So we go to school in rural Massachusetts. And if you've ever driven down Route 116 behind UMass with your windows open, then you're probably familiar with the fact that there are dozens of farms, cows and, therefore, fresh milk around us. I don't know about you, but when I think of fresh milk, I think not only of great cheese, but also of fabulous ice cream. Few things beat fresh ice cream made with fresh farm milk. Seriously. So naturally, the Pioneer Valley has enough quality ice cream to satisfy any ice cream glutton's palate, even mine.

For the absolute best and if you would like to have tons of delicious choices right in front of you, you must go to either Herrell's in Northampton or Flayvors of Cook Farm in Hadley. Herrell's is consistently ranked the best ice cream in the Pioneer Valley and also among the top ice cream parlors in the United States, according to USA Today and Newsweek. When asking a Pioneer Valley native where he or she goes for the best ice cream, as I did of senior Mike Wohl, the answer is Herrell's. Herrell's is located in downtown Noho on Old South Street, just a block off the main drag. Herrell's began the smoosh-in trend that sparked the success of mix-in ice cream stores nationwide, such as the ill-fated Cold Stone Creamery that used to grace the main intersection of Noho. Herrell's is also famous for its hot fudge-and for good reason. Few things are more heavenly than ordering their Cookies 'n' Cream ice cream and getting it drizzled with hot fudge. Do it.

Their most popular flavor, however, is their Mudpie ice cream. Often imitated by other ice cream stores that can't measure up, Mudpie ice cream is coffee ice cream with Hydrox cookie chunks (à la Cookies 'n' Cream) and a fudge swirl. Herrell's offers dozens of other fabulous flavors including the well-known Chocolate Pudding, Ooey Gooey and Cookie Dough Peanut Butter Swirl. Wohl recommends trying their Cookie Dough ice cream with Butterfinger candy mixed in. Herrell's also makes frozen yogurt, sorbets, dairy-free ice cream for you lactose-intolerant mutants (or "lactards" as some say), milkshakes, floats and yummy sundaes. Go to Herrell's, figure out your favorite kind, then add either hot fudge or candy … or both! A small is one large scoop for $2.60.

If the 15-minute drive to Noho is too long, Flayvors makes, in my opinion, the second best ice cream around and it's just a five-minute drive away. To get to Flayvors, go down Route 9, make a left on South Maple Street (just after Trader Joe's) and drive two miles down. Flayvors is in an adorable barn-like building adjacent to the shed where the owners keep the cows that supply the milk. So while enjoying your generous cone of delicious butterfat, you can stroll alongside the cows that supplied the goodies. Or you can sit inside in the beautifully decorated wood-paneled dining room. Flayvors was my favorite stop on my tour of ice cream, mostly because it was a new, and very pleasant, experience for me.

Flayvor's Oreo ice cream ties for the best (if not the outright best) Oreo ice cream I've ever had. And I've had a lot of Oreo ice cream nationwide. After my sampling extravaganza, I had such a hard time deciding which of the 20 flavors I had fallen in love with would make it into my "Heifer" cup. The staffer recommended the Inez ice cream consisting of coconut ice cream, chocolate chips and almonds. Delicious.

Her other favorite was the spectacular Lemon Cream. "Oh my God, you have to try this," crossed the lips of another customer to her husband after tasting her Lemon Cream cone. The Peach, Ginger, Butter Pecan and Blueberry Maple Crisp, their new signature flavor, were also notable. Flayvors gives its customers two heaping scoops of ice cream in their medium sized cup or cone for just $3.52. I'm talking double what Ben and Jerry's gives for $3.00. Plus, Flayvors makes their ice cream right in the back of the room.

If ever going with a group, definitely invest in the "El Gordo" sundae or seven scoops with four toppings, all of your own choice. They also allow you to make your own ice cream cookie sandwich by choosing any two cookies they make (chocolate chip, M&M, peanut butter, etc.) with any scoop of your choice in between.

At least get down there once before it starts to get cold out. You don't have to go weekly, like I just might start doing, but every Amherst student must take advantage of the proximity of the high-caliber farm-fresh ice cream.

If, even with these great options almost at your doorstep, you insist on Phish Food, Chocolate Fudge Brownie or Half Baked, please do your wallet, but not necessarily your waistline, a favor and just go to Stop and Shop and buy the pint. Happy licking!