Pugnuts – an off-island ice cream adventure

In the little town of Surry lives one of the area’s best-kept ice cream secrets, Pugnuts Ice Cream & Gelato Shop. From the outside, it looks like any other quaint shop but as soon as you enter you’re enveloped with a vibrant atmosphere decorated wall to wall with Pug memorabilia. Pooches are always welcome and even have their own menu items and if you’re as crazy about pugs as the owners you can even participate in the annual Pug Parade and Jamboree. Putting aside the unique theme Pugnuts is not just a gimmick, they deliver on more than 50 flavors of house-made ice cream and gelato. While young ones might appreciate flavors such as Cotton Candy, you can also treat yourself to a Maine classic like Grapenuts or get creative with Birch Bark, Lavender Honey, Panna Cotta, or one of their best sellers Pug Passion (almond, cherry, pistachio, and chocolate). While there is plenty of seating inside and out my family usually follows the Wharf Road down a few hundred feet to the Surry Town Wharf where there are dozens of granite slabs that act as benches overlooking Patten Bay. Here you can smell the sea, bird watch, and enjoy your treat in a tranquil setting. If ice cream alone is not enough to convince you to make the trip you can also add in one of the many great hikes in the area maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Hope you enjoy!