A relative new kid on the block, Bar Harbor’s buzzy ice cream stand goes all in on experimental flavors and counterintuitive pairings—think nectarine Prosecco, blueberry basil, and chocolate bergamot (a bergamot being a green Italian orange). Some may say the secret is fresh ingredients and organic cream, but really it’s MDIIC’s “why not?” attitude.

“I went with coconut,” Obama said as he walked out of the shop. Licking his cone, he said: “This stuff is terrific. Excellent. I strongly recommend it.” 

At this artisanal ice cream shop founded in 2006, the tagline sums up the approach: “fearless flavor.” Nowhere else will you find Blueberry Basil, Maine Sea Salt Caramel and Bay of Figs ice cream, all on one menu. This is summer.

It takes one bite of the insanely rich Maine sea salt caramel ice cream to win you over forever, but don’t overlook sorbet flavors like grapefruit tarragon and cantaloupe on sweltering summer afternoons.

Oh my! Crazy rich, crazy good, crazy flavors. Try “Bay of Figs,” “Cinnamon 7 Layer,” lavender–white chocolate, blackstrap–banana, and other small batches of deliciousness.

After dinner, grab a cone on Exchange Street at Mount Desert Island Ice Cream.

Mount Desert Island Ice Cream, which has a store in Portland, uses fruit from The Apple Farm in Fairfield and honey from Aroostook Valley Honey Farm in its Honey Baked Apple ice cream. It's hard to keep this best-seller in stock, so consider yourself lucky to get a lick. 

Granite cliffs meet the Atlantic Ocean and Colonial Revival cottages line the quiet streets in this city. Walk along the Shore Path, which hugs the chocolate-box coastline and runs from the Town Pier toward Mountain Desert Island. Then sample something sweet at Mount Desert Island Ice Cream (7 Firefly Ln, Bar Harbor, ME; 207-801-4007, mdiic.com)—just look for a bench painted a Victorian-y shade of purple.

Come mid-October, Maine's national park will become a dazzling mix of evergreen, gold, and red. Explore the forests on the historic carriage roads, or enjoy sweeping views of Mount Desert Island from Cadillac Mountain. Continue the seasonal celebration with a scoop of Maple Walnut or Pumpkin Caramel ice cream from Mount Desert Island Ice Cream.

We’re pretty sure that President Obama would have gone for the beet ginger sorbet, or the apple parsley perhaps, if he hadn’t gone for the coconut ice cream at this popular Maine ice cream eatery. Eat Drink Lucky editors love nothing more than to get a scoop and walk down to the water to sit in the summer sun. We’re waiting for Mr. President to join us later this summer.