Even in the dead of winter, I found myself craving ice cream at the UNL Dairy Store in Lincoln, Neb., when I visited there over the holidays. The store has been around since 1917, when it was called Varsity Dairy, and today it provides experience, equipment and facilities for the University of Nebraska’s Food Science program.

Plus, the ice cream is so darn delicious. Creamy, too. I am partial to the Scarlet and Cream flavor, and not because those are the Cornhusker colors. (To be honest, I couldn’t care less about football, but the state still allows me to visit occasionally.) The mint flavor is bright green and named in honor of 4-H, the ubiquitous agricultural organization found in small schools across Nebraska. College students work the counter at the Dairy Store, and it’s tradition for UNL alumni to bring in their own little Cornhuskers for a scoop.

The first time I visited, I couldn’t resist buying a slab of their cheddar cheese, perfect for soups and sandwiches; they also sell meats like salami and summer sausage, as well as local honey. With a dripping cone in hand, I wandered the halls of the visitor center, perusing old photos of dairy companies in the smaller cities across Nebraska, with several towns and milk brands recognizable from my childhood.

If you’re visiting the East Campus of UNL, several other places are worth a look: Maxwell Arboretum, the International Quilt Study Center (with 2000 quilts in its collection) and the Lester F. Larsen Tractor Test & Power Museum. My favorite pizza can be found at Valentino’s, famous throughout Nebraska for its hearty buffet. Students drool at the mere mention of this place, and so do I. If you go, save room for ice cream at the UNL Dairy Store, because it’s just across the street.