Ice Cream Bakeries & Cafes

When you go to Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco for your ritualistic scoop of salted caramel or honey lavender ice cream, calories are the last thing on your mind. All you can think about while waiting in the long line is the smoky flavor of caramel, salted just enough, or the flavor of real pecans in the butter pecan ice cream. Creamy, fluffy scoops are made of organic local ingredients, all sourced from the area.

Everything is made in-house, even add-ons like peanut brittle. The creamery is part of Bi-Rite Market, producers of organic food who pride themselves on producing truly organic ice cream, using Straus Family Creamery organic dairy.

Address: Bi-Rite Creamery, 3692 18th St, San Francisco,  California 94110, Phone: 415-626-5600

As you stroll through charming Chincoteague Island, you will spot an adorable red and white stripped lighthouse in the middle of the city. It is not there to help the navigation of ships, but of tourists craving something cold and delicious. It has been home of Island Creamery since 1975, and the locals will tell you that this is where they go for a scoop of Mint Chip, complete with large chunks of dark chocolate, or Java Jolt, made with strong coffee and chunks of chocolate brownies.

If you're thirsty, they also sell coffee that you drink. Island Creamery makes all their ice cream fresh every day, in small batches, using butterfat from LancasterCounty cows, mostly local fruits, and homemade goodies.

Address: Island Creamery, 6243 Maddox Blvd, Chincoteague Island,  Virginia 23336, Phone: 757-336-6236

For some people, breakfast is all about pancakes. So when you find a place that makes them perfectly fluffy, light and melt-in-your mouth good, you will go anywhere to get your fill - even a shopping mall on Marguerite Parkway. The Stacks Pancake House place is incredibly popular with locals and tourists alike, so be prepared to wait in line.

The restaurant is no-frills and always packed, but the food more than makes up for it. Everything is good, but Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes with Stacks' famous coconut syrup are one of the most ordered dishes. You can also find a few other menu items that will make you stray from the pancakes, such as the Kahlua Pork Omelet or the Hawaiian Loco Moco.

Address: Stacks Pancake House, 27680 Marguerite Pkwy Ste C, Mission Viejo, CA 92692-3651, Phone: 949-218-4600

The folks at SoCo Creamery in the Berkshires say their ice cream is very simple: They use their secret recipe made in their New England kitchen, blend some fresh milk with cream and cane sugar, add a few flavors, and that's it. The result is divine, and when you taste SoCo ice cream or sorbet, you taste realcocoa powder, organic coconut, morsels of raw ginger and whatever fruit or spice they add to their all natural ice cream.

There are no growth hormones, artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors,or corn syrup. The selectionis huge, and all the flavors are delicious, but bourbon eggnog, autumn pumpkin, coconut lemongrassand mission fig are all contenders for the most popular flavor.

Address: SoCo Creamery, 5 Railroad St, Great Barrington,  Massachusetts 01230, Phone: 413-644-9866

New England ice cream lovers don't let a little cold weather prevent them from enjoying ice cream. This is especially true in Northampton where Herrell's is serving up more than 300 flavors of gourmet ice cream year round.

Herrell's star flavors include Salty Caramel Wave, Party in a Cup, Triple Malt, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan and Burnt Sugar 'n' Butter, and they keep coming up with new flavors all the time.

Before you leave their charming downtown store, make sure to get some of their fabulous homemade hot fudge in a jar. Herrell's is also an excellent bakery that offers dairy and non-dairy No-Moo® baked goods. More day trips in Massachusetts

Address: Herrell's, 8 Old South St, Northampton, Massachusetts 01060, Phone: 413-586-9700

Boasting 5 locations in New York City, Breads Bakery has earned a reputation for baking and serving up some of the best breads and confectionary in the city. Just a few of the delicious bakery treats that attract customers from all corners include their famous Chocolate Babka, Cinnamon Babka, Fresh Fruit Tart with Mascarpone Cream and the all-time favorite, their classic New York style Cheesecake. Fabulous breads include their Organic Sourdoughs, a variety of Challah, croissants and baguettes. There are cakes and pastries too! The café serves delicious breakfast sandwiches, salads, rolls, quiches and coffee. Nationwide shipping is also possible.

Address: Breads Bakery, 18 E. 16th Street, (Union Square), New York, NY 10003, 212 633 2253

Knead Bagels is a tiny place on Walnut Street, north of Washington Square, that brought real, New York-style bagels to Philadelphia, to all the bagel-lovers delight. The bagels are as they should be – dense and chewy, with a shiny almost crunchy crust. Their bagel spreads are anything but classic with such delicious offerings as togarashi with lime, scallions and cream cheese or pastrami-spiced with smoked chopped liver.

Bagels come in many flavors such as plain, garlic, sesame, poppy, onion, Moroccan spiced and other exotic flavors. They are still making small batches so you have a pretty good chance of getting your bagel piping hot. Once you satisfy your basic bagel-craving, try their bagel sandwiches with stuffing like turkey bacon, cheese and egg or kale and smoked Gouda with pimento.

Address: Knead Bagels, 725 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, Phone: 267-519-9920

For the last 100 years, Washington Park locals have been coming to this quaint house on the corner of University Boulevard to get their ice cream fix. The building first served as a drugstore with an old-fashioned soda fountain, and then asa Dolly Madison Ice Cream Shop. It wasn't until 1986 that Bonnie Brae Ice Cream took over and became the favorite stop for local families. They have 140 flavors of ice cream, 32 of which are served daily, even offering two vegan options as well as sherbert or sorbet.

Some of the more popular flavors include Oreos and Cream, Triple Death Chocolate, Orange Creamsicle, and Carrot Cake. Make sure you have some time to spare when you stop by as there is always a long line in front of the store's iconic red and white stripped awning. All ice creams, cones, cakes and pies are made in the store and you can take them home or eat them inside or on the outside patio. Guests can enjoy their treats in an old-fashioned atmosphere, complete with red vinyl seats and handwritten menus.

Address: Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, 799 S University Blvd, Denver, Colorado 80209, Phone: 303-777-0808

Schmear It is a bright red bagel food truck coming soon to a neighborhood near you with hot, chewy bagels and delicious La Colombe coffee. Check out their Facebook page or Twitter for the daily schedule. The bagels come from South Street Philly Bagels but the truck driver and owner Dave Fine will be happy to toast it for you and fill it with your choice of spread, or schmear it as he says, and he can really schmear.

Only your imagination is the limit of what you can mix, some popular toppings include cream cheese, egg salad, tuna salad, a vegan tofu, and a peanut butter and nut spread. You can also add mix-ins such as lox, tomato, scallion, cucumber, mango, sriracha, wasabi, banana, maple syrup, blueberries, and who knows what else is coming.

Address: Schmear It, Philadelphia, PA, Phone: 215-792-3892