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Top Spot for an Ice Cream Shake in Every State

Peach milkshake

Top Spot for an Ice Cream Shake in Every State

Ah, the milkshake. That frothy drink composed of milk, or a variety of non-dairy alternatives, flavorings, and perhaps sometimes even fruit that most of us recall fondly from our childhoods. It is almost synonymous with summer – those warm summer days that begged for a cool treat, a delicious creamy beverage that we all love. As soon as we heard the ice cream truck’s famous jingle, we’d run outside with excitement, knowing what was in store.

The modern milkshake that we’ve all grown accustomed to, that frosty shaken ice cream concoction, named after the method of creating it – shaken, not stirred – was invented in the early 20th century in Chicago when Walgreens employee Ivar “Pop” Coulson added ice cream to malted milk (a drink that was simply milk, malted milk powder, and chocolate syrup). But it wasn’t always intended for children.

The term milkshake dates to the late 19th century when the word was used for the method of mixing an alcoholic beverage that contained cream and eggs. While the original “milkshake” wasn’t intended for children, the technique for making it helped create a dessert that all could enjoy. The machines first used were crank-driven, a process that could be laborious and time-consuming. It wasn’t until Stephen J. Poplawski invented the electric blender in 1922 – a machine created purposefully for making milkshakes – that their popularity increased.

One of the easiest ways to eat dessert is by slurping it up through a straw.  These liquified treats, great for on-the-go, come in a basic form – mixtures of a milk or milk-like beverage, dairy, or non-dairy ice cream of choice (or sometimes frozen yogurt or sorbet), and usually, syrup of some kind, often topped with whipped cream. Additional add-ins are now quite popular, ranging from crumbled cookies and chopped candy bars to a variety of fruit. (Make sure you aren’t using any candy items from Diamond Shruumz, whose products have been recalled due to their dangerous chemicals.)

24/7 Tempo has assembled a list of the top spot for an ice cream shake in every state by drawing on reviews and ratings from numerous crowd-sourced platforms, including Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Foursquare, as well as a range of local and regional websites. Even with the modern-day elaborate versions available, something is appealing about a simple, old-fashioned milkshake with just the basics.

It may come as no surprise that many of the locations listed here are old-school diners or ice cream parlors. The classic shakes come in classic ice cream flavors like chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, but as evidenced here with the “Shake to try,” there is an immense variety of possibilities. (These are milkshakes with more calories than entire meal

Here is the best place for an ice cream shake in each state.

Alabama: Oscar Moon’s

Courtesy of Oscar Moon’s Milkshake Shop via Yelp

  • Location: Huntsville
  • Shake to try: Alabama peach pie

Alaska: Lucky Wishbone

Courtesy of Madai P. via Yelp

  • Location: Anchorage
  • Shake to try: Hot fudge

Arizona: The Stand Arcadia Burger Shoppe

Courtesy of Stefany V. via Yelp

  • Location: Phoenix
  • Shake to try: Chocolate chile

Arkansas: The Original ScoopDog

Courtesy of J B. via Yelp

  • Location: North Little Rock
  • Shake to try: Cherry

California: Shields Date Garden

Courtesy of Haneen O. via Yelp

  • Location: Indio
  • Shake to try: Date

Colorado: Milkbox Ice Creamery

Courtesy of Melissa H. via Yelp

  • Location: Denver
  • Shake to try: Rum-Drenched Churro Boozey Shake

Connecticut: A.C. Petersen Farms

Courtesy of Tiffany G. via Yelp

  • Location: West Hartford
  • Shake to try: Victus Coffee cold brew

Delaware: Farmer & the Cow

Courtesy of Emily M. via Yelp

  • Location: Wilmington
  • Shake to try: You’re Killing Me Smalls (marshmallow, graham crackers, and chocolate, with optional Plantation Rum)

Florida: Cousteau’s Waffle & Milkshake Bar

Courtesy of Nisha M. via Yelp

  • Location: St. Augustine (2 locations)
  • Shake to try: Electric Jellyfish (vanilla with homemade fresh blueberry compote)

Georgia: Leopold’s Ice Cream

Courtesy of Melissa C. via Yelp

  • Location: Savannah (3 locations)
  • Shake to try: Honey almond and cream

Hawaii: Rock Island Café

Courtesy of Brenna C. via Yelp

  • Location: Honolulu
  • Shake to try: Coca-Cola

Idaho: Fanci Freez

Courtesy of Christina J. via Yelp

  • Location: Boise and Meridian
  • Shake to try: Watermelon

Illinois: Edzo’s Burger Shop

Courtesy of Tim M. via Yelp

  • Location: Evanston and Chicago
  • Shake to try: Nutella

Indiana: Gordon’s Milkshake Bar

Courtesy of Jennifer S. via Yelp

  • Location: Indianapolis
  • Shake to try: Honey-roasted peanut butter

Iowa: Hamburg Inn No. 2

Courtesy of Stephanie B. via Yelp

  • Location: Iowa City
  • Shake to try: Wilson’s Dutch Apple Pieshake

Kansas: Cookee’s Drive-In

Cookee's Drive-In
Courtesy of Cookees D. via Yelp
Source: Courtesy of Cookees D. via Yelp
  • Location: Pleasanton
  • Shake to try: Pineapple

Kentucky: Tolly Ho

Courtesy of Alan C. via Yelp

  • Location: Lexington
  • Shake to try: Banana pudding

Louisiana: Original Dearman’s Soda Shop

Courtesy of Scarlett E. via Yelp

  • Location: Baton Rouge
  • Shake to try: Dreamsicle

Maine: Red’s Dairy Freeze

Courtesy of Joy S. via Yelp

  • Location: South Portland
  • Shake to try: Licorice

Maryland: Papermoon Diner

Courtesy of Karen C. via Yelp

  • Location: Baltimore
  • Shake to try: Captain Krunch

Massachusetts: Cabot’s

Courtesy of Ilana O. via Yelp

  • Location: Newton
  • Shake to try: Tropical fruit frappe

Michigan: Brome Modern Eatery

Courtesy of Sam S. via Yelp

  • Location: Dearborn
  • Shake to try: European cookie butter

Minnesota: The Malt Shop

The Malt Shop

Courtesy of The Malt Shop via Yelp

  • Location: Minneapolis
  • Shake to try: Fig

Mississippi: Brent’s Drugs

Brent's Drugs
Courtesy of Shercole K. via Yelp
Source: Courtesy of Shercole K. via Yelp
  • Location: Jackson
  • Shake to try: Ginger Finger (Butterfingers, ginger syrup, vanilla ice cream)

Missouri: Crown Candy Kitchen

Courtesy of Demarcus B. via Yelp

  • Location: St. Louis
  • Shake to try: Johnny Rabbit Special (banana malt with whipped cream, nuts, and nutmeg)

Montana: Huck’s Grill at St. Regis Travel Center

Courtesy of Jason K. via Yelp

  • Location: St. Regis
  • Shake to try: Huckleberry

Nebraska: Angus Burgers & Shakes

Courtesy of Diane H. via Yelp

  • Location: Omaha
  • Shake to try: Toasted marshmallow

Nevada: Beefy’s

Courtesy of Cory P. via Yelp

  • Location: Reno
  • Shake to try: Lavender chai

New Hampshire: Brgr Bar

Courtesy of Jessica D. via Yelp

  • Location: Portsmouth
  • Shake to try: The Dude (vanilla ice cream, Kahlúa, and vanilla vodka)

New Jersey: Holsten’s

Holsten's

Courtesy of Kristin W. via Yelp

  • Location: Bloomfield
  • Shake to try: Maple walnut

New Mexico: Shake Foundation

Courtesy of Heather F. via Yelp

  • Location: Santa Fe
  • Shake to try: Mexican chocolate Adobe Mud

New York: Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream

Courtesy of Magz M. via Yelp

  • Location: New York City and Brooklyn
  • Shake to try: Ginger Grape Nut

North Carolina: Tony’s Ice Cream

Courtesy of Sheila F. via Yelp

  • Location: Gastonia
  • Shake to try: Black walnut

North Dakota: The White Maid

Cotton candy
Choe Hyeonsu / Shutterstock.com
Source: Choe Hyeonsu / Shutterstock.com
  • Location: Napoleon
  • Shake to try: Cotton candy (blue or pink)

Ohio: Tommy’s

Courtesy of Mike M. via Yelp

  • Location: Cleveland Heights
  • Shake to try: Root beer

Oklahoma: Burger Punk

Courtesy of Emily F. via Yelp

  • Location: Oklahoma City (2 locations)
  • Shake to try: Punk Shake (vanilla bean soft-serve, miso caramel, and choice of Butterfinger or Oreo topping)

Oregon: Fields Station

Courtesy of Callie S. via Yelp

  • Location: Fields Station
  • Shake to try: English toffee

Pennsylvania: Flip City Shakes

Courtesy of Dana S. via Yelp

  • Location: Southampton and Quakertown
  • Shake to try: Apple pie

Rhode Island: Harry’s Bar & Burger

Courtesy of Nakyah D. via Yelp

  • Location: Providence (2 locations)
  • Shake to try: The Bam Bam (Fruity Pebbles, strawberry syrup, vanilla ice cream)

South Carolina: Kaminsky’s Dessert Café

Courtesy of Lauren K. via Yelp

  • Location: Charleston and Columbia
  • Shake to try: Mint Chocolate Chip

South Dakota: Phillips Avenue Diner

Courtesy of Jordon O. via Yelp

  • Location: Sioux Falls
  • Shake to try: Butterscotch

Tennessee: Franklin Milkshake Bar in Fork of the South

Franklin Milkshake Bar
Courtesy of Kristine M. via Yelp
Source: Courtesy of Kristine M. via Yelp
  • Location: Franklin (temporarily closed)
  • Shake to try: Peaches N Cream

Texas: Chill Milkshake & Waffle Bar

Courtesy of Oz E. via Yelp

  • Location: Spring and Magnolia
  • Shake to try: Chocolate chip banana bread

Utah: Dairy Keen

Courtesy of David S. via Yelp

  • Location: Heber City
  • Shake to try: Heath Bar

Vermont: The Scoop

Courtesy of The Scoop via Yelp

  • Location: Shelburne
  • Shake to try: Malted milk ball

Virginia: Pop’s Ice Cream & Soda Bar

Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar
Courtesy of J D. via Yelp
Source: Courtesy of J D. via Yelp
  • Location: Roanoke
  • Shake to try: Cracker Jill (salted caramel ice cream with butter-toasted peanuts)

Washington: Shake Shake Shake

Courtesy of Demitri R. via Yelp

Banana Brûlée shake at Shake Shake Shake in Tacoma, Washington (Courtesy of Char M. via Yelp)

  • Location: Tacoma
  • Shake to try: Banana Brûlée

West Virginia: Bramwell Corner Shop & Soda Fountain

Courtesy of Ashley W. via Yelp

  • Location: Bramwell
  • Shake to try: Lemon

Wisconsin: Babcock Dairy Store

Babcock Dairy Store
Courtesy of Sherwin C. via Yelp
Source: Courtesy of Sherwin C. via Yelp
  • Location: Madison
  • Shake to try: Blueberry Swirl

Wyoming: Johnny J’s Diner

Johnny J's Diner
Courtesy of Kim O. via Yelp
Source: Courtesy of Kim O. via Yelp
  • Location: Casper
  • Shake to try: Chocolate banana pineapple
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