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Ready for the ultimate ice cream road trip? Use this map for 100+ Mass. shops.
The Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail map is officially live.
Making summer plans just got easier — and cooler: The anticipated Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail has officially launched.
The tourism initiative from the Mass. Dairy Promotion Board, the state’s Department of Agricultural Resources, and the Office of Travel and Tourism has been in the works for more than a year, but on Thursday Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll unveiled the trail’s map at one of its locations, Richardson’s Farm in Middleton.
“Dairy farms are the backbone of the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail,” said Driscoll in a press release. “They provide the essential ingredients for our delicious ice cream and contribute significantly to our state’s economy and rural character. With this new attraction, we’re making Massachusetts a top destination for ice cream enthusiasts and celebrating our rich agricultural heritage.”
The map, now available online, features more than 100 ice cream shops and dairy farms across Massachusetts — a state that churns out 20 million gallons of milk each year thanks to its nearly 100 dairy farms.
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WBUR reported in May that state officials said they were inspired by the wine and cheese trail in Massachusetts and an ice cream trail in its northern neighbor, New Hampshire.
The plan was to launch the trail this month, which just so happens to be National Ice Cream Month — and given these heat waves of late, a perfect time to eat a cold treat.
State leaders and the Massachusetts Dairy Board see this trail as an activity that will attract visitors and a way to drum up business for these local parlors and dairy farms.
“Small businesses are the heart of our state economy and contribute so much to the fabric of our communities,” said economic development secretary Yvonne Hao in a press release. “We are excited the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail celebrates our state’s dairy industry and showcases the businesses that deliver delicious treats and family-friendly activities for residents and visitors to Massachusetts.”
The trail map includes 105 stops total, sectioned off by six regions in the state: Greater Boston, North of Boston, South of Boston, Cape Cod and the Islands, Central Massachusetts, and Western Massachusetts.
For those ready to hit the road and get a little treat (or two), find your way to the scores of Massachusetts ice cream shops using the map below.
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