Ice, Ice Baby: The Best Cool Treats For A Hot NYC Day

Need a hot place to cool off with your kids this summer? Look no further?here are the city's sweetest spots for the iciest treats. Coolest Drink: Neelys Barbeque Parlor [neelysbbqparlor.com ](http://www.neelysbbqparlor.com/)Opened by Food Network stars Pat and Gina Neely, Neely's has the coolest, wackiest kids drinks on the menu. Our fave is the Fish Bowl?ginger ale with floating Swedish Fish candy. An NYC Tradition: Serendipity 3 [serendipity3.com ](http://www.serendipity3.com/)The Frrrozen Hot Chocolate here is trademarked-it's that good. And no summer in New York is complete without a visit to Serendipity 3-just try to go on the weekdays as they don't take reservations and the wait can get ridiculous. Shake It Up: Shake Shack [shakeshack.com ](http://www.shakeshack.com/)Love it or hate, Shake Shack is one of its kind in NYC-and you know there's nowhere else to go for a shake when the frozen deliciousness is in the establishment's name. You can get fancy and do a mix-in with your favorite candy, but the traditional black and white is a standout. Classic Ice Cream Sundae: Big Daddy's [bigdaddysnyc.com ](http://www.bigdaddysnyc.com/)Both Big Daddy's locations, in the UES and Union Square, pack a mighty punch when it comes to dessert for the minis. You'll have to ask them to make the treats smaller-the typical sundae is enough for two or three?and a least as many smiles! Gelato With A View: Ciao Bella World Financial Center [ciaobellagelato.com ](http://ciaobellagelato.com/)Even though you can find pints of Ciao Bella's homemade gelato in grocery stores, its so much better hand-dipped and is worth trekking downtown for-especially given the many kid-friendly parks in the neighborhood. The portions are small but pack in tons of flavor. Ice Cream On A Stick (Not From A Truck): Pop Bar [pop-bar.com ](http://www.pop-bar.com/)Pop Bar, where you can outfit gelato, sorbet, or yogurt popsicles in a host of chocolate dippings and crunchy toppings, is the coolest thing to happen to ice cream in theWestVillage. The treats and dressings only use all-natural ingredients and the freshest fruits, so they're guilt-free, too. The Chocolate Popgelato dipped in white chocolate is insane Water 2.0: Rita's Water Ice [ritasice.com ](http://www.ritasice.com/)Maybe it's because I'm a Jersey girl at heart, but on a hot, hot day, there is nothing better than cold sweet water ice (known to some as Italian ice) to cool you down. And Rita's does it right-though the treats are fat-free, standout flavors like cherry and lemon won't leave you feeling cheated. To read the full list at New York Family Magazine [click here. ](http://www.newyorkfamily.com/nyc-ice-cream-sundae-gelato-shakes/)