It’s Labor Day weekend in Clearwater. It’s hot. It’s humid. And frankly, that’s a perfectly good excuse for something cold and delicious.

But not all frozen treats are created equal.

From a Clearwater soft-serve stand that’s been around since 1953, to warm cookies topped with premium ice cream, fresh pastry cones, homemade fudge and rich frozen custard, we found six very different ways to cool down this Labor Day weekend.

These aren’t rankings. We’re presenting all six alphabetically because we’re not picking the winner.

That’s your job. 🗳️🍦

There’s a poll waiting for you at the bottom.

📍 2190 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater Map →

Ice cream’s richer, denser cousin gets its own spot on our list. Andy’s specializes in fresh frozen custard, served in cones and sundaes or blended into thick Concretes and filled Jackhammers.

And here’s a little bonus during a Florida summer: there’s a drive-thru. You can acquire your frozen custard without abandoning the air conditioning. 😂

🍦 THE SCOOP: If you’re firmly on Team Frozen Custard, this one’s for you.

📍 2539 Countryside Blvd., Clearwater Map →

This one is completely different.

Crispy Cones wraps fresh dough around a cylinder, rotisserie-grills it, coats the warm pastry and then fills it with soft serve and your choice of spreads and toppings.

It’s part ice cream, part warm pastry and potentially part glorious mess.

🍦 THE SCOOP: The cone isn’t merely holding your dessert. The cone IS dessert.

📍 1555 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater Map →

Here’s a little Clearwater history with your soft serve.

Dairy Kurl has been serving Clearwater since 1953, from its wonderfully old-school roadside stand on Gulf to Bay.

Vanilla, chocolate and twist soft serve keep things classic, but you’ll also find sundaes, shakes, malts, floats, Kandy Kurls and Italian ice.

🍦 THE SCOOP: Sometimes you don’t need fancy. You need a twist cone from a Clearwater institution that’s been doing this for more than 70 years.

📍 460 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach Map →

If choosing a flavor is half the fun, this one’s for you.

Ice&Cream specializes in small-batch, hard-scooped ice cream with dozens of flavors, ranging from familiar favorites to more adventurous choices.

There are enough options that deciding what you want may take longer than actually eating it.

🍦 THE SCOOP: Indecisive people, you’ve been warned. Sampling may be required.

📍 391 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach Map →

You might walk into Kilwins intending to get ice cream.

Then you smell the fresh waffle cones and fudge and your original plan goes completely to hell. 😂

Along with premium hand-scooped ice cream, you’ll find fudge made in-store, chocolates, caramel apples and plenty of other ways to destroy whatever dietary discipline you arrived with.

🍦 THE SCOOP: This is the “I came for ice cream and somehow left carrying fudge” stop.

📍 483 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach Map →

Why choose between a warm cookie and ice cream when you can have both?

The Mint Fox pairs premium hand-scooped ice cream with cookies baked from scratch throughout the day, including some seriously decadent warm cookie sundaes.

🍦 THE SCOOP: Come hungry. A warm cookie underneath cold ice cream is a dangerous little combination.

We gave you six very different Clearwater frozen-treat experiences.

Now you tell us who’s best.

🥚🍦 Andy’s Frozen Custard
🔥🍦 Crispy Cones
🕰️🍦 Dairy Kurl
🍨 Ice&Cream Creamery
🍫 Kilwins Ice Cream, Chocolate & Fudge
🍪 The Mint Fox Cookies & Ice Cream
✍️ Someone else? Tell us who we missed!

Vote on our Facebook Post Also, if your favorite isn’t listed, write them in.

Clearwater gets to decide who deserves the Scoop. 🌴🍦

Clearwater wasn't always called “Clearwater.” What was the community originally known as?

A) Clearwater Bay
B) Clear Water Harbor
C) Clearwater Springs
D) Clear Water Beach

Don't Google it, cheater. 😂 Answer at the bottom of today's Scoop.

Before you load up the car, take a peek at the live beach cam to see exactly how busy it is out there. Sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to go and when to enjoy our little slice of paradise another day.

Check current water temperatures and conditions Here

Watch the live Clearwater Beach Cam Here

Our pets aren't just animals - they're family. If you've seen any of the pets below please email us at [email protected] and we will connect you directly with their families. One share could bring someone's baby home.

Zena has been missing for over 165+ days from the Seville Condo area near Clearwater Costco. Her heartbroken family will not give up searching

LEARN MORE →

Leah has been missing since April 28th from the King Arthur Court in Dunedin. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

Lobo has been missing since May 11th from Gladden Park in St. Petersburg. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

River is a one-year-old male tabby (brown, white, and gray) who slipped out the front door on May 30th, and last seen near 134th Ave and Trotter Rd in Largo.

LEARN MORE →

Mama Kitty is a 15 year old black cat with with a clipped left ear that went missing on June 4th, and last seen near Druid and Belcher in Clearwater.

LEARN MORE →

🎸 Smooth D Friday September 4th - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Zach Seufert Friday September 4th - FREE - 5:00 pm Crabby’s Dockside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎤 😂 Clearwater Comedy Club - Jake Polin - Friday & Saturday 8:30 pm 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater INFO & TICKETS→

🎤 😂 Clearwater Comedy Club - The Dark & Dirty Comedy Show - Friday & Saturday 10:30 pm 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater INFO & TICKETS→

🎸 Soul Therapy Saturday September 5th - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Shawn Gregory Saturday August 22nd - FREE - 5:00 pm Crabby’s Dockside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Women of Rock Ultimate 80’s Rock Arena Band - FREE - Today September 4th at 6:00 pm OCC Roadhouse Clearwater, FL INFO→

READ MORE →

🚶Indoor Walking at the Countryside Mall: Beat the heat and rain with some indoor walking, grab a bite to eat, browse the shops, or catch a movie…all while letting the mall’s A/C do the heavy lifting. MAP →

If you must be out in nature, please don’t forget to bring water

🌳🥾 Beat the Heat: Peaceful Nature Parks Looking to escape the crowds and cool off in the shade this weekend? Tampa Bay is loaded with hidden natural gems, all free to explore:

🦅 Moccasin Lake Nature Park (Clearwater) — A peaceful 51-acre preserve with shaded oak trails, boardwalks over the lake, and a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary where you can see rescued eagles, hawks, and falcons.

⛵ Clearwater Community Sailing Center A nonprofit sailing center at 1001 Gulf Blvd offering boat rentals, sailing lessons for all ages, and Summer Camp. Open Tuesday through Sunday 9am to 5pm. LEARN MORE →

🏓 Pickleball Court Locations: Here is the easiest way to find Pickleball courts near you with an interactive map. LEARN MORE →

🏖️ Near the Beach

🏙️ Inland

⚠️ Trivia nights and schedules can change. We recommend confirming directly with the venue before heading out. Know of a change or a new spot? Tell Scout →

Early settlers called the area Clear Water Harbor, a name inspired by the freshwater springs that once flowed from the bluffs along the bay. “Clearwater” officially became one word in 1895, and “Harbor” was dropped from the name in 1906.

Thanks for reading My Clearwater Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone that you think would enjoy it.

Until next time,

Stan, Scoop and Scout