The Eighth Best Ice Cream Place in the World

Article and Photo by Eric H.
National Geographic's "An Ultimate Guide for Travelers" ranked Crescent Ridge Dairy Bar in Sharon, MA, in 2007, as the eighth best ice cream place in the world. That's great news for New Englanders, as other top 10 ice cream places would have required a trip, for example, to Florence, Italy, or Paris, France (actually, a good excuse to travel).

Crescent Ridge does have some truly great ice cream, including the current special S'Mores, and orange pineapple, peppermint stick, ginger, fudge ripple and the old standbys of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. While we wonder how a list of best ice cream places in the world could be narrowed to ten, the reality is that, from a local's perspective, Crescent Ridge is slightly better than the other top-tiered ice cream stands in New England. It all comes down to freshness, and Crescent Ridge somehow comes through better than most. What's more, Crescent Ridge represents the classic New England ice cream stand at its best with a truly bucolic, relaxing setting -- a farmhouse in the scenic distance, a field with cows, and picnic benches. Along with Kimball Farm in Westford, MA, Carlisle, MA and Jaffrey, NH, the Ice Cream Machine in Cumberland , RI, Four Seas in Centerville, MA, Brown's in York Beach, Maine, the Black Cow in Millis, MA, Bubbling Brook in Westwood, MA, and Peaceful Meadows in Whitman, MA, Crescent Ridge ranks with our current favorite ice cream places in New England.

Crescent Ridge Dairy, 355 Bay Rd., Sharon, MA. Tel. 781-784-2740

Read more about the Best Ice Cream Stands in New England and Reader's Favorite Ice Cream