July in Illinois means one thing above all else: it is officially too hot to argue about where to eat, and ice cream wins every time. Not later. Not maybe after dinner. Right now.
This kind of trip is all about chasing that first cold bite, the one that makes everyone in the car suddenly quiet for a second. Some stops feel nostalgic.
Others feel like a fun surprise you will want to brag about later. That is the beauty of an Illinois ice cream run…