Keeping It Cool: A round up of Beaufort Ice Cream Spots
With the Beaufort heat kicking in as summer takes off in the Lowcountry the days of hot and humid weather will drag on, one after another, with locals and visitors alike looking for a way to cool off.
Without a sense of doubt, we can promise Beaufort has no shortage of ice cream spots to balance out with the sunshine, We’ve got a great selection to keep us cool all season long.
If you’re a Beaufort native, you may remember waiting in endless lines when we had only one ice cream shop downtown. In the Old Bay Marketplace, Southern Sweets has been as open as long as we remember and is still a local favorite. If you’re looking for the original thing, this is your place to go. They have a variety of tasty treats including ice cream, pizza (again, pizza), sandwiches, salads, and hot dogs. And, get this… they are pet-friendly with a doggy sundae– yes, an ice cream sundae for your pooch!
Next, with two unique locations is YoYos. The doors first opened to the frozen yogurt shop . There are some definite unique factors to this place. They say they are known for three things: their self-serve fro-yo, their photo booth (that airs instantly on the flat screen mounted above the frozen delight), and the unlimited toppings to pile on their chilly cups of cream. They also have beverages, popcorn, and cotton candy.
Just around the corner, YoYo’s Ice Cream Shop is perfect to grab when you take the kids on a run around the jungle gym. New to this YoYo’s is Italian Ice. They say their most popular flavor is the rainbow Superman ice cream. The kiddies that visit downtown’s Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park explain that the legend says it melts slower than the others.
New to town, Stellar on Lady’s Island, near Grayco. They opened doors just about week or so ago and told me that business has been rocking thus far. All flavors are homemade and they say the two favorites are the Sea Salt Caramel and Oreo Crunch. Something unique about this modern spot, they have alcohol infused ice cream that go by the code name of “red dot.” In the tubs this weekend for the 21 and up ice cream, you could find White Russian, Rum Raisin, and Bailey’s Irish Cream.
A gem that may go unnoticed at the Waterfront is at Common Ground, serving up some gelato. It comes from our neighbor on the other side of the Broad River in Hilton Head. Considering this is a coffee shop, there’s tons more that the place has to offer from baked goods to gumbo, bath bombs to oyster shuckers, candles to travel mugs. Another secret: they have a selection of beer and wine, to enjoy a cold one if coffee and gelato aren’t your style. There’s indoor and outdoor seating, local art for sale and board games to sit around and enjoy.
If you’re in for a quick treat, friendly service and maybe some ducks and geese to feed in the parking lot, check out Bruster’s in Cross Creek Plaza. Another fast stop for some delish ice cream is the newly renovated Dairy Queen on Lady’s Island for speedy drive through service. For a variety of flavors of hand-dipped shakes made with real ice cream visit Wayback Burgers in Beaufort Town Center. If you want to enjoy a treat, bell-hop style, with delivery on skates, stop into Sonic, and keep cool in the car and hidden from the sand gnats.
As the heat continues to make itself at home in our area through September, we will have plenty of time make rounds to all of these unique treat-spots that Beaufort has to offer. We love them all.
Article By Ty Snowden