Life is full of simple pleasures. Sometimes the little things just bring so much happiness. We all have those things that just instantly bring a smile to our face. For myself, one of those things is ice cream. I love it, and if my waistline would allow it, I would eat it every day. Seriously-it is that important to me-especially on a hot Alabama day. We are very lucky here that we have some really great places to eat in Alexander City and Dadeville. Among those are a few awesome places that allow cool and unique ways to enjoy my favorite tasty treat. Being the ice cream connoisseur that I am, I thought I would share some of my favorite places to enjoy ice cream in the Lake Martin area.
Carlisle’s
Location: 12 Main Street Alexander City, AL 35010
Carlisle’s is one of the oldest soda fountains in the state, and has been in operation since 1914. Just walking in makes you feel like you have stepped back in time and gives you a nostalgic sense of a simpler time. They have great sandwiches and wraps, and of course great drink options. I suggest trying the Cherry Lime-Ade if you go the drink route. However, today the star of the show is the ice cream. I love going there because they constantly switch out flavors and you never know what delicious flavor you may be able to try on any given day. They also have some great specialty ice cream options, like their banana split. It is big enough to share, but nobody is judging you if you don’t want to. The deliciousness of their treats, on top of the ambience of the old timey soda fountain, makes this one of my all time favorite ice cream stops.
Lake Martin Creamery
Location: 8212 County Road 34 Dadeville, AL 36853
Lake Martin Creamery is a new addition to our area this year, and I am oh so happy that they chose our area as their home. What makes them special is that they actually serve frozen custard. If you have never had frozen custard, that may sound a little weird to you. I actually discovered it years ago and have had a self-admitted addiction to it since the first time I took a bite of it. It does look like ice cream, but it is richer and smoother. If you want to learn more about what frozen custard is, you can learn more here. But trust me, you will love it. They have several options I’m sure you will love, but one of the things I really like is their Root Beer Float, made with vanilla soft serve. Oh. My. Goodness. Frozen custard is not something you can find everywhere, so I was literally doing a dance of joy when I heard what they would be serving. Trust me, you need this in your life.
Yellow Top Ice Cream Shop
Location: The open waters of Lake Martin!
Maybe you have seen an ice cream truck driving through your neighborhood. Everyone gets so happy when they hear that iconic ice cream truck music. Have you ever seen an ice cream boat though? Come to Lake Martin and you will. The Yellow Top Ice Cream Shop floats the waters of Lake Martin bringing ice cream and smiles to all of the lake’s many visitors. They have so many great packaged options, like Dippin Dots, Fudge Pops, Orange Dreamsicles, Drumsticks, and Choco Tacos-just to name a few! My personal favorite is the good ole Blue Bell ice cream. They come in different flavors in little pre packaged cups. That Blue Bell ice cream is just a classic southern treat. They also have special treats for those lake loving dogs as well. Next time you are on the water, make sure to keep a look out for the pontoon boat with a yellow top-it is definitely the perfect way to make a great day on Lake Martin even better!
Buck’s
Location: 1171 Tallapoosa Street Alexander City, AL 35010
Buck’s was one of the first ice cream establishments I found in the area when I moved here. Someone in my office building came in with this delicious looking masterpiece of fudge cake topped with ice cream and hot fudge. Of course I had to know where this came from, and she proudly replied “Buck’s.” I quickly learned this was a local favorite in the area. While the fudge cake is one of their most popular items, one of the most unique items is their sundaes and cones made with flavor bursts. In all of my travels, I had never encountered ice cream like this. The soft serve actually has flavors that you can add on the edges of the twist. Not only does it make it look really pretty, but it really accentuates the flavor. It gives you just the right amount of flavor-and it is not overpowering. They have alot of flavors, and you can mix and match as many as you like. I personally like the Strawberry Cheesecake combination, which you can get in a cone or a cup. Flavor burst ice cream is something that you need to put on your culinary bucket list!
Dairy Creem
Location: 2939 Dadeville Road Alexander City, AL 35010
Dairy Creem has been a staple in the Alexander City area for many years. The locals love stopping by and grabbing food at their outdoor walk up counter. They are known for their great lunch specials, but also known for their delicious ice cream. They have a variety of sundaes, shakes, and flurries, but one of the things that they are most well known for is their hand dipped cones. They take their home made ice cream and dip it into a chocolate shell. That perfect combination is also available as a frozen ice cream treat called a Creem Bar. It’s their vanilla ice cream, put on a popsicle stick, dipped in the chocolate, and frozen. Splurge and try both.
At Lake Martin, we are firm believers that lake life really is the best life. If your best life involves sometimes having dessert first, you will fit in just fine around here-and we have plenty of options available for you. We are spoiled with all of the great things to eat at Lake Martin, and we welcome you to come and enjoy some treats with us!