The ice cream truck jingle has long been the soundtrack to summer, but things have changed since the day of Otter Pops and Klondike Bars. Put all of these grown-up-friendly freeze-mobiles and carts on your summer list. (Tip: Check social media to confirm times and locations.)
Nutty SquirrelGelato
This award-winning gelateria, with outposts in Maple Valley, Greenwood, and Capitol Hill (inside Eat Local), also operates a trike cart at special events and farmers markets. Get the latest scoop on where the cart will be on Facebook.
Sweet Wheels
The hot-pink truck rolls with a classic-car theme, selling ice-cream sandwiches such as the T-Bird (espresso chocolate shortbread with white coffee ice cream). Call 206-972-4618 or check Facebook for locations. Check Facebook for locations; and they're also sold at these retail locations.
Pop Up
Part of a mobile-food fleet operated by Mobile Mavens, the Crayola-orange bike cart — which opened in June — serves up fave local frozen treats such as Whidbey Island Ice Creamery’s ice cream bars, Vovito gelato pops and Cupcake Royale sammies.
Six Strawberries Artisan Ice-Pops
This 3-year-old wood-paneled bike cart will convert even the most diehard ice cream fan to ice pops. Flavors range from mixed melon and peach lemonade to a surprisingly light chocolate-dipped peanut butter. @sixstrawberries
Balleywood Creamery
Named for Ballard, Phinney Ridge and Greenwood, Balleywood combines old-time flair with cutting-edge flavor. Classics with a twist include bourbon vanilla and chocolate malt; adventurous options are Salt Block Syrah (red wine, duck-fat caramel, pink salt) or Silk Road Squash (butternut squash, saffron, cardamom). Herbs are sourced from owner Karen Kinbar’s own backyard.
The Cookie Counter
Note: The Cookie Counter just opened a Greenwood retail shop at 7415 Greenwood Ave N., so the vegan ice-cream bus is on hiatus. When the bus is operating, husband-and-wife team Chris Olson and Chelsea Keene serve vegan, from-scratch ice-cream sandwiches — gluten-free options exist, too — out of a vintage 1974 Volkswagen bus. Combos to try include old-school chocolate-chip vanilla and lemon-ginger cookie with matcha tea ice cream. @seattlecookie
