During the summer months in Sioux Falls, the average temperature is 83° Fahrenheit. Many people enjoy cooling off in a pool with a cool drink in hand. Others enjoy meeting friends and family at ice cream parlors. Here are the top three local ice cream shops preferred by LHS students during the summer.
The third favorite ice cream joint in Sioux Falls is Sweet Cheeks, located on 69th Street and Louise Avenue. They offer a variety of treats, including ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, gelato, in-house-made cotton candy and ice cream cakes for special occasions. Inside, Sweet Cheeks is very chic, clean and simple, making it a relaxing, elevated environment as soon as you step in. One of the main reasons LHS students choose Sweet Cheeks for their ice cream outings is the aesthetic that radiates from the building and its treats.
Coming in second, Stensland Family Farms Ice Cream is favored for its distinct flavors from its natural, pure ingredients. Every batch is made fresh daily and is family-owned by the Stensland family. Although they used to have three locations across Sioux Falls, they are now down to one location in the strip mall on 41st street across from OGHS; however, they still pride themselves on how different their ice cream tastes from other shops in Sioux Falls, and it does not go unnoticed by certain high school students. LHS freshman Madeleine Call delights in the fact that Stensland’s natural flavor does not make her feel as bad as other ice cream shops do, since she is lactose intolerant.
“Even if you are not lactose intolerant, a lot of the ice cream options have a lot of preservatives that make them taste like chemicals and make it not as enjoyable,” said Call. “Natural ice cream is also better because it is usually local, and it is good to support local businesses.”
Finally, the most popular ice cream joint among LHS students is B&G Milkyway. With locations all over the Sioux Falls area, they make themselves accessible for any high school student looking for a place to spend time with friends during their seasonal hours. Milkyway has a variety of foods, ranging from classic American fast food to tasty treats such as slushies, malts, dipped cones and their fan-favorite Avalanche ice cream. Along with their extensive menu, B&G Milkyway offers a nice place to sit, talk or sometimes play games. All locations feature an outdoor seating patio; however, only one location, 69th Street and Cliff Ave, offers large outdoor games on turf, such as Connect Four and cornhole. LHS sophomore Maggie Miller enjoys spending time at B&G for its atmosphere and the joy it brings her.
“This is my favorite [ice cream shop] because in the summer, it is a very fun place to hang out with friends. I also like to go to the one on 69th and Cliff because a lot of my friends work there, and every time I go, I see someone I know,” said Miller.
