One of the advantages of it getting as hot as it does is a seemingly endless number of spots to cool off. With shops found all over town, ice cream is big business in Beaumont because you know what they say – I scream, you scream.
For an Asian spin on ice cream, the DIY bubble waffle bowls are a sight to behold. Simply pick your base from original, chocolate, or matcha green tea, select your scoop flavor (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry), and load it up with toppings and drizzles. There's everything from popping boba to fruit and pockys. Too sweet for you? Their milk teas and slushes are another great way to cool off (in a less messy fashion).
If your motto is the "camera eats first," photo fiends will obsess over La Real Michocana. This Mexican ice cream parlor specializes in homemade horchatas, popsicles, and ice cream. Instagram lovers will want to order one of their overflowing freakshakes or pineapple creations. There's no menu, just reference the colorful pictures on the wall.
Treats on treats on treats, Mabel's breadth of sweet creations will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters with gluttonous waffle and brownie sundaes and snow cones topped with everything from cake slices to popsicles. You'll often see their food truck roaming around town, but you can always visit their brick-and-mortar store to cool off!
The retro soda shop of your childhood, Mike's in Port Neches, is the nostalgic place to pull up on a swivel stool, share a banana split and reminisce over the good old days. Cool off with a scoop, and then make a day of it, meandering down the boulevard to Avenue Axe, Port Neches Brewing Company, and the Avenue Coffeeshop for a java jolt.
Koko in Port Arthur offers rolled ice cream for another unique twist on tradition. Also called stir-fried ice cream, it's made with condensed milk, rolled and flattened into a thin layer on a pan, and rapidly freeze frozen until it turns solid. It's then scraped off and rolled into a bowl, which can then be outfitted with a host of toppings.
While most known for their New Orleans-style snow cones in hundreds of flavor combinations, Quenchie's also served the state's beloved Blue Bell. The interior is an explosion of sweet treats, but they also have a very popular drive-through if you're in a hurry.
Nieves Mi Ranchito
Another Mexican ice cream shop your Instagram will love, Nieves Mi Ranchito on College Street, has sweet and spicy creations that are as photogenic as they are tasty. Order a giant carved-out watermelon or pineapple topped with scoops upon scoops and play it off as your serving of fruit for the day.
Beloved for their DIY creations, at Marble Slab, you pick your base flavor and unlimited mix-ins to make the ultimate flavor of your dreams. With infinite combinations possible, go sugary with candy, creamy with sauces, or crunchy with nuts and fruits.
Beyond just the desserts being Instagram gems, Jami's Snack Shack is a photogenic spot with rows of colorful umbrellas swaying in the wind. The perfect summer stop while running errands in Groves. Beyond the sweet treats, they also offer savory pick-me-ups like nachos and elote.