Written by Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation, Jay O'Keefe

One of my family's favorite things (I think) to do for a summer day trip is to take the top off the Jeep, pack the beach supplies and stop for ice cream (at least once) along the way.  We usually have an ice cream stand in my before heading to a beach, lake or river bed in Connecticut or Rhode Island...but sometimes not.  There are some outstanding ice cream stands in eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island and the salt and fresh water "side trips" aren't bad either. The kids will be sure to encounter the unexpected fun of tag sales, parks, wildlife and more if you do your best to stick to the less traveled roads and never take the same route twice!
 
Here are some of our favorites:
 
Spinnakers - 3 Ferry Wharf, Jamestown RI.  Jamestown is a great alternative to the crowds of nearby Newport and is home to Beavertail State Park. You can even take the pedestrian ferry from the Jamestown wharf over to Newport if you wish or spend time at nearby Narragansett Beach before heading for this great island jem!
 
Mystic Drawbridge  - 2 West Main Street (at the bridge in Mystic) Mystic, CT.  Take your frozen treat across the street to the board walk and wharf area and watch the boats sail in/out of the harbor. Nearby Harkness State Park in Waterford (no swimming allowed but bring the bikes and kites) or Rocky Neck State Beach in East Lyme are good side stops.
 
Buttonwoods - 471 Shetucket Turnpike, (jct of routes 201&165), Griswold, CT.  For a country, farm fresh treat you just cannot beat Buttonwoods homemade ice cream stand. Enjoy scenic country views and fresh air and try out Hopeville Pond State Park for a swim and picnic.
 
The Daily Scoop - (230 County Rd) Barrington RI & (446B Thames St) Bristol RI.
Toss the bikes on the automobile to explore these two classic New England coastal towns.  Bristol is also home to the oldest and largest 4th of July Parades in America!  Take the incredibly scenic family friendly East Bay Bike Path from Colt State Park and pedal along the coast line into Barrington.  Both ice cream shops can actually be reached off the bike path but you may not want to do them in one day as they are in opposite directions from Colt Park. For a quiet, scenic and less known beach travel (by auto) over the bridge that connects Bristol to Portsmouth and head down the back road hills to Sandy Point Beach in Portsmouth. 
 
The Inside Scoop - 30 Ten Rod Rd, North Kingstown RI.  Voted Editor's Choice for Rhode Island by Yankee Travel Magazine this local stand is has movie under the stars nights and of course a tasty selection of frozen treats. You can't miss with a stop at Narragansett Beach, Charlestown Beach or East Beach.  For fresh water try the lake at Burlingame State Park in Charlestown.