Author: _Tremain

Ice Cream Mountain has been a Langford/Victoria mainstay for many a decade. This quaint little shop, situated as it is on the edges of Goldstream Provincial Park along the Trans-Canada highway, has enticed generations with its plethora of ice cream treat offerings. And who, in...their right mind, can resist generous scoops of Island Farms ice cream layered atop a delectable waffle cone? I certainly can’t. Indeed, that promise of delectable frozen treats is partly what encouraged me to stop and check this ice cream icon out. I said “partly” above because, admittedly, the name is what attracted me most of all. I mean, “Ice Cream Mountain.” The name reminds me of old theme parks from the 1980s which, perhaps not coincidentally, is right around the time this ice cream shop first opened its doors. Even the signage and general setup harkens back to days gone by: ICE CREAM MOUNTAIN is written in large bold font – sure to catch your attention as you’re driving down the Trans-Canada highway. If that’s not eye-catching enough, you’ll spot a large ice cream cone sitting atop the signage with no less than seven scoops of ice cream, which is a clear visual sign of what’s to be found inside this adorable shop. Not to be outdone, the main entrance is flanked by a large soft-serve waffle-cone. Thus, it’s virtually impossible to miss this place. It calls to us all, both young and old. Sure, the over-the-top ice cream references will appeal to many, but so too will the cozy and relaxed setting. Ice Cream Mountain features limited seating on deck as well as a nice covered area on the edge of the vibrant forest. Here, patrons may feel free to enjoy their delectable ice cream treats while watching birds sing and chirp in the forest or, indeed, bathing in the beautiful fountain nearby. It’s easy to forget one’s woes while sitting in such a picturesque area. I mentioned above that Ice Cream Mountain serves a great variety of Island Farms ice cream (over 20 flavours, in fact). For many, this is the big draw exactly because Island Farms has gained a well-deserved reputation for excellence since its inception in 1944. With such a fantastic array of flavours to choose from at Ice Cream Mountain – from classics like strawberry to adventurous like Tiger Tiger – one could easily select a different flavour every other day and not have the same thing twice! It’s dangerously good. Ice Cream Mountain is not just a one-trick pony, however. If you want something other than ice cream, this shop does offer candies and hot food in the form of smokies and franks (i.e.: The Mountain Dog). But, really, why come here if you don’t want ice cream! That said, Ice Cream Mountain isn’t perfect. While it does offer great variety, it kind of falls short in terms of cone size. What I mean by that is, basically, all cones come in one size only: 2 scoops. For lovers of ice cream like me, that’s not a bad thing because what’s served here is of super high quality; however, not everybody wants a literal mountain of ice cream. Perhaps offering patrons the ability to order a single scoop would be appropriate? FOOD: 5/5 SERVICE: 4/5 VALUE: 5/5 RECOMMENDATION: Indeed, Ice Cream Mountain has been serving the residents of Langford/Victoria for the better part of three decades. On a hot spring or summer day, what better thing to do than stop on by, have some Island Farms ice cream, and create many a memory in the beautiful Goldstream Park? Such is a communal tradition and is highly recommended! PS: If you found this review helpful in any way please hit the "helpful" button!More