To celebrate, each week this month will there will be an Ice Cream article containing fun ice cream facts to share with the kids. A few local Ice Cream Shops will be featured too, in case you wanted to check them out yourself. If you have suggestions of spots your family just loves, let me know so I can include them in another week’s newsletter. By the end of the month we will all know where the best ice cream can be enjoyed all around the West Valley!
Fun Ice Cream Facts
- We certainly love our ice cream. The countries that consume the most ice cream are the United States, New Zealand, Australia and Norway! In New Zealand, they eat an average of 7 gallons of ice cream per person per year!
- The average number of licks to finish a scoop of ice cream is 50.
- Chocolate ice cream was invented before vanilla.
Packer Family Ice Cream is a family-owned business located in the Catlin Court Historic District of Downtown Glendale. The menu includes 24 flavors of premium ice cream including vegan, dairy-free sorbets, and cream base options. Freshly made waffle cones and floats you can customize are served with a smile and the offerings change with the seasons! Indoor seating available as well as a beautifully maintained garden that is decorated seasonally to sit and enjoy your treats. It's a gem of a hideout in which to enjoy ice cream and family time.
This ice cream shop is located right behind Packer Family Photography so if you are looking for professional photos for your children or families, swing by the front building to talk to them! They offer Mini 10 minute sessions which is great for kids since that’s about all they can sit and smile for. https://sessionl.ink/packerfamilyphotography. Go for the unique ice cream treats or the photos, or both, and feel great knowing you are supporting a one of a kind local business!
Ice Cream Hours are Tuesday-Saturday from Noon - 6 p.m., Sunday & Monday Closed.
7146 N. 58th Ave., Glendale, AZ (located behind Packer Family Photography) https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574051522707
Brusters Real Ice Cream - Glendale/Westgate location
Their ice cream is delicious and freshly made on site but there are so many additional reasons to go to Brusters!
- They have a wide selection of over 20 flavors every day
- Because they rotate their 150 total flavors there’s always some new flavor to delight in
- They have a drive-thru and an outdoor patio fully shaded and with misters
- They have a rewards program in case you are serious about their ice cream
- They offer Customer Appreciation Nights (6-9 pm) with discounted prices on select items the 3rd Tuesday of every month
- They offer Free Doggie Sundaes
- Children under 40 inches (they have a measuring device at the counter) get a free Baby Cone any time
- On Thursdays, if you bring your own banana, your Banana Split is ½ off!
https://brusters.com/locations/westgate/409
623-248-6131, 9345 W Glendale Ave (East of Chipotle, between 95th and 91st), in Glendale
La Michoacana al Natural - This shop at 91st and Olive in Peoria (same parking lot as Fry’s) is part of a local chain that offers ice cream with a Mexican twist. You can buy a tasty scoop of ice cream or get a sundae in their colorful shop but you can also get so much more! They sell coffee and some snack food but they also have a wide variety of fruit paletas de leche and de aqua. Paletas are sweet and refreshing fruit popsicles (think the brand Outshine Fruit Pops you see in the frozen section of the grocery store). They come in two main types, fruit mixed with creamy milk and fruit mixed with juice. You can see how many flavors they offer in the photo showing the counter case!
They also have sorbets which they use to create mangonadas. As the picture below shows, it’s a cup filled with sorbet and then diced mangos and topped with sweet+slightly spicey+salty chamoy sauce. It’s a party of flavors and a great way to cool down! Younger children will love the ice cream and paletas. Older kids can decide how adventurous they want to be. As the subtext of their name states, they try to use simple, all natural ingredients to make a great product you can feel great about eating. Whether you grew up on the options offered at La Michoacana or it’s a fun way to try something totally new without needing a passport, you will love what’s available at their bright friendly shop!
Yelp listing: https://www.yelp.com/biz/la-michoacana-al-natural-peoria-2
8987 W Olive Ave, Peoria, AZ 85345
(623) 248-0791
