Our favorite Ice Cream Places

There is nothing like ice cream. It is festive when you are in the mood to celebrate something, even if it’s as simple as a perfect summer day. When you’re down, then ice cream is comforting and uplifting, all at the same time. And it is appealing to young and old alike. Happily, Long Islanders are never far away from rich, creamy homemade ice cream in myriad forms and seemingly endless flavors. Some people are content with the classics — vanilla, chocolate, strawberry — while others gravitate toward the fanciful — coconut-jalapeno, say, or even matcha green tea. Still, others like to indulge in old-times soda fountain conceptions such as sundaes, floats and banana splits. It’s all good — not to mention a great excuse for a drive. Here’s an array of Long Island’s scoop shops and sit-down ice cream parlors. Illustration by Neville Harvey