Patch AM Rewind: Popular Long Island Ice Cream Tours Returns

LONG ISLAND, NY — Who doesn't enjoy ice cream on a hot, summer day? Two men have taken that passion into creating the Long Island Ice Cream Tour, now in its 12th season.

The idea of spending the day at several local frozen dessert shops was the idea of Jeff Noreman, from Old Bethpage, and friend Derek Steen of Sydney, Australia, now based in Alaska.

There are a pair of tours in back-to-back weeks, one to the eastern portion of Suffolk County on July 9. Ice cream fanatics can participate in the western tour in Nassau and Suffolk on July 16.

LIICT (pronounced licked) was born modestly among friends and family.

"It's grown into something where we've sold out, even during COVID," Noreman said.

It costs $38.80 for both tours, or $28.50 for one, which includes a customized t-shirt and year-round discounts.

"We've had most of the stores on our tours since the beginning," Steen said. "These are really well run, family-owned places that have stood the test of time."