By: Andrew Silverstein

It's summer, which means obnoxious heat beaming down on all corners of the Tampa Bay area.  It's the price we pay for living somewhere that never has to deal with snow...ever.  We cope with it in different ways; staying inside, using sunscreen, hiding in the shade, and naturally, eating ice cream.  This frozen treat can be a godsend in the sweltering heat, and luckily there's no shortage of places that serve it in Tampa.  Here's five great ice cream shops in Tampa.

Bo's Ice Cream - Bo's is an ice cream institution in Tampa.  Open since 1954, this tiny shop with all outdoor seating has been serving the likes of Tampa residents and visitors alike with speed and courtesy.  Enjoy a variety of ice cream and other frozen treats including soft serve, milkshakes, sundaes, and more.  They've even got a drive through.

Gelateria Del Duomo - Gelato isn't technically ice cream, but it's pretty close and definitely just as delicious.  It even has less fat than ice cream working as a healthy alternative to the other frozen treat.  Enjoy a HUGE variety of flavors including almond crunch, strawberry cheesecake, honey milk, and much, much more.

The Junction - The junction is a modern ice cream shop in Tampa.  They serve Old Meeting House ice cream, a Tampa ice cream manufacturer who's been churning out super-premium, all-natural ice cream to the bay area for over 50 years.  Ice cream flavors at the Junction range from cookies and cream to peanut butter swirl, caramel cashew brittle, and seemingly everything between.

Yogurtology - Frozen yogurt's on the list because it's another healthy alternative to ice cream.  At Yogurtology they do it right and let you, the customer, create your own treat in this self-serve environment.  Fill up your cup with a wide selection of yogurt flavors, then top it off with their huge selection of toppings ranging from fruit to cookies.

City Street Sweets - The name says it all, City Street Sweets specializes in everything sweet; chocolates, truffles, fudge, and, of course, ice cream.  Grab a hand dipped scoop or try one of their chocolate freezatinis, an icy, chocolate desert drink.

These are just our favorite ice cream shops in Tampa.  Explore our city and find yours today!