Summers are for exploring, and around here, there is a lot to explore. We have interesting small towns peppered throughout the wilderness, we have bustling town centers that invite tourists and locals alike to interact with each other (or not), and we have more forests and trails and waterways than one could hope to ever explore in a single lifetime. All that exploring requires refueling, and what better way to refuel in the summertime than with some cold and refreshing frozen dessert?
We have the benefit of having plenty of delicious shops to choose from, and some will even come to you! So, if you’re out exploring this summer and need some refueling and refreshing, check out Epic Cones, Sydney’s Frozen Custard, or the PortLand Malt Shoppe.
Epic Cones, Thunder Bay
Epic Cones isn’t your everyday ice cream truck. You won’t see them rolling around with their bells and enticing music, slinging bomb pops and creamsicles to eager children. Instead, you’ll find their graffiti-inspired truck parked in all your favorite places, slinging nut-free desserts that will certainly drive your taste buds nuts.
Danielle and Adam Turuba began Epic Cones in 2018 with the goal of providing unique, flavorful, and memorable desserts that are both tree nut and peanut free, and darn delicious. They wanted a business that allowed them to interact with their community, be expressive through their work, and support community events. Everything sold from their food truck, and I mean everything, down to the toffee bits, is made in house. This ensures that they can safely remain nut free for their customers. Expanding their food inclusivity, Epic Cones has expanded their menu to include gluten and dairy free options for patrons with those sensitivities as well.
As for their menu items, I already mentioned the toffee bits. For the super sweet children and children at heart, you may want to try the cotton candy milkshake. Ice cream nachos are great for sharing, or for eating alone, and if you’re basic, they serve plain ‘ol soft serve ice cream cones as well. When stocked, you can also find (homemade cookie) ice cream sandwiches at Milk and Water Baking Co., which is pretty epic.
Epic Cones has been able to partner with the Thunder Bay schools, which are also nut free, and they sincerely hope they’ll have a chance to serve you this summer or in the years to come. Just make sure you bring cash.
Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza, Grand Marais
Sydney’s has been a destination in Grand Marais for ages, but a fire in April 2023 put them out of commission. First, they reopened in a new location while repairs were made, but Sydney’s is back in business at their original location on the point, and they couldn’t be more excited about it. The new building is made from two shipping containers welded together, providing space for an expanded upper deck boasting beautiful views of Lake Superior and the Grand Marais harbor.
The menu at Sydney’s Frozen Custard and Wood-Fired Pizza includes, of course, frozen custard and wood-fired pizza. (What their name doesn’t tell you is they also serve delicious salads and juicy Vienna beef Chicago-style hot dogs.) Custard is a little different than ice cream, with a rich, creamy texture, much denser than ice cream. Because custard is frozen quickly, the ice crystals are smaller. This, along with the higher egg yolk content, gives it that smooth, dense texture. Sydney’s custard is freshly made, along with their homemade hot fudge and caramel. You can get Sydney’s Frozen Custard in a malt, a float, a sundae, a cone, a dish… and with the plethora of options they have for toppings, your creation is only limited by your imagination. If the imagination is feeling a little rusty, don’t worry, grab yourself a Sydnami. You won’t regret it.
After the fire, Sydney’s is still rebuilding. Renovations of the old pizza kitchen will revive espresso and breakfast menus, and they plan to bring pita wraps and gyros back earlier than that. Further, Sydney’s hopes to add a bonfire pit for cool evenings on the lake.
PortLand Malt Shoppe, Duluth
One of Duluth’s most picturesque old-timey locations has to be the PortLand Malt Shoppe. The tiny building, a former gas station, stands alone in the historic formerly Portland area of Duluth. With a view of Lake Superior and the Aerial Lift Bridge, the malt shoppe has been in operation since 1989.
PortLand Malt Shoppe is famous for its malts, but they have hand-scooped ice cream as well, available in cake, sugar, or waffle cones. Mocha almond fudge is a favorite, but the strawberry cheesecake and cookies and cream are great options as well. When choosing a malt flavor, patrons are invited to choose both an ice cream flavor and a malt flavor, so the combinations are endless. Of course, no malt would be complete without whipped cream, a vanilla wafer, and a cherry to top it off. Other options include sundaes, root beer floats, and more. Eat your ice cream at the picnic table onsite, or take a relaxing stroll down the Lakewalk to continue exploring.
It’s a wild world out there, with much to see, people to meet, and small moments that matter. One doesn’t need to discover new lands to be an explorer. Maybe you’re a wilderness explorer, or maybe a city explorer. Maybe you don’t get out much. Memories can be made in all kinds of ways, and I hope you’ll make some time to see what’s out there. And while you’re at it, take a moment for a frozen treat. Epic Cones, Sydney’s Frozen Custard, and the PortLand Malt Shoppe… they’d love to meet you.
