At the risk of being understated, it has been a bit of an unusual summer in the Northwoods. Temperatures have been on the hot and sticky side with a lot of rainfall. Great for the gardens — not so much for the gardeners.

So what will turn an uncomfortable day, or just an ordinary day into a treat? Well, ice cream, of course! Fortunately, ice cream shops adapt well with the Covid-19 guidelines, so the favorite ice cream shops and parlors are open to serve their cold, creamy delights.

You may not see ice cream as the main business for some of these ice cream portals, but they are very much a part of their summer offerings.

Here are the ice cream businesses in Eagle River and information for each shop. We also included the other selections, such as candy and specialty items they offer.

Pirates Hideaway: 1998 US Highway 45 N. It may not be the first place you think of when it comes to ice cream treats, but think again! This ever-so-popular destination on Duck Lake prides itself as a top ice cream shop featuring 16 flavors of Cedar Crest ice cream.

The Strauss family has done a lot of remodeling over the downtime to update and showcase the Tiki Bar and Ice Cream shop. It really is a delight for the eyes. Don’t forget to make a stop at the tempting gift shop.

To accommodate the Covid-19 safety standards, many outdoor tables have been added to the Tiki Bar and they closely monitor the weather to make sure on music nights rain won’t cause overcrowding in the bar.

Of course, passage on the pirate ship, the William Charles, is the heart and soul of this special business and the tour is pure delight. The young mateys are treated royally and leave with a special remembrance.

Be sure to watch their Facebook page for continuous updates on the featured bands and events. Here is the link to their comprehensive website.

Pirates Hideaway opens Tuesday through Sunday at 11:00 a.m. It closes Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, they close at 10:00 p.m. after the live music. Call 715-479-6756 to make boat reservations.

Peanuts Ice Cream and Cookie Dough: 617 Main St. This is the newest addition to the ice cream shop scene and they have added a new twist. In addition to having 32  scrumptious flavors of Chocolate Shoppe brand ice cream, they also feature edible cookie dough!

To amp up dessert time, they combine these two treats into frozen pies, a very popular selection with their customers. Their reviews on Facebook and Yelp are very favorable so it appears that it would be a great idea to add to your summer activities.

Visit their Facebook page to learn about their specials and flavor selections. They are open seven days a week; Sunday – Thursdays 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 12:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Country Store of Eagle River: 116 E. Wall St.  Chances are if you have been in this area for a while, you more than likely have been to the Country Store. In addition to chilly treats, their selection of award-winning candy is amazing. For us oldsters, they even have candy that we had back when we were kids. Remember Neccos?

Hand-made treats such as Caramel Apples, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and so much more are the height of delicious decadence. Shop their delightful gift items.

The shop is practicing Covid-19 safety recommendations and is only allowing 10 people in the store at a time. They are not requiring masks but do urge you to wear them for safety’s sake.

To keep apprised of what is happening at the Country Store, please visit their Facebook page for updates.  Peruse this site for information about the attractive specials they run.

They offer a website that will make you drool.

You may also call them at 715-479-9226. The store is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Dairy Queen: 100 W. Pine St. Of course we must include Dairy Queen! This location has been updating its hours and lobby opening.

In addition to the frozen treats found at all locations, this offers grilled food items and creates fanciful ice cream cakes.

The Facebook page will keep customers update the hours of operation as we move through Covid-19. Currently, they are maintaining the hours of 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Their phone number is 715-479-8511.

Next week we will feature St. Germain, Sayner, and Phelps shops. Have a  coooool week!