Fortunately for all of us, there is no lack of opportunities to find something delicious to chill out with on a hot day.
Here are my top five favorite summer treats to cool off with this year. It's a short list I came up with based on flavor and singularity — a list of playful options that may not be the first to come to mind, but will satisfy and offer something just a little bit different.
A classic root beer float at The Rootbeer Stande
1727 Woodman Drive, Dayton
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The Rootbeer Stande on Woodman isn't the only place to get a root beer float in town, but I would argue it's without question the best. Drive up and wait for a waitress come out to take your order, and prepare to quench that thirst. The menu is typical drive-in fare — burgers, dogs, a long list of sandwiches, but the "deep fried goodies" menu is where the treasure lies after you've ordered that incredible root beer float. The Rootbeer Stande sells root beer by the gallon and half-gallon so you could make it at home, but part of the experience is having it there. If you missed National Root Beer Float Day on Aug. 6, then you're long overdue for a celebration. Go on, you've earned it.
A refreshing smoothie at Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Various locations, Dayton area
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I'm a big fan of the 24-ounce smoothies (plenty big enough to share) at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. It's a quick stop if you're hungry and don't want to go to a fast food location. They can all be ordered without sweeteners or with Splenda and are refreshing with a medley of interesting flavors to choose from. The health nut smoothie made with blueberries, mango, banana, almonds and protein (soy, pea or whey) is a personal favorite. Alongside all of the classic flavors you'd expect to see, there are indulgent smoothies like the peanut butter cup, supercharged smoothies like the Triple Berry Oat and Superfood Smoothies like the Detox Island Green and Avocolada. Featured seasonal flavors including the Pearific Green Tea smoothie made with pears, spinach, banana, matcha green tea, kale, basil, cucumber and lime is a tart punch of antioxidants and the Orange Ginger Glow made with mango, fresh ginger, green apple, pineapple, carrot and orange juice also hit the spot on a hot day.
Handcrafted Ice Pops at Sweet P's
At 2nd Street Market, 600 E. 2nd St., Dayton
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These are not your grandma's popsicles. The handcrafted at Sweet P's Handcrafted Ice Pops are delicious, surprising, fresh and bright with a line of interesting flavors. The water-based grapefruit, strawberry and kiwi/lime/ginger pops are always in rotation, with other flavors like strawberry/reisling pops, sweet cherry banana pops, peach, avocado, mango and blackberry pops coming in and out of the line-up. Sea salt caramel, coffee latte and cookies and cream are regular dairy-based pops with flavors like key lime pie, butter pecan, pistachio, birthday cake coconut, chocolate pudding and white strawberry peach balsamic rotating in and out. You can grab these at the 2nd Street Market from 11 a.m.-3 p.m Thursdays and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays during the summer and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. year-round.
JD's Old Fashioned Frozen Custard
322 Union Blvd., Englewood
Website| Facebook| Call (937) 836-9219
There's no question that ice cream is incredibly delicious, but frozen custard is where it's at. All that butterfat and egg yolk makes for a smoother, creamier, thicker, richer experience.
The lemon custard at JD's in Englewood is worth the trip alone not to mention the incredibly fun sundaes. The Pretzel Parfait (vanilla custard, caramel topping, crushed pretzels, hardened chocolate, whipped cream topped with a chocolate covered pretzel) and the Lemon Raspberry Cake (two pieces of Brandy flavored white cake, with a scoop of lemon custard, red raspberries, whipped cream and a cherry) are stand-outs, but nothing beats the Trash Can Sundae made with two flavors of custard, any two toppings, candies or nuts, whipped cream, crushed Oreo, candy eyes and a gummy worm, served up in a plastic take home container. You can now purchase JD's Frozen Custard at the Englewood Kroger Marketplace, but better to go to the source directly.
Fronana
27 W. First St., Dayton
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The tagline to one of the newest downtown Dayton businesses is "no dairy, no gluten, no sugar, no guilt." It's a vegan, gluten-free, healthy dessert alternative. Because there is so much processed sugar it may very well take a visit or two to acclimate. The portions are small, but for folks watching their waist line and their overall health, this is a great place to stop to cool down. Ride around on the Link bikes, head to Riverscape and make a heart-healthy adventure of it.
What's on your list? Send your favorite chill-out choices for summer to alexis.e.larsen@hotmail.com and we will try and work them into future coverage. Do you know of new exciting format changes, specials, happy hours, restaurant updates or any other tasty news you think is worth a look at? E-mail Alexis Larsen at alexis.e.larsen@hotmail.com with the information.
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