That scorching, shining orb in the sky gets us Pacific Northwesterners all twitterpated! Well, for now anyways. Goodness knows, once the temps rise above 80 degrees we will begin to melt and our exuberance will wane. But for now, we can celebrate that our "summer days" have finally arrived. And what better way to celebrate these months of blissfully rising temperatures? With ice cream of course! Even lactose intolerant folks are in on this universal adoration. Bright, shiny orb in the sky equates to creamy, cool orb in a cone. Here's some must-visits near you to get your ice cream fix.  

Ice Cream Social is hands-down one of my favorite destinations. Their handcrafted cream highlights milk from happy cows and often curates their current flavor selection with local ingredients from the likes of fellow Tacoma establishments including: Mad Hat Tea, Valhalla Coffee, Spooner Farms and Zestful Gardens. Everyday flavors include classics like Strawberry, Chocolate and Mint Chocolate Chip while rotating flavors will often highlight seasonal flare in Fresh Fig & Honey, Star Anise and Salted Caramel with Candied Bacon. Bonus, there are always vegan-friendly options Coconut Chocolate Chip and Strawberry Sorbet, plus others that will make an appearance. Be prepared to stand in line on a toasty afternoon, the masses will be there, too.  2914 6th Ave. and 5109 Grand Loop, Tacoma 

Food truck fans might have spied the Bliss Small Batch Creamery truck around town, and if you haven't stopped to snag a sweet treat, you ought to. This small batch creamery has both a charming, vintage trailer and a cute treat-toting tricycle. Bliss prides themselves on scoops made with natural ingredients, no artificial dyes, flavors or preservatives and will often have options that are dairy, egg, nut and gluten-free. Delightful flavor matrimonies include Lemon Ginger Poppyseed, Sunbutter Cookie Crunch and Sweet Blackberry. Bonus, they've announced a scoop shop to be coming soon to Village at Chambers Bay! icecreambliss.com 

I know, Baskin Robbins is a chain but it is tried and true since 1953. I can count on them to always have Pistachio in the house, which is a personal favorite. Plus, they have 31 flavors that include Pralines n Cream, Jamoca Almond Fudge, Mango Tango and Mississippi Mud. Also, if you bring the kiddies, they have premade kids cones sitting in their freezer that have been adorned to resemble creepy clowns. I mean, I don't think they're meant to be creepy -- they're playful and fun and tiny humans love them. baskinrobbins.com

In Olympia, Sofie's Scoops Gelato is where it's at! Nestled in the bustling hub of the 222 Marketplace, Sofie's uses dairy from grass-fed cows raised locally at Tunawerth Dairy, delivered bi-weekly. Like some others, they also boast organic ingredients and locally sourced goods from partnerships with Encore Tea & Chocolates, Rawk Star Creations, Olympia Food Co-op and more. They churn and mix these ingredients together with a gelato machine from Italy and produce fresh, delectable indulgence daily. Pop by or call to find out if they're scooping up your faves. 222 Capitol Way N., Olympia, sofiesscoops.com

Grandpa's Soda Fountain and Ice Cream Parlor kicks it old-school style! With their jar-lined shelves and retro vibe, they'll have you wanting to hit the sock-hop afterwards. Hand-dipped cones, sundaes, shakes and malts and classic banana splits round out the menu for your ice-cream-loving needs. Plus, rotating flavors will keep it fresh and include surprises like toasty coconut and snickers. Other nibbles include rows of chocolates and colorful gumballs galore. 208 4th Ave. W., Olympia