City: Cincinnati, OH

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (937) 325-0629

Address: 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road

Description: At Young’s Jersey Dairy, the Young family has been scooping the competition since 1958. That’s the year the retail operation opened, although the farm has been in the family since the late 1800s. Young’s remains a working dairy farm today and features ice cream concocted by implementing a 14 percent butterfat mix of pasteurized milk, cream, and sugar. The ice cream is created in batches of 5 to 10 gallons, then it’s wheeled into a giant freezer hooked up with a high-velocity wind machine that instantly chills the delectable mixture to 30 degrees below zero. (This immediate deep freeze prevents ice crystals from forming inside the mix, an unfortunate event that purportedly dampens the creaminess in some other brands.)You’ll find dozens of flavors, from bubble gum to fudge brownie, chocolate chip cookie dough to strawberry cheesecake, and cotton candy to something called a cow paddy. (It’s double-dark chocolate cookie pieces and toffee.) Other popular items include the calfshake (regular), cowshake (thick), and bullshake (large). We’ll testify, however, to the lure of the turtle sundae, two scoops of pralines and cream dripping with hot fudge and caramel sauces.Two restaurants and a bakery add to the fray, as do minigolf, batting cages, and a driving range. You can mo-ove over and meet Elsa and her friends. The social factor is huge: Men have proposed to their future wives here. Booths and tables seat hundreds yet lend themselves to comfortable chats with strangers. Don’t miss the original store’s soda counter, where you can strike up a conversation with your neighbor, or the sociable front porch with picnic tables.