The Triangle offers some of the best ice cream shops in North Carolina, and anyone willing to take a little drive can enjoy a cool treat.

It may seem surprising to visitors, but the Triangle takes its ice cream very seriously, and there are some off-the-beaten path ice cream shops that are sure to delight the most discerning palates.

Here are four places that are definitely worth a visit:

Sunni Sky's, Angier

Straight south of Raleigh, just outside of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it  Angier, is Sunni Sky's, a premier destination for the ice cream enthusiast. The fact that it stands by itself along Highway 55,  practically in the middle of nowhere, only adds to the allure.

Once inside visitors will find more than 100 flavors to choose  from, all made on premises. Order a chocolate or a vanilla if you  want, but those seeking a little more flavor will be delighted to find dozens of flavors of the owners’ design.

For the truly adventurous, try the spicy Cold Sweat or Exit Wound flavors. But be warned, you’ll need to sign a waiver first.

The Parlour, Durham

For a more traditional ice cream shop feel, head to downtown Durham and visit The Parlour. It started as a food truck (actually a modified school bus), but opened a permanent, brick-and-mortar location in Durham. 

The ice cream is handmade in-house, and comes in luscious flavors like Grey Salt Stracciatella and Vietnamese Coffee. They even have several vegan flavors like Prickly Pear Sorbet and Chocolate Girl Scout Mint, made with coconut milk.

If you can’t get to Durham, The Parlour still runs its bus, so check out their web site to find out where they will be.

The Howling Cow, Raleigh

 Every October, the biggest draw at the North Carolina State Fair is the North Carolina  State University’s ice cream shop. Made with milk from the NC State Agricultural  Research department’s own dairy operation, the ice cream is a favorite among  fairgoers.

But many people may not realize that the university also operates an ice  cream  shop, where people can get their delicious treats year round. The  Howling Cow is  located on the NC State campus and offers a variety of  traditional flavors.

If you want more than a cone, you can buy ice cream by the pint or the three-  gallon  tub. You can also buy cartons of milk.

Maple View Farm, Chapel Hill

As its name suggests, Maple View Farm is an operating dairy farm, and it happens to operate an ice cream shop in the scenic countryside. The Maple View Country Store is located across the street from the farm itself. 

Visitors can sit in a rocking chair on the veranda, enjoy a generous serving of delicious ice cream, and admire the beautiful view of the farm. At any given time, there are over 20 different flavors of ice cream and frozen yogurt available.

The farm also produces milk and butter, which is also sold at the Country Store, along with local egg, cheeses, candies, and North Carolina pecans.

Besides the four mentioned above, the Triangle offers dozens of local ice cream and frozen custard shops. You might have to search to find your favorite, but that’s half the fun!

If it sounds like we're passionate about ice cream, you should see us when it comes to real estate in the Triangle! Whether you're after a convenient condo in Durham or a new home in one of Cary's many master-planned communities, where here to help you! Send us a message or give us a call at 919.659.5173 to find out more!