Everyone loves a good ol' countdown, whether it's a countdown of the days until summer when ice cream can be our go-to treat, or if it's a countdown to the #1 ice cream shop in Virginia. I compiled a list of the top ice cream shops throughout Virginia, and yes, they are mainly shops in college cities, and yes a Williamsburg favorite is number 1.

1. Williamsburg: Kilwins Chocolate and Icecream

Look, they have chocolate in their name, which I think we can safely assume tastes exceptional. They honestly have some of the best flavors, my favorite being the S'mores, and if I was a fan of rich chocolate flavored ice cream I'm sure that would be a winner. Students of the College of William & Mary come here often when they feel like having a sweet treat.

2. Clifton: Peterson's Ice Cream Depot

Location, location, location. This shop is all about that perfect location. I visited this ice cream shop late at night, and it gave off such a cute, close knit, small town vibe. I love those kind of ice cream shops, which explains the reason I left #1 for Williamsburg.

3. Richmond: Bev's! Homemade Ice Cream

Homemade anything is bound to be make anyone's heart happy. Everyone loves Gramma's HOMEMADE cookies, or fresh HOMEMADE pasta, or HOMEMADE anything really. It might not be the healthiest option, but it is better than alternatives dessert options with harsh chemicals, artificial flavoring, and unnatural preservatives. YUCK!

4. Charlottestsville: Chaps

When I was looking for the perfect photo for this ice cream shop, I made the mistake of typing "chaps" into Google without thinking of the images that would result. Anyways, this shop is known for, like many others on this list, its homemade gourmet ice cream. If you ever come in here for some ice cream, then I recommend you try their homemade donuts too!

5. Clarendon: Nice Cream Factory

After living in Northern Virginia for about 6 years, I might be taking this ice cream shop for granted as I rank it as #5 when it probably deserves a higher rating, but hey at least it made it on the A-list (Alicia's list.) This shop freezes their ice cream using liquid nitrogen, and new flavors introduced often which will keep you coming back for more. They actually do their magic in front of costumers, and to be honest it's like totally snap chat story worthy.

I have an itch for summer time to start, and I haven't been able to get these delicious ice cream spots off my mind. The good thing about these spots is that they are in major cities in Virginia that can be visited as a quick weekend getaway. Who doesn't like ice cream in the summer time? Nothing could be more perfect... except frozen yogurt... or maybe sorbet...