The Yummiest Daytrip Ever: Following the Ice Cream Trail in Mountain Maryland

The Golden Lady Sundae, by Frostburg Freeze

We decided to usher in the unofficial start of summer Memorial Day Weekend by following the Allegheny County Ice Cream Trail. Our goal: to sample at least five of the nine stops along the tasty trail. #caloriesdon’tcountonanicecreamtrail

I have a Know Before You Go pro-tip right of the bat: it’s not necessary to go to all in one day. We covered the five in two separate daytrips; this trail is perfect if you’re planning on visiting the area for a longer period — it takes you near Dans Rock Overlook, the Green Ridge State Forest and all the hiking that’s available there as well as the very fun Overlook Scenic Tour.

If we had a favorite, I’d say Livvy’s — we laughed at the names of the various sundaes, which ranged from Big Bubba (vanilla ice cream with chopped peanuts, pretzel pieces, caramel, hot fudge, topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry) to PMS (chocolate ice cream, chocolate syrup, chocolate chips and brownie pieces with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry — chocolate makes everything better) to Strawberry Short Cake (vanilla ice cream on a shortcake topped with strawberries, topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry).

But there was something to appreciate at every stop!

Oak Barrel Cafe

We started the trail at the Oak Barrel Cafe, just off Exit 72 of Interstate 68 in Little Orleans. It was raining, so we really appreciated the space inside to enjoy the soft serve treats.

Oak Barrel Cafe offers a standard but enticing variety of sundaes and shakes, including Peanut Butter, Cherry, Pineapple, Red Raspberry, Hot Fudge, Snickers, Cookies and Cream, and Caramel and Butterscotch. This was our first stop so I for a basic chocolate vanilla twist (with sprinkles, of course). It’s been years since I’ve enjoyed soft serve ice cream, and so it was like tasting the best years of my childhood.

But there’s a lot more there than ice cream. You can pick up sandwiches, wraps, subs, burgers, pizzas, grain bowls, or other hot snacks as well, which means if ever I need a quick meal as I’m driving through, this place is definitely on my stop list!

Getting there: 35206 National Pike NE, Little Orleans, MD

Hours: open 24 hours

Website: https://www.oakbarrelcafe.com/menu

Queen City Creamery and Cafe

We actually tried to go to Twisteez next, but they open at 4 p.m., and it was only 3 p.m., so we headed up to Cumberland and to the Queen City Creamery and Cafe. It was raining hard by then, kinda putting a damper on the whole ice cream thing, but we weren’t going to let rain dissuade us from grabbing another frozen treat! You can grab a more substantial meal at the Queen City Cafe as well.

The Mint Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae

So if it’s raining, grab an umbrella. We had to wait a few minutes in line before we could order — and the line kept growing! Although there’s one table alongside the restaurant, there’s not a lot of room to sit and enjoy your frozen treat.

Getting there: 108 W Harrison St, Cumberland, MD

Hours: Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Website: https://www.queencitycreamery.com/

Twisteez

Twisteez is a classic roadside soft-serve ice cream stand, and that’s why you should add Twisteez to your bucket list. I agree with other customers’ YELP reviews that the portions are big and the service is friendly for this little place. Outdoor picnic tables offer plenty of place to enjoy your ice cream!

With specialty sundaes such as Oreo Fluffernutter (vanilla ice cream, marshmallow topping, peanut butter, hot fudge and Oreo pieces), Bahama Breeze (vanilla ice cream, pineapple, strawberries, banana and crushed pecan) and Peanut Butter Overload (vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, peanut butter and Reese’s peanut butter cups), it’s clear why this is a must-stop along the Ice Cream Trail. Twisteez specializes in soft serve ice cream, but also has items such as slushies, snow balls, and floats. There’s also frozen coffee, a variety of floats (made with root beer, Pepsi, Mountain Dew or Dr. Pepper), and snow balls (in just about any flavor or color you’d like). Or keep it simple with a chocolate vanilla twist cone with sprinkles!

We sampled the Peanut Butter Pretzel sundae (vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, caramel, hot fudge, and chocolate covered pretzel pieces). Super delicious!

Twisteez is a family-owned business that strives to keep prices low — so make sure you bring cash, as that’s all they accept.

Getting there: 11506 Bedford Rd NE, Cumberland, MD

Hours: Monday – Friday 4 – 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 2 – 9 p.m.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/twisteezicecream/

Frostburg Freeze

Every day is sundae at Frostburg Freeze! Like the other stops along the Ice Cream Trail, Frostburg Freeze offers snacks and food beyond ice cream and such, such as burgers, salads, nachos and chicken and shrimp dinners. But I didn’t see anyone there for anything but the ice cream! Specialty sundaes include Banana Split, Hot Fudge Brownie Delight, and the enticing Funnel Cake Sundae (hot funnel cake sticks coated in powdered sugar with your choice of toppings).

There are picnic tables and chairs around for customers to enjoy their snacks. We enjoyed a Golden Lady Sundae (vanilla ice cream with caramel and chopped peanuts) and an Elvis Sundae (vanilla ice cream with, of course, banana, peanut butter topping, and chocolate fudge).

The Elvis Sundae

What I really liked about the Frostburg Freeze: it’s exactly like the places my parents would take my sister and I to after visiting our cousins in Pennsylvania.

Getting there: 225 W Main St, Frostburg, MD

Hours: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Website: https://m.facebook.com/FrostburgFreeze/

Livvy’s Soft Serve

I don’t know Livvy but I wish I did, because we enjoyed the humor expressed in the names of Livvy’s Soft Serve’s Specialty Sundaes. There’s the Jimmy Buffet (vanilla ice cream with coconut, pinapple, strawberry, topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry) and The Porker (vanilla ice cream, crispy bacon, caramel, brownie pieces, whipped cream and a maraschino cherry), in addition to a variety of others.

We sampled Bye Bye American Pie and The Porker — I was interested in how the bacon would taste with the vanilla ice cream and caramel topping. DELICIOUS. I’d go back for this one again (although not gonna lie, I’d go back to ANY of the stops along the trail, again!).