The 2021 Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Champion Trailblazer goes to…

THE DELKHOON FAMILY

After the COVID-pandemic canceled their family vacation to Disney, Bob and Sara Delkhoon looked for another adventure closer to home. That’s when they heard about the Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail and thought it would be a great way for them and their three daughters to see new parts of the state.

“We are so thankful that we chose to become ice cream trailblazers this summer. We explored our state, met some lovely Marylanders along the way, and made lots of memories as a family.” – Sara Delkhoon

The Delkhoon family visited all of the 10 on-farm creameries on the Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail between June 5 and Aug. 30, 2021. Collectively, the family traveled roughly 1,050 miles around the state in their quest to be named the 2021 Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Champion Trailblazer.

As this year’s Champion Trailblazers the Delkhoon’s will receive a $50 gift certificate to the creamery of their choice, a copy of the children’s book “Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish,” the 2021 Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Champion Trailblazer trophy, and, most importantly, ULTIMATE BRAGGING RIGHTS!

Congratulations to the Delkhoon’s and thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail! It was one of our best seasons yet. 

Check out the Delkhoon’s trail log below! They shared details on each stop and included recommendations on their favorite flavors. 

Stop 1: Broom’s Bloom Dairy – Harford County, Maryland | June 5, 2021

Kicking it Off Right. The Delkhoon’s started their journey at Broom’s Bloom Dairy in Bel Air after soccer practice one Saturday afternoon in early June. Broom’s Bloom is already a family favorite as they had stopped there many times before for the “Cowman’s Repast,” a lunch special that includes a cup of soup, stew, chili, or mac and cheese, half a sandwich, and a small ice cream. 

Stop 2: Keyes Creamery – Harford County, Maryland | June 12, 2021

Rainbow Sprinkles Make Everything Better. The Delkhoon’s paid Keyes Creamery in Aberdeen a visit in mid-July. Bob and Sara both highly recommend their s’mores sundaes. The girls ordered cotton candy and cookie monster ice cream and even added rainbow sprinkles for some flare. Little did they know this was the start of the girls’ rainbow sprinkle obsession!

Stop 3: Kilby Cream – Cecil County, Maryland | June 20, 2021

Banana Split Streak Begins. On June 20, the Delkhoon’s visited Kilby Cream in Rising Sun. This is where Bob started his banana split kick. Sara thoroughly enjoyed the “Tractor Tracks” sundae. The girls continued their rainbow sprinkle crusade and this time paired their sprinkles with cookie monster and strawberry ice cream. They enjoyed the playground and the girls met a lot of new friends!

Stop 4: Prigel Family Creamery – Baltimore County, Maryland | July 3, 2021

The Local Favorite. The day before the Fourth of July, the family visited their local ice cream joint, Prigel Family Creamery in Glen Arm. The parents tried the banana split while the girls remained steadfast in their rainbow sprinkle taste testing. At this stop, the girls had the chance to help one of the farmers herd their cows towards the barn. They were clapping and cheering “let’s go girls, let’s go.” This has since become a family motto. Sara and Bob Delkhoon said, “we definitely need some practice herding our girls though.”

Stop 5: Misty Meadow Farm Creamery – Washington County, Maryland | July 4, 2021

Red, White, and MoOoo! On an impromptu trip, the family celebrated part of Independence Day at Misty Meadow Farm Creamery in Smithsburg. The trip out west did not disappoint. The family was pleasantly surprised by the entire experience! They loved petting the farm animals, riding the trikes, playing on the tires, and posing with flowers. Also, they said that their BBQ was amazing! Back to ice cream, the parents continued with the banana split tradition and the girls paired rainbow sprinkles with the blue moon ice cream. They also tried one of the Fourth of July sundaes. While out in Western Maryland, the family also did a short hike to Cunningham Falls. They described the excursion as a “nice little day trip” and said, “looking back, this was our favorite overall creamery experience!” 

Stop 6: South Mountain Creamery – Frederick County, Maryland | July 18, 2021

A True Dairy Farm Experience. In mid-July, the group headed out to South Mountain Creamery in Middletown. This was where they got to experience first-hand what working on a dairy farm is really like. Both of the girls had the opportunity to feed a baby calf! After working hard, the family enjoyed banana splits, birthday cake with rainbow sprinkles, and the creamery’s signature “Take Me Home Country Roads” sundae. After ice cream, the family enjoyed the playground and met another family who was blazing the ice cream trail as well. On the way out, they bought some fresh milk. The family described the chocolate milk as “to-die-for-delicious!” They now use the unique glass milk bottles to display wildflowers on their dining room table.  

Stop 7: Woodbourne Creamery at Rock Hill Orchard – Montgomery County, Maryland | July 31, 2021

Peachy Keen Day on the Trail. On the very last day of July, the family joined friends at Woodbourne Creamery in Mt. Airy. Here, the crew picked more than two dozen peaches at Rock Hill Orchard. The group recommends the peach, black raspberry, and Andes mint ice cream flavors. After ice cream, the girls ran off their sugar rushes on the playground.

Stop 8: Rocky Point Creamery – Frederick County, Maryland | Aug. 7, 2021

Hiking the Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail > Hiking the Appalachian Trail. In early August, the family did a very challenging four-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail — “picture a baby strapped to your chest and two toddlers wearing crocs, a tiara, and mermaid dresses hiking Weverton Cliffs.” Must have been quite the sight! After a long hike, they rewarded themselves with some treats from Rocky Point Creamery in Tuscarora. Flavors included: banana split, s’mores ice cream, unicorn ice cream, and mint chip ice cream with…you guessed it…rainbow sprinkles. Pro-tip: The family recommends the playground that has a huge John Deere tractor that has been transformed with slides and ladders for kids.

Stop 9: Nice Farms Creamery – Caroline County, Maryland | Aug. 28, 2021

Almost to the finish line! While on the Eastern Shore, the Delkhoon’s made a pit stop at Nice Farms Creamery in Federalsburg. Upon arrival, the family was greeted by the welcoming committee, the farm’s cats named Mittens and Snickers. The Delkhoon’s loved chatting to the third-generation dairy farmer who was working that day. Though Nice Farms Creamery did not offer rainbow sprinkles, the family still loved their classic ice cream flavors — vanilla and chocolate. Before departing, they made sure to buy some fresh milk. The milk was so fresh in fact, that it had been milked from the cows earlier that morning.

Stop 10: Chesapeake Bay Farms – Berlin, Maryland | Aug. 30, 2021

Last, but not least! The family ended their ice cream trailblazing journey at Chesapeake Bay Farms in Berlin. No rainbow sprinkles here either, but they really enjoyed their ice cream flavors lemon cookie and raspberry & cream. Grandmom and Pop joined them as they celebrated the end of their legendary ice cream trail season.