It’s one of those hot, wish-I-could-walk-down-the-street-wearing-nothing kind of days in New York. Not the most pleasant feeling in the world, and yet these sticky, sweaty summer weeks will breeze by, so we say let’s make the best of it. Leaf peeping and apple picking will arrive soon enough, but in the meantime, why not take a refreshing walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and indulge in some sweet frozen goodness?
Whether you like your scoops fruity, vegan, organic, or just plain old-fashion thick and rich, here are three very different places where we love to cool off.
1. Ample Hills Creamery | 305 Nevins St., Gowanus or visit their Brooklyn Bridge Park or Vanderbilt locations |(347) 725-4061 | amplehills.com
Ample Hills makes ice cream the old-fashioned way, slowly and by hand. They start with hormone-free milk and cream from grass-fed cows and add quality ingredients. Mix-ins, like honeycomb candy and brownies, are made in-house, from scratch. If licking their yummy sweet stuff is not enough, join one of their master classes and learn to make-it-yourself.
Cool off with this: Try Snap Mallow Pop, a de-constructed Rice Krispies treat or The Munchies, a crunchy jumble of pretzels, potato chip, Ritz crackers and M & Ms.
Cost: Scoops start at $4.95 for a small.
2. Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory | 97 Commercial St | 718.246.3963 | brooklynicecreamfactory.com
This is a perfect no frills place for date night and yet it’s almost too romantic. Experience an old-time lick under the carriage house’s red-shelled roof while enjoying the cinematic views of the city skyline.
Cool off with this: Choose from the classic strawberry, vanilla and chocolate egg-free ice creams or go a little wild with Peaches and Cream or Butter Pecan.
Cost: A cool $4.75 for a scoop, but just be aware that it’s cash only.
3. Blue Marble |186 Underhill Ave., Prospect Heights|718.399.6926| bluemarbleicecream.com
Head into this native Brooklyn joint for fresh organic flavors and uber sustainable business practices such as their biodegradable bowls. Their delightful seasonal flavors are sure to keep you coming back for as long as the heat lasts—or at least until you’ve tried each and every kind… at least three times.
Cool off with this: The Mexican Chocolate is the perfect mix of spicy cinnamon and deep chocolate with crunchy chocolate chunks and almonds for texture.
Cost: A cool $5 for a scoop.
How to get there: Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, grab a CitiBike or take the good ‘ol New York City subway.
Photos: roboppy
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram