Captain Sundae

My new favorite ice cream spot in Holland! I got the Tommy Turtle, which they claim is their famous sundae, and let me tell you...IT WAS SO GOOD! The vanilla custard with hot fudge, hot caramel, buttered pecans, whipped cream, and cherry was seriously a killer combo!!! The employees were nice, and also so fast. Definitely stop here if you're in the area!

Also had a sip of the slushie and a bite of the cookie dough sundae. Both delicious as well, but tommy turtle is my fav!

When you have a craving for ice cream in west Michigan, head on over to this iconic Holland business. Captain Sundae opened in 1980 and quickly became a popular stop as people headed to the State Park at Ottawa Beach. On September 13, 2004, NBC's Today show and George W. Bush who was campaigning stopped by to sample the signature Sundae, the Tommy Turtle. You can read all about the historic visit on the side of the building. In 2005, Captain Sundae opened a second location in Zeeland, followed in 2006 by their Holland South location. In 2012 Mitt Romney visited Captain Sundae and ordered a Peanut Butter Shipwreck during a campaign tour stop and In 2016 Pirates Landing Mini Golf opened for even more family fun.

During my visit I enjoyed the famous Tommy Turtle which they claim people have traveled from around the world to enjoy. I only traveled from Florida. I love the chocolate and caramel combination over pecans that makes up a turtle candy so add ice cream and turn it into sundae and it is that much better. At Captain Sundae they start with the best soft serve vanilla ice cream mix to which they add hot caramel and dark chocolate kept heated to 130 degrees in their pots. The sundae is then topped with buttered pecans, whipped cream, and a cherry. My sundae was creamy, sweet, and salty summertime perfection but if that doesn't appeal they have a number of other cones, sundaes, shakes, and slushes. No visit to Holland would be complete without a visit to the famous Captain Sundae.

Do you like peanut butter Batman? These sundaes just need a little more ice cream with all the candy, fudge and toppings. Great little stop for ice cream. And they have a low sugar option.

Some times you know a place is good when there's a line of 30-40 people waiting for ice cream. We stopped in the area on the way home from northern Michigan, drove by here after dinner, and knew we had to stop.

This is a perfect place to finish off a sunny, hot beach day - lots of ice cream options. You have your typical sundaes, which is what they're known for it seems, "blizzards," normal cones, and even vegan, dairy-free ice cream for vegans/lactose customers.

Don't be fooled by the line - it moves very quickly. The staff get your order and are done with the ice cream in seconds. Yes, seconds. Lol. We got two sundaes and a small ice cream cup for our pup. $10 even, which isn't bad at all.

I got their famous Tommy Turtle. It's very much so a turtle in all ways - vanilla ice cream topped with caramel and chocolate sauces, candied pecans, whipped cream, and a cherry. It was very tasty. The portions are massive in my opinion, too. So if you aren't the hungriest, opt for one to start and go from there.

Great place to stop for a sweet treat after a stop at nearby Holland State Park!

They do soft serve ice cream sundaes quick and varied! Location is everything, and this one is right on the route to Holland State Park (there's another one on the south side). Whether you're coming from or going to the beach your car won't resist the siren song that is Holland's favorite go-to for soft serve wonderment.

They're famous for their "Tommy turtle" sundae: vanilla ice cream loaded with caramel, hot fudge, chopped salted pecans, whipped cream, and a cherry. The Tommy is my fave, but like other reviewers have noted, I ask to make mine with CHOCOLATE ice cream instead of vanilla. It's premium soft serve and super creamy. And the buttery pecans are salty and perfectly roasted (they remind me of the premium pecans from Peterson's, back when sixteen year-old me worked at an ice cream joint). They keep their crunch, too, as you plunge your spoon through the layers. It's a sublime blend of sweet, creamy, salty, buttery, and mmm.

It's easy to get paralyzed by sundae choice here. Captain Sundae ain't named that way for nothing. If it's a possible permutation for the ingredients they have on hand you'll likely see a sign for it. Prices are ridiculously reasonable for the quantities you receive. In the thick of summer lines will get long, but the crew really know how to staff the shop and when to open additional order windows.

PRO TIP: Most folks will queue up in the front. On busy days check whether the *side* windows are running. Lines are often shorter here.

Two things signal spring in Holland, tulips and opening day at Captain Sundae. I'll be here as often as I can this season. Like I do every summer.

Favorite place to get ice cream. Though I do wish that they had an online menu of all the sundaes and specifically what is in them!

A family favorite when in Holland!! Always busy with lots of outdoor seating, and the lines move fairly quickly (impressively so for all the high school students running the place!). Sundaes and the twist cones are our favorites.

If your looking for one of the best sundaes you ever had, this is the place to go!

I was absolutely astonished by the vast selection of sundaes, they literally have anything and everything to satisfy anyone's sweet tooth, which is indicative of an establishment that celebrates their well honed craft on a daily basis.

Now I have had the pleasure of tasting some of the best homemade ice cream out there and this ice cream currently sit on top of that list. Just take a minute to stand back, find your flavor and let them put together something you wont forget.
Cheers!

We present to you...

The one

And only

CAPTAIN SUNDAE!

This famous ice cream shop is definitely a lakeshore favorite! And you can't visit @captainsundae with our trying one of their sundaes of course!

Honorable mentions to:
"The Lighthouse" (seen in the reel) -- Vanilla ice cream with strawberries, pineapple, peanuts, and hot fudge
"The Beach Bum" -- Twist ice cream with cookie dough pieces, brownie pieces, hot fudge, and hot caramel

Captain Sundae has three locations in Zeeland and Holland and pictured is the Zeeland location!

This is THE PRIME spot to stop for an evening treat if you find yourself in the Zeeland area!

Part of the experience is sitting in the wooden shop as you enjoy your ice cream!

NOW if you've read this far, you get the treat of knowing one of Captain Sundae's best kept secrets...
While they may be an ice cream shop, their chicken salad croissant is HEAVENLY

Happy boys with their chocolate shakes. Even a simply order like a chocolate shake is amazing. It is a short 2 mile walk from the house so it's a good reward at the end. My go to order is the famous Tommy turtle sundae, but last time I noticed they now have edible cookie dough! I will definitely be trying that next. Can't go wrong with anything from here, all delicious.