Cool Arkansas treats can make your summer days more delightful.

GO ALL NATURAL WITH A PINK DRAGON

Paninis and Company revamped their menu around Easter to focus on two fronts: substantial and fresh sandwiches and remarkably brilliant smoothies. Barkley Boyd’s creations include a colorful array of cold sippables that are just as pretty as they are healthy. The Pink Dragon is a real eyecatcher – a not-too-sweet concoction of coconut milk, apple juice, pineapple, mango, mint and dragon fruit – that’s refreshing and bright. It’s a real conversation starter.

207 North University Ave #210 ∙ Little Rock ∙ (501) 744-5842 ∙ paninisandcompany.com

SOOTHE THE SIZZLE WITH SOFT SERVE

Burton’s Comfort Creamery does decadent divinely, with a selection of waffle cone-borne soft serve ice cream that’s created with a whopping 10 percent butterfat. But what makes each cone really neat is what goes on the outside – crushed candy bars, pretzels, cereal and whatever else comes to mind. Try a Salty Dog – vanilla ice cream rolled in crushed pretzels and covered in caramel sauce (or get chocolate ice cream!).

Shulertown Food Truck Court ∙ 372 West Dickson ∙ Fayetteville

burtonscreamery.com

Popsicles from Le Pops Gourmet Ice Lollies. Photography by Jamison Mosley

PERK UP WITH A POPSICLE

Le Pops Gourmet Ice Lollies offers handmade popsicles in a variety of flavors, from chai tea latte to blueberry lavender, with more traditional flavors such as strawberry and chocolate as well. A visit to the storefront on Kavanaugh means you can add dips like white or dark chocolate and sprinkles of coconut to your bar. For a sweet-tart, healthy spark, try the grapefruit mint bar.

Le Pops Gourmet Ice Lollies ∙ 5501 Kavanaugh ∙ Little Rock ∙ (501) 313-9558

lepops.com

CELEBRATE A DAIRY BAR DELIGHT

King Kone has been a summertime must-stop serving up soft serve since 1971. The traditional roadside stand has no dining room – you place your order at one window and wait until it’s delivered at the other – but there’s a patio and tables so you can dine. The handmade Nutty Buddy, a longtime favorite, is a huge waffle cone of vanilla ice cream topped with peanuts and chocolate shell.

King Kone ∙ 1505 Malvern Avenue ∙ Hot Springs ∙ (501) 321-9766

SLURP AN OLD-FASHIONED SODA OR SHAKE

The Purple Cow is the standard for soda fountains in central Arkansas. A longtime partner with Yarnell’s, it’s the only place where you can get the famed Purple Cow ice cream. Enjoy it in a sundae or a soda, or dive into one of their delectable Purple Cow milkshakes. With locations in Little Rock, Conway and Hot Springs, you don’t have to go far for a chilly sweet dessert.

The Purple Cow ∙ various locations ∙ purplecowlr.com