North Shore Ice Cream: Adam 12’s Favorite Spots

You know I'm serious about this list because I put my damn name in the title. Let's go on a little North Shore ice cream jaunt, shall we?

First, though, some ground rules. And a bit of history. I'm a Wakefield native. Grew up in Greenwood, aka the Melrose/Saugus side of Wakefield, aka the best part of Wakefield. Some folks say Wakefield isn't North Shore. I say it is. And the North Shore authority, Square One Mall Goth on Instagram, regularly makes memes poking fun at Wakefield. So Wakefield is North Shore. Period.

For the purposes of this list, Greenwood is the hub, and I'll be expanding out from there. Is this a comprehensive list of every single ice cream spot in the entire North Shore and surrounding environs? Absolutely not. This is my personal list. So if you're a North Shore native and I don't have your fave on the list? Don't get mad. Get even. Go make your own damn list.

Sorry if my tone is cranky. As I'm typing this, my stomach is rumbling. I'm hungry. Hungry for ice cream. Which is crazy, because here's the thing: I don't even like ice cream. OK, that's not entirely true. I like ice cream fine. I just don't love it. Ice cream, for the last decade-plus, has become less about the tasty treat and more about the bonding experience with my kids. They love ice cream.

So here's my list. It has a few of my personal faves from growing up on the North Shore, and a few current faves where my kids and I like to get a cone or two. And it's subject to change (read: I'll probably add to it). So keep it handy, share it, and check back often.

Colonial Spa has been a landmark in downtown Wakefield for generations. These days, Cravings is serving the best damn ice cream in town, served up in an old-time soda fountain.

Wakefield's "other" ice cream shop. I kid. I just like getting the Montrose folks all riled up. Meletharb is legendary. My mom tells me that my Nana loved going there for a scoop in her later years.

Growing up, Soc's in Saugus was actually the closest ice cream shop to where I was in Greenwood. I guess that's why I never became a Meletharb kid: I was leaving town for creamy scoops at Soc's!

Kennedy's was a stand out in our Game of Cones bracket last year. I'm glad they are where they are in Melrose, because there used to be a Friendly's in that same plaza when I was a kid, so the ice cream energy is strong.

Wanna know a secret? Santa Fe Burrito Grill on Main St. in Melrose, which used to be a Papa Gino's, has an ice cream window. And they serve Giffords, which I thought you could only get in Maine? Good to know if you need a cone in a pinch.

On the Peabody-Saugus line, since 1946. Might be the best ice cream on the entire North Shore. One of those places people travel to because it's so damn good.

If you're going to argue Middleton isn't North Shore, you're missing the point. Richardson's Farm is so damn good at making ice cream that they supply their stuff to ice cream stands all across New England. Ask somebody!

OK, I'm cheating a little here. The O.G. J.P. Licks is in J.P., of course. But now they have shop at that Sodom and Gomorrah in Lynnfield. Which is on the North Shore. So I'm adding it. Because I was just there two weeks ago and it was delish.