Findlay, Bluffton make Ohio Ice Cream Trail again

FINDLAY — To celebrate National Ice Cream Month, TourismOhio is inviting Ohioans to grab a cone, bowl or treat at one of the more than 50 stops along the newly expanded Ohio Ice Cream Trail. Findlay's Dietsch Brothers and the Bluffton Dari Freeze again made the list along with nearby ice cream shops in Tiffin, Lima and Delphos. "When Fran and I travel the state with our kids and grandkids, we will go out of our way for locally made ice cream because it's something you simply won't get anywhere else," said Ohio Gov. DeWine in a news release. "We've been going to Young's Jersey Dairy near our home in Greene County since we were teenagers, and it certainly is one of our favorites, but no matter what ice cream shop you visit along the trail, it's going to be delicious." The 2024 Ohio Ice Cream Trail highlights family-owned shops and nationally recognized chains. The list of area ice cream eateries follows with a comment by TourismOhio: Findlay - Dietsch Brothers, 400 W. Main Cross St. and 1217 Tiffin Ave.: "Get the Lemon Custard or Orange Pineapple for a scoop of summer! The seasonal creations are so creamy and flavorful." Bluffton - Dari Freeze, 595 S. Main St.: "A small corner shop that's been serving big flavor for 70 years. Order a classic twist cone with Krunch Topping." Tiffin - Neumeister's Candy Shoppe, 2447 W. Market St.: "Home of the Monster Shake. You will not want to miss this family owned delight with each flavor scooped with care." Delphos - Dairy Hut, 910 E. 5th St.: "The whole family leaves happy with 24 choices of homemade soft serve flavors." Delphos - The Creamery, 252 N. Canal St.: "Ice cream lovers can't go wrong with the soft serve Orange Sherbet Vanilla Twist or one of their incredible thick malts." Lima - Hefner Dairy Barn, 725 Brentlinger Road: "Enjoy homemade soft serve and other treats at the 'Yummiest Place on Earth.'" Lima - Pete's Ice Cream, 3270 S. Dixie Highway: "Try seasonal favorites such as their homemade warm apple dumpling with vanilla soft serve and sauce." Lima - Sharon Dairy King, 2825 W. Elm St.: "This soft serve staple is celebrating their 47th season!" Lima - Whippy Dip, 1495 Reservoir Road: "Come hungry and choose from a huge menu including super creamy homemade soft serve." "The Ohio Ice Cream Trail is a fun and unique way to explore the state and support our communities," said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development which oversees the TourismOhio office. The Ohio Ice Cream Trail first launched in 2018 with 15 stops. In 2019, TourismOhio added an additional five stops from the results of a reader survey. Responding to growing popularity, the trail was expanded this year to include 54 stops. The 34 additional stops highlight the wide variety of options available to travelers wishing to indulge no matter where they are in the state. TourismOhio partnered with local and county convention and visitors bureaus to ensure all of Ohio's geographic regions - from big cities to charming towns - were represented. Shops serving Made-in-Ohio ice cream and those with a significant, longstanding economic presence were given priority. Ranking 11th in the nation for milk production, Ohio is home to more than 1,400 dairy farms and 250,00 dairy cows. Annually, Ohio produces nearly 650 million gallons of milk. "Ohio's dairy farmers provide us with the highest quality of products which is the foundation of a great scoop," said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge. "When you order a scoop at one of our incredible ice cream shops, know that you'll be tasting the freshest products Ohio has to offer, and at the same time you're supporting local family farms." Check out the trail and other Summer in Ohio adventures at Ohio.org/Summer.