• Kilwin's 14 percent butterfat ice cream flavors include the popular Cappuccino Chocolate Chip; Toasted Coconut; Mackinaw Fudge, and Traverse City Cherry. Samples are given at this counter if you can't decide and waffle cones are made on site. $3.50 for a single, $5.65 for a double dip waffle. Specialty sundaes ($6.45).

Kilwin's Chocolates & Ice Cream Shoppe, 14835 John Delaney Drive.

• In Elizabeth there's independently owned Elizabeth Creamery Ice Cream which also uses a "very high" butterfat milk to make their creamy mixtures. Single cones are $3.15.

Elizabeth Creamery Ice Cream, 1601 Elizabeth Ave.

• Owner Mia Choi makes 39 flavors of ice cream in her shop Carolina Creamery in Mint Hill. Currently Butter Pecan is the favorite and new this year is Rum Raisin. $2.39 for a single scoop.

Carolina Creamery, 11300 Lawyers Road, Mint Hill.

• Although many do not like the thick density of Ben & Jerry's ice creams, having less air whipped into the cream makes this mixture less susceptible to a quick meltdown on hot days, an important consideration when you -- or your child -- are in the car.

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, 507 Providence Road; Arboretum; 7800 Fairview Road; and 202 S. Main St., Davidson.

• Bruster's is my dog's favorite ice cream shop (drive-through) since she always gets a free cup of ice cream with a dog biscuit inside. Kids under 40-inches tall (there's a measuring board) get free ice cream, too.

Bruster's Real Ice Cream, 545 W. John St., Matthews. Other area locations as well.