I often hear people complain that we don’t know how to enjoy “the simple things in life” anymore. No one pauses to look at the sunrise. No one cranks up the radio when they hear an old favorite song. We don’t see each other in person because it’s easier to hop on Zoom.

Except… I do all of those things. I love to watch the sky turn pink over Deep Creek Lake. I can’t not turn up the music when singing along is an option. And I’d rather hop in the car and interact with my community IRL than stare at someone’s disembodied head for an hour.

Is that unusual? Maybe for my fellow hard-working adults. There’s always something “more important” to do, something more complicated and, frankly, boring. But for my kids? This stuff is run-of-the-mill.

Kids know how to take the simple things in life and make them a priority. The priority. This is why, during the summer, I don’t leave the grocery store without ice cream. This is non-negotiable⁠—and easy. My kids aren’t asking for filet mignon every week. A few scoops of Ben & Jerry’s will make their entire day.

And if I’m angling for Father of the Year? I take them to Lakeside Creamery.

It’s not that Ben & Jerry’s isn’t delicious; my wife loves their Phish Food. But Lakeside Creamery has been serving up frozen treats for almost 30 years. During the summer, the line to order is often long enough to wrap around the building. Locals and tourists alike know what they want—and it isn’t a factory-made dessert.

The Creamery combines cream from local dairy farms with fresh fruits, high-quality nuts, and top-notch cookies for a delectable experience you can’t find anywhere else. They aren’t just churning up homemade vanilla and calling it a day. Each one of their 90 flavors is crafted in-house.

You read that right. Ninety flavors. That means you could try a different flavor every day of the summer. I’m not suggesting that you try this experiment, but if you went in the evening, you’d also get a brand-new sunset every time. (The. Simple. Things.)

My personal favorite from Lakeside Creamery is the Muddy Creek Sundae. Inspired by a local waterfall, it has three heaping scoops of chocolate ice cream, covered in hot fudge, sprinkled with chocolate jimmies, and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.  My daughter loves cookies and cream, and my son keeps it simple, ordering their vanilla and loving every bite of it… in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone of course!

BTW, I’m not a paid spokesperson for the Creamery. I’m just a Deep Creek Lake realtor who is passionate about the simple things in life, including supporting my community. If that means taking my kids to their favorite ice cream shop (and mine), I’m here for it.