By Christine Tarlecki, Culinary Feature Contributor Did you know July is National Ice Cream Month and July 19th is National Ice Cream Day? Nothing says summer like ice cream, gelato, and of course, water ice. Here’s just some of our favorite Delco ice cream places, try them all and cool off with a creamy treat this summer. Where’s your favorite? Milkshakes, water ice, and ice cream? Yes please! This Ridley Park staple, Chill Out Desserts & Ice Cream Parlor at 12 Acres Drive in Ridley Park, includes all your summer favorites, plus ice cream cakes for all your festivities. Layers of delicious chocolate and vanilla soft serve, chocolate cake crunch bits, and whipped buttercream on top, among other delicious frosty treats. . Click Here for a free map of Delaware County's top ice cream shops! Crave Creamery in Olde Sproul Shopping Village on Baltimore Pike in Springfield offers 30 flavors of homemade ice cream, and you’ll be ‘craving’ them all! They are constantly working on their ice cream recipes to deliver the best-tasting ice cream around. They also offer smoothies, water ice, and vegan flavors, like Strawberry and Chocolate Chip Mint. Richman's Ice Cream & Burger Co. at 323 Lincoln Ave in Prospect Park as well as 1594 Market Street in Linwood, has several locations around Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and they all serve excellent ice cream, specialties like Reese’s, Butterfinger, or S’mores sundaes, banana splits, floats, smoothies, and their ‘carnival favorites’ like funnel fries, frozen bananas, and Philly pretzels. The aptly-named Dairy Cottage at 328 W Woodland Ave in Springfield, has just what you need to fuel up for the day- a good meal and a good dessert- like ice cream. Add in sundaes, double dips with jimmies, malted milkshakes or ice cream floats with a variety of flavors, and your sweet tooth will be rejoicing! A local micro-creamery, Just Homemade Ice Cream at 4736 Pennell Road in Aston, has been making your favorites since 1984. They offer over 40 homemade flavors of ice cream, ice cream cakes and pies, sundaes, banana whips, plus all kinds of delicious toppings. . Click Here for a free map of Delaware County's top ice cream shops! Going into Scooped Ice Cream & Gelato at 25 W State St in Media is always a treat, and not just because of their ice cream. You’ll find vintage vinyl records along with your dessert. Enjoy gelato, sorbet, ice cream, coffee, and Liege Waffles. Don’t miss flavors like Orange Creamsicle, Birthday Cake, Kit Kat, Cookie Monster, Coconut gelato, and Lemon sorbet. Try one, or try them all. These local Delco favorites will keep you cool all summer long.! * Please check with each establishment regarding indoor dining, mask requirements, social distancing, and other COVID-19 protocols. Please respect the ice cream cafes that you visit. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Christine Tarlecki is a food writer who resides in Phoenixville, always seeking out the best and the freshest food from local farmers markets and restaurants. ________________________________________________________________________________________________