The Penny Ice Creamery in Capitola makes their ice cream entirely from scratch in-house, and you can actually watch them work if you time it right. They focus on seasonal flavors built around locally farmed and organic ingredients, so what’s available changes throughout the year. When I stopped by with my dog, I was impressed by how seriously they take their sourcing—the difference really shows in the final product.

The location itself is perfectly situated for a Santa Cruz dog trip. You’re right in Capitola village, so it’s easy to combine a visit here with a walk along the wharf or exploration of the surrounding neighborhoods. The shop has a dog-friendly policy, which means you can tie your dog to one of the outdoor seating areas while you grab a cone. I appreciated that they seemed genuinely used to having dogs around rather than just tolerating them.

The ice cream flavors rotate based on what’s available from their local suppliers, so there’s incentive to check in if you’re in the area multiple times. During my visit, they had some unexpected combinations alongside classics—nothing too weird, but clearly made by people thinking carefully about flavor combinations. The portions are generous, and they’ll let you sample before committing, which helps when you’re trying something unfamiliar.

One heads-up: it can get busy, especially on warm afternoons and weekends, so expect a line. If you’re coming with your dog in summer, arriving earlier in the day or hitting it on a weekday makes the experience more relaxed. The staff moves quickly despite the crowds, and the wait usually isn’t unreasonable. Since they make everything fresh, they occasionally run out of specific flavors toward the end of the day, so if there’s something you’re set on trying, earlier visits are your best bet.