I am one hour away from their factory (at least a showroom factory) in Vermont. It is so much fun. You can buy it there, but you can also take a tour of the facilities, and from an observatorium window you get to see the whole process. You then watch a video of the history, changes and techology involved. The last indoor stop is a sample of the 2 or 3 flavors of the day. You can go into the gift shop and get all sort of souveniers. My daughter got ice cream cone earrings. Outdoors you can go and "meet" the cows. Is a fun day trip for the kids. Admission is not expensive, nor is the store.
The down side is that I prefer localy owned ice cream shops and those fancy flavors are not attractive to me at all. I do like their names. I like Chuncky Monkey and Chubby Hubby.
On the way back we stopped also at the Vermont teddy Bear Factory. Now, that IS a very expensive stop. Only school groups get a special rate and for $15.00 the kids get to see everything and stuff their own bear. They even put a little heart inside. I went with the kids on a school trip and while they were there I took a detour to a quilt shop nearby. Boy! I am going to miss this place when I move.