Some places are worth building an entire adventure around. Penn State Berkey Creamery is one of…read morethem. As fate would have it, my Adventure Buddy and I found ourselves in State College on National Ice Cream Day, and there was absolutely no way I was leaving town without finally visiting the home of my favorite ice cream flavor ever...Monkey Business (banana ice cream, peanut butter swirl, chocolate chips). I'd fallen in love with Monkey Business last summer after trying it at an ice cream shop close to my house, but somehow I'd never actually made it to the Creamery itself. Correcting that oversight immediately became part of the day's adventure plan! We arrived around 12:30 on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, fully expecting National Ice Cream Day to mean complete chaos. Surprisingly, it wasn't. Busy? Absolutely. But the line moved quickly, everyone seemed to know exactly what they were doing and the whole operation ran like a well-oiled ice cream machine. Then I looked around. Cheese. Sticky buns. Chocolate milk. Bagels. Ice cream. Ice cream. More ice cream. At one point I turned to my Adventure Buddy and said..."I could live here." Ordering couldn't have been easier. First, you tell the cashier whether you're getting a cone, bowl or shake and pay. Then you move down to the ice cream counter, where you pick your flavor. Finally...you wait for your number to be called so someone can hand you what can only be described as an absurdly generous serving of happiness. While I waited, I sampled the Grilled Stickies flavor. Big mistake! It was phenomenal! For approximately fifteen seconds, I seriously considered abandoning my beloved Monkey Business and trying something new. Fortunately...I came to my senses. Monkey Business and I have history together. When my number was called, the gentleman behind the counter handed me a bowl that was significantly larger than I expected. And yes...I audibly squealed. Again. Right there in the middle of the Creamery. I looked at him and said, "You absolutely made my day!" Because he had. We found a table outside on the patio to enjoy the beautiful weather, performed a few completely necessary happy food dances and proceeded to enjoy every glorious bite of what is still, without question, my favorite ice cream flavor on Earth. For only $6. On National Ice Cream Day. Honestly, I don't know how that day could've gotten any better. PRO TIP: Don't skip the sample spoon! There are so many incredible flavors that it's worth trying something new before committing. Just be warned...you may accidentally discover another favorite! I also learned that Berkey Creamery ships ice cream to the lower 48 states. This information feels...dangerous. Living only about an hour and a half away, I probably don't need to have Monkey Business shipped directly to my house. But...I may have to test the process someday. You know...in the name of science! If you're anywhere near State College, do yourself a favor and make the stop. Whether you're a Penn State fan, an ice cream enthusiast or just someone who appreciates an exceptionally well-run small operation, Berkey Creamery absolutely lives up to its legendary reputation. WE ARE...ICE CREAM HEAVEN!

My younger self would be dismayed with my present self for this ranking. This is probably the most…read moreiconic ice cream shop in all of Pennsylvania, and I attach a good amount of teenage memories to it. That said, while there are some really wonderful features of their ice cream, particularly the texture of small chocolate chunks they embed, it's not actually the greatest ice cream in existence. The chocolate is too milky, the mint too green and artificial, etc. It might make more sense to think of it as exemplary commercial rather than distinctly artisinal?

Ice Shack is the perfect location for your soft serve and pretzel craving. With plenty of flavor…read moreoptions for both, you'll definitely want to come back. I enjoyed my soft serve vanilla with peanut buttercup and cinnamon & sugar pretzel. The pretzel has this amazing butter that works with the sweetness. We appreciate the sweet service and great pricing. Can't wait for my next visit before the season ends.

5 STARS FOR SOFT PRETZELS!!! You have now entered PRETZEL…read moreHEAVEN. . . WOW! Sink, your teeth into one of their FRESHLY made, WARM, buttery, soft pretzels (or sticks) and you just might HOWL AT THE MOON! A clean, family friendly place that even has a small play area! They ARE BUSY and I was told that ordering at the outside window is the 'fastest'. Yes, it WAS lickety split! We didn't try the ice cream (cuz we were on a 'pretzel' mission) but I understand it's also VERY good! This DEFINITELY is worth experiencing!

Wow....admitted .ice cream snob here. Highly recommend the Dairy Barn. Would start with the Cherry…read moreVanilla!

Our favorite ice cream place to stop after a trip to Bald Eagle St Park. Everything made on site…read more Family owned. Cash only

Fast Fun Friendly…read more Lots of parking Clean restrooms Staff was lovely Highly recommend!!

Delicious custard! This custard stand is very popular and the staff did an excellent job of keeping…read moreup with orders. The custard was very creamy, delicious, and I could tell that it was freshly made. I highly recommend a sundae. They did an excellent job of having just the right amount of toppings to custard. I could taste both the custard and peanut butter. Will be back here the next time I'm in the area. Looking forward to trying other custard creations here.

We love stopping by the cafe after visiting the playground. The dirty chai is the perfect balance…read moreof spiced chai and espresso without being overly sweet. My kids love the smoothies, cookies, and especially the cinnamon rolls. It's such a nice place to take our kids and sit on the patio for a coffee and snack. You can tell the owner works hard on her menu and making sure everyone has the best experience possible.

We made a quick stop during our morning walk with our pup. I got a Strawberry Watermelon Refresher…read more($4.50 for 20oz) while the fiance had the Iced Black Coffee ($4.50 for 20oz). The drink needs a good mix, but decent. They have a nice outdoor patio area that feels like a backyard garden. It's a decent spot, but nothing too special.

The service was fast and friendly and the ice cream was delicious. Freshly made from milk at the…read morefarm behind the store.

One of the best ice creams in town. It's a really good base with amazing flavors. Has coconut…read morealmond joy, cow tracks and brownie batter.

Driving through Lewisburg for the first time in 10 years and I was missing Bechtels (I always…read morecalled it Cow On the Barn) ice cream & diner. Well, Purple Cow popped up as only being a few miles off 15. The ice cream was fantastic. Definitely worth the stop. Decided to try the Italian sausage hoagies and they were messy eating while driving - the good messy were. Only problem was it being cash only- I think this was in summer 2020

The absolute WORST experience at Purple Cow!!! On August 8, 2026, stopped on our way home at the…read morePurple Cow which I have done quite often. It took quite a while to place an order for a peach milkshake and a large milkshake cup full of peach soft serve ice cream with a lid to go. The large milkshake cup of peach ice cream was not soft it was a small hard pillar in the center of the cup not touching the sides, not even close to the sides. I brought this to their attention and they refused to do anything about and would not give a refund. They were rude and disrespectful. Upon arriving at my shut-in friend's place, we the ice cream still hard and icy. And also found it TASTLESS!!! It was absolutely HORRIBLE!!!! Never again will we ever purchase anything from the Purple Cow!!!! It was the absolute worst!!!! Never to return again. So BEWARE!!!!

Totally recommend Tasty Cream - it's slightly off the main road at the top of the hill but worth…read morethe trip. Delicious treats served by super friendly staff. Prices are as refreshing as their ice cream treats. We had a peanut parfait and a maraschino cherry shake. Jenni said she appreciated the thick straw so it didn't get clogged with all those cherries - she said it was full of them!