Ice Cream, Gelato and Custard in Grand Rapids

ice cream, gelato and custard in grand rapids

ice cream

ice cream, gelato and custard in grand rapids

There are several places to buy ice cream, gelato and custard in Grand Rapids, MN and the surround communities. Whether you are a local or visiting the area, ice cream is always the perfect sweet treat to help cool off in the summer. 

The Grand Rapids, Minnesota area is made up of charming small towns that are surrounded by Minnesota’s nature. Visitors have been vacationing here for many generations. This ‘going to the lake’ destination is a place where you can reconnect with loved one’s, relax by the lake, and recharge among the tall pines and hardwood forests.

BIGFORK

Antler Lake Store located on Scenic Hwy 7 in Bigfork is the perfect place to ride ATV on the Bigfork to Balsam ATV Trail to get hand-scooped ice cream. This little store is a hidden gem that has a little bit of everything: camping and fishing supplies, snacks and beverages, clothing, and a liquor store.

Park Recreation in Bigfork, MN is a great place to get a burger, fries and an ice cream cone.  Two Rivers Cenex offers Kemp’s hand-scooped ice cream in waffle cones that is served by friendly staff that is perfect destination for a Sunday drive.

COLERAINE

The Four Season Market in Coleraine offers the widest selection of hand-scooped ice cream in Itasca County with over 25 different flavors, and a wide variety of toppings that you can get in a cone or a cup. 

DEER RIVER

The Northern Star Marketplace in Deer River offers hard packed ice cream, novelty soda pop and candy, Abdallah chocolates, and a large selection of home decor, gift, clothing, and more. 

Northern Star Cooperative, Cenex in Deer River is offering soft serve ice cream for the summer. Both locations are very clean, staff is friendly and welcoming, and you will find a wide variety of snacks and more.

GRAND RAPIDS

Borealis Creamery is a food truck that frequents events, area farmers markets, and First Friday Art Walk. Their fresh homemade ice cream offers unique flavors that you cannot get anywhere else. They offer their ice cream pints for sale at Klockow Brewery.

Boulder Tap House offers the most amazing shakes to go along with their juicy burgers, cheese curds, and avocado fries. This franchise is known for offering the widest selection of beer on tap from mainstream beer to Minnesota craft beers.

The Grand Rapids Dairy Queen has been in Grand Rapids for many generations. You will be able to purchase soft-serve ice cream & signature shakes, classic burgers & fries at this location. It is perfect for everyone in the family. You will also be able to purchase ice cream novelties like the dilly bars and buster bars. There is both indoor seating and outdoor patio seating. A convenient location that is right on Pokegama Avenue South.

Hotel Rapids Bar + Bistro  is a boutique style hotel that offers fresh to order crepes, yogurt bowls, freshly brewed coffee drinks, and craft cocktails. They also have frozen yogurt bowls for the summer. 

The Dragonfly Coffee by Itasca Life Options located in Central Square Mall is a great place to get hand-scooped, hard pack ice cream, delicious fresh baked bakery items, and ice drinks like smoothies, chai tea, and iced coffee. The Dragonfly Coffee is a program of the Itasca Life Options for adults with disabilities. They serve bridgeman’s hard scooped ice cream that you can either have in a cone or a cup.

McDonalds is known for being a fast-food chain that offers everything from salads, chicken nuggets, burgers, and also ice cream treats like shakes, sundaes, and soft ice cream cones. 

The Northern Star Cooperative, Cenex is the newest gas and convenience store that is located on Pokegama Ave South next to Applebee’s. They are a full service convenience store where you can fill up your gas tank, grab snacks, breakfast, lunch or dinner, and enjoy a hand-scooped ice cream in a cone or a cup. They offer a variety of flavors.

NORTHOME

Black Bear Drive In is the go to place to get ice cream in Northome. The staff are very friendly, and the ice cream goes well with the hand pattied burgers.

Hwy 46 Food & Drink offers a broad menu from lost forty sandwiches, salads, burgers, and cheesesteaks. Their ice cream 

FROZEN CUSTARD

ice cream, custard and gellato in grand rapids, mn

Some say ice cream is ice cream, but we all know that is not true. They both are a wonderful treat on a warm summers day. The difference between ice cream and custard is that custard has more egg yolks. Also, custard machines incorporate very little air for a creamier texture. Culver’s is the perfect place to get frozen custard in Grand Rapids. They offer vanilla and chocolate on a regular basis in addition to the flavor of the day.

GELATO

Gelato

Gelato is also known as Italian Ice Cream, which contains more air and a much lower milkfat percentage than than American-style ice cream, and it is held at a higher temperature that makes for a smoother texture. This results in a unique density and richness from ice cream. The only place where you can get gelato in Grand Rapids is Brewed Awakenings Coffeehouse. Brewed is one of the local coffeehouses in Grand Rapids that serves fresh baked goods, freshly made to order salads, sandwiches and soups. And then there is their freshly brewed coffee and other handcrafted beverages.


This list is probably longer than you thought on where to buy ice cream, gelato and custard in Grand Rapids, MN and the surrounding communities. There is something special about taking a scenic drive to get a frozen treat on a warm summer’s day. Summers are made for making memories. The Grand Rapids, Minnesota area is the perfect going to the lake destination to make summer memories. Start your vacation planning today by downloading the interactive Grand Rapids Visitors Guide.

Your Electronics Are Key To Finding Walleyes

Fishing Electronics while night fishing grand rapids mn area lake

Your Electronics Are Key To Finding Walleyes

Grand Rapids Fishing Report: Electronics Are Key

Tom Neustrom shares this week’s fishing report which highlights that your electronics are key to finding walleyes in the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area. The weather this season has certainly changed conditions from last year. One thing for sure the walleye fishing has been better than ever on several area lakes. Low water made it tough last year and this season that has not been the issue. Water levels are high and unseasonably cool with warm weather just around the corner it is a needed recipe for continued good fishing, and remember that your electronics are key to finding walleyes.

Bait Systems to Try

With the conditions as they are, the jig and minnow bite has continued to be the bait of choice with some anglers doing well with leeches and rigs. Paying attention to location where you are fishing can be crucial to success, this is where your electronics are key to finding walleyes. As the water warms, walleyes will start to occupy their summer locations. The best scenario to this is where you find walleyes yesterday may not be there tomorrow. Food is always the driving force of their location and their diet can change and opportunity will allow them to feed on a couple different food sources. Small perch, shiners, and sculpins are walleyes main minnow diet in the minnow category, but there also is another choice in their diet they will take advantage of grubs that live in the soft bottoms of the majority of good walleye lakes. This can also trigger a change in presentations that successful walleye anglers will use. 

Leeches, crawlers, and minnows fished on spinner rigs and slip sinker rigs can make a difference. Deeper off shore locations can also be detected as prime locations especially as water temperatures warm. Trolling crank baits in the morning and evening hours can also be beneficial to contact active fish. Northland Rumble Shiner or Shad are good choices for trolling in depths of 8-15 feet. Ten pound Sufix 832 Braid does a great job of baits running true and straight with no stretch and immediate hook setting. Paying attention to lip size on crankbaits will only enhance the depth and proper presentation when trolling. Speed is also important and running at 1.75 to 2.50 mph are proper speeds to get baits down to their optimum depth.

Fishing Electronics while night fishing grand rapids mn area lake Electronics Are Key

Your electronics are key to finding walleyes that have started to migrate away from their spawning grounds to deeper water. There are walleyes that will stay shallow all season and especially when weed growth begins to form and stays, providing food and shade. It’s not to say that all sizes will stay shallow, but smaller walleyes, the size anglers will seek for eating will be more available.

Some of the lakes that continue to provide good walleye fishing are Big Jessie, Bowstring, Big Winnie, Deer, Round, and Wabana. Other lakes to take notice are Big Splithand, Trout, and Pokegama. Make sure that you know the Fishing Regulations for the lakes you are fishing by reviewing the MN DNR website HERE. If you have not found overnight lodging for your Grand Rapids, Minnesota Fishing Trip take a look at the wide variety of Grand Rapids Lodging that are available.

About Tom Neustrom: Tom is an inductee of the MN Fishing Hall of Fame and the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. He owns the professional fishing guide service called MN Fishing Connections. Tom is the Outdoor Consultant for Visit Grand Rapids. Contact Tom to book a guided fishing trip to ensure a memorable fishing vacation to the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area HERE.