Westchester Loves Ice Cream

Westchester County has long been known for its cool treats.

The iconic soft-serve maker, Carvel, started here with a single ice-cream truck in 1929. But the business really took off on a steamy Memorial Day weekend in 1934, when a flat tire on the way to Kensico Dam Plaza left Tom Carvel stranded in Hartsdale. Inspired by the popularity of his melting product among roadside customers, he invented soft-serve ice cream, and placed his first shop right there on Central Avenue. A marketing innovator and franchising pioneer, Carvel established his “Carvel College of Ice Cream Knowledge,” also known as the “Sundae School,” in Yonkers. Today there are more than two dozen Carvel locations across Westchester County alone.

And there are dozens of other shops – local gems and national chains alike – where you can indulge in many variations of this favorite food group: All-American ice cream cones and sundaes, Italian gelatos and ices, Mexican paletas, Japanese taiyaki, frozen custards and yogurts, shakes and cakes and more. Find one near you, or plan a journey around Westchester County in search of the perfect scoop.