Saturday, June 1, 2024

Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip at Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars, Iowa

It's June Dairy Month, which means our family is continuing our tradition of visiting different ice cream shops as part of our Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip! What better way to kick off this year's celebration than by sharing about our visit to the Wells Blue Bunny Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor in the Ice Cream Capital of the World, Le Mars, Iowa.

Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip at Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars, Iowa

A Must-Visit for Ice Cream Fans

When traveling in Northwest Iowa, a trip to Le Mars is a must for all ice cream fans. Did you know that Wells Enterprises, the makers of Blue Bunny ice cream, produces more than 150 million gallons of ice cream each year? There is more ice cream made in the city of Le Mars than in any one location on earth, making Le Mars the Ice Cream Capital of the World.

Interactive Exhibits

Upon arrival at the Wells Blue Bunny Visitor Center, our noses were filled with the delicious smells of the ice cream parlor, but we resisted the temptation and decided to head upstairs to check out the interactive exhibits and history of Wells.

Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip at Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars, Iowa
"From the Farm to Your Spoon" Ice Cream Production Line Exhibit

We recommend checking out a movie or two in the theater. The film on the history of the Wells family and the company was very interesting and a great way to start our visit. They also have exhibits and information on how ice cream is made, interactive games, including our kids' favorite - the ice cream personality quiz.

Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip at Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars, Iowa

Family-Friendly Fun

The Visitor Center has plenty of activities for kids, making it a great family-friendly destination. Our kids loved playing some of their interactive games and posing at some of their photo opp spots!

Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip at Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars, Iowa

The Ice Cream Parlor

Then it was time to head downstairs to the Ice Cream Parlor! Stepping into the Ice Cream Parlor felt like walking into a vintage ice cream shop. There is a wide variety of Blue Bunny ice cream flavors to choose from. The young man who served up our ice cream said the top sellers are Salted Caramel Craze, Peanut Butter & Fudge, Bunny Tracks, and Cookies 'n Cream. He also recommended some of their popular ice cream creations.

Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip at Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars, Iowa
All smiles with the classic Cookies 'n Cream in a Chocolate & M&M waffle cone!

You can get your flavor of choice in a cup or a cone, plus they offer shakes, floats & sodas, sundaes, and some of their freezer treats like Bomb Pops, Ice Cream Cookies, and Drumsticks. I'm a little embarrassed to say we tried almost a little bit of everything... I personally couldn't resist trying their Cookie Dough Creation Sundae which includes Cookie Dough Ice Cream with an Ice Cream Cookie, topped with caramel, chocolate chip cookie crumbs and whipped cream!

Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip at Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars, Iowa
Cookie Dough Creation Sundae

Our visit to the Wells Blue Bunny Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars was a delicious start to our Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip. With delicious ice cream, the rich history of Wells Blue Bunny, and the interactive exhibits, it made for a memorable family outing. We highly recommend anyone traveling through Iowa to visit, especially during June Dairy Month. And FYI - the city of Le Mars celebrates Ice Cream Days every June, so be sure to check that out if you're in the area. The 2024 celebration is June 12-15.

Plan Your Visit

What are you waiting for? 

  • The Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. But be sure to check their website for any updates.
  • It is easy to get to in downtown Le Mars, located at 115 Central Ave NW. You can't miss the giant ice cream cone out front!
  • We also enjoyed visiting local parks with the kids when we visited and road tripped over to Kingsley, Iowa to check out the Plymouth County Freedom Rock
We are busy planning our next delicious stop on our Iowa Ice Cream Road Trip! Where do you think we should go next?

No comments:

Post a Comment