The Portland area offers more than rivers and splash pads to cool your feet. These ice cold summer scoops will satisfy your craving for cold no matter what type of ice cream aficionados inhabit your household. With locations across Portland and Vancouver it’s time to enjoy some area favorites or try something new. From classic vanilla to pear and blue cheese, crispy cones to shaved creams and boba there’s a little sweet treat for everyone.
If You’re an Adventurous Ice Cream Eater Go to Salt & Straw
If you haven’t tried Salt & Straw‘s Pear and Blue Cheese ice cream yet you’re missing out. Check out flavors like Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero or Huckleberry Oat Crisp with Foraged Porcini among the other Salt & Straw adventurous flavor favorites. A key part of the experience is the generous sampling policy at this store, so it’s okay to try before you buy. While some tamer flavor combos do exist, the youngest in our party mourned a lack of plain chocolate soft serve so instead opted for a waffle cone ala carte.
📍Multiple locations
If You Need a Dopamine Hit Go to Cloud City Ice Cream
Cloud City Ice Cream is home to small-batch, hand-crafted creations and boasts a Yelp rating of the No. 33 ice cream shop in the nation on its website. Cloud City is all about ice cream and optimism, so improve your mood with a scoop of gluten-free Better Than Therapy, a flavor filled with lemon curd and molasses cookie crumbles or try the Unicorn, a mascarpone ice cream with red velvet cake and strawberry swirls. Cloud City also offers vegan scoops with flavors like Sunshine (coconut milk, cardamom, turmeric, and ginger) or Mango Lime Tajin. Be aware: happy ice cream can sometimes create long lines.
📍4525 SE Woodstock Blvd.
If You Want Your Ice Cream With a Funnel Cake Go to Crispy Cones
Crispy Cones is a new addition to Vancouver, located a quick hop off I-5 near the Salmon Creek Trader Joe’s. A national chain, the star of this ice cream treat is the cone not the scoop. Choose your baked cone, either traditional cinnamon sugar or the featured flavor, pick a spread, such as Nutella or Strawberry Jam which is smeared all over inside of the baked dough, pick your favorite soft serve flavor, and then add toppings! We’re fans of the Biscoff cookies or Oreos.
📍14003 NE 10th Ave., Vancouver
If You Want Your Ice Cream Super, Super Extra Go to The Yard Milkshake Bar
Known for its over-the-top creations, The Yard comes with alllllll the fixings and then some. My kid took one look at the jarred milkshakes and asked me where the ice cream was. In addition to a full helping of sweet and flavorful shakes, these ice creams are topped with a fantastical variety of garnishes such as cotton candy, sprinkles, entire donuts, scoops of their signature edible cookie dough, cupcakes, banana splits and more.
📍656 Waterfront Way, Vancouver
If You’re a Vegan and GF Ice Cream Lover Go to Kate’s Ice Cream
Proof that good ice cream doesn’t need dairy, Kate’s Ice Cream is a longtime favorite of vegans and omnivores alike. The entire menu is 100% plant-based and gluten-free with a signature coconut creme base. We’re suckers for the classic Orange Dreamsicle, but flavors range from classics like Vanilla and Pistachio to Rose Water Cardamom Almond and Salted Peanut Brittle. Check the menu online for a full list of allergens, or simply visit and enjoy in the form of cup, cone, or cake.
📍3713 N Mississippi Ave. and 1430 NW 23rd Ave.
If You Want Your Ice Cream Sandwiched Go to Champagne Poetry
Level up your ice cream sandwich at Champagne Poetry with their cookie cream creations. Step 1: Choose your cookie with options like Ube Chocolate Chip or a macaron shell. Step 2: Pick one of their 16 flavors of ice cream like Matcha Peach. Step 3: Enjoy the tastiest ice cream sandwich. Pro tip: While you’re there do not sleep on the pastry display case — and grab a quick photo on the rainbow wing wall, too.
Looking for even more ways to keep cool? Check out more articles on family-friendly ways to enjoy summer.