairy farms, and some of that local milk goes into creamy, delicious treats.
It's not like we need any more motivation to go buy an ice cream cone, but the state has given us a fun challenge to complete anyway! It's called the Maryland Ice Cream Trail, and it's put on each year by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Though the challenge lasts until September 30 this year, July is National Ice Cream Month -- what better time could there be to feature it?
The rules are simple. Grab a selfie at each of the ten creameries that have been chosen for the 2021 challenge (and it must have been a tough call narrowing it down -- Maryland has tons of great ice cream shops!). Then, submit your selfies to icecream.trail1@maryland.gov for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the creamery of your choice as well as a children's book and a trophy! (You can read the full rules here!)
Here are the ten creameries featured in this year's challenge:
Broom's Bloom Dairy in Bel Air: Also features meat, lunches, cheese and butter! Picnics, here we come.
Chesapeake Bay Farms Inc. in Pocomoke and Berlin: Perfect for your favorite classic flavors, like butter pecan and vanilla bean, as well as unique flavors like blueberry crunch.
Keyes Creamery in Aberdeen: This creamery offers a wide range of seasonal and limited flavors, from lemon blueberry to maple walnut.
Kilby Cream in Rising Sun: Pick up some punny pints, like Cowconut and Udderly Chocolate, at this location that also offers milk and meat.
Misty Meadows Farm Creamery in Smithsburg: This location offers plenty of traditional and unique ice cream flavors as well as dairy-free sorbets that will please lactose-intolerant Marylanders.
Nice Farms Creamery in Federalsburg: What could be nicer than old-fashioned dipped ice cream? This location also offers shakes, floats, and sorbetto.
Prigel Family Creamery in Glen Arm: A wide variety of ice cream flavors in a beautiful location isn't all this place has to offer! You can also get cheese boards, meats, and even subscriptions to farm products.
Rocky Point Creamery in Tuscarora: Sundaes, shakes, and malts are easy to find at this tasty spot, but if you want to go extra Maryland proud, order some Old Bay cheddar while you're there!
South Mountain Creamery in Frederick and Middletown: Whether you're craving the flavor of cold brew, salted caramel, or cookie butter, this creamery has you covered.
Woodbourne Creamery at Rock Hill Orchard in Mount Airy: Guernsey cows make the milk that goes into this ice cream! Come back in the fall to pick apples and try the seasonal flavors, too.
