Museum of Ice Cream welcomes guests with sweet treats and experiences

Windy City residents have a new opportunity to indulge their sweet tooth – and enjoy a whimsical throwback to their childhood – with the long-awaited opening of the Museum of Ice Cream's latest location in Chicago on July 16.

The brightly-colored museum, located just around the corner from the Tribune Tower Residences on Michigan Avenue, invites visitors to explore more than a dozen interactive installations, including a minigolf course featuring giant donuts and an ice cream sundae; an arcade with dessert-themed spins on classic carnival games and a pool filled to the brim with giant sprinkles.

From the moment they enter the venue, guests are encouraged to immerse themselves in the sweet world that surrounds them, first by choosing a unique "ice cream name" and then taking a virtual train ride through a land of sugar-filled wonder – a desert with ice cream-topped cacti and a lollipop landscape are just a few of the highlights they might see through the windows.

To complete the experience, guests can sample a variety of treats at the museum's dessert stations, from Chicago-style ice cream hot dogs to candy-dipped frozen treats. There are also cocktails, milkshakes and sundaes available–and of course, a revolving selection of ice cream flavors, complete with vegan-friendly options for guests with dietary restrictions. Currently in the flavor lineup are classics such as chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, as well as colorful options like Blue Moon and confetti. 

Guests who stopped by the museum over opening weekend received special gift bags to celebrate the occasion, and the museum has several upcoming seasonal events in the works such as the Halloween-themed "Museum of I Scream" and holiday-themed Pinkmas.

Tickets start at $36 on weekdays and $44 on weekends and are available for purchase online. To learn more, visit museumoficecream.com or follow @museumoficecream.