An afternoon visit to the local ice cream shop is a pleasure hard to beat. But the old struggle to choose between chocolate and vanilla is a thing of the past: a renaissance in wild ice cream flavor innovation means we've got to pick among options like red velvet cupcake, honey lavender, Bangkok peanut, and plum sake sorbet (not to mention the occasional scoop of crawfish or wasabi). These 15 American ice cream shops are worth seeking out for their amazing flavors, delectable toppings, and innovative approach to our favorite summer treat.

Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream
Multiple Locations
917 E. Pine Street
Seattle, WA 98122
206/708-7947Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream

Salt & Straw
Multiple Locations
2035 NE Alberta Street
Portland, OR 97211
503/208-3867Salt & Straw

Il Laboratorio de Gelato
Multiple Locations
188 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002
212/343-9922Laboratorio Del Gelato

Itgen's Ice Cream Parlour
2211 Rockaway Avenue
Valley Stream, New York 11580
516/825-7444Penny de los Santos

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Multiple Locations
59 Spruce Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614/228-9960

Morelli's Gourmet Ice Cream
Multiple Locations
749 Moreland Ave SE, #B102
Atlanta, GA 30316
404/622-0210Morelli's Gourmet Ice Cream

La Divina Gelateria
Multiple Locations
3005 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
504/342-2634Infrogmation/Flickr

Christina's Homemade Ice Cream
1255 Cambridge St
Cambridge, MA 02139-1338
617/492-7021snowpea&bokchoi/Flickr

Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415/626-5600Bi-Rite Creamery

Annabelle's Natural Ice Cream
49 Ceres Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603/436-3400snowpea&bokchoi/Flickr

Margie's Candies
Multiple Locations
1960 N. Western
Chicago, IL 60647
773/384-1035Margie's Candies & Homemade Ice Cream

Sweet Action Ice Cream
52 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80203
303/282-4645Sweet Action Ice Cream

Glace Artisan Ice Cream
4960 Main St
Kansas City, MO 64112
816/561-1117Glacé Artisan Ice Cream

Moorenko's Ice Cream Cafe
8030b Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301/565-7804Moorenko's Ice Cream Café
