"Great People, Great Ice Cream!"
Though I am partial to Mint Hill, I find that Carolina Creamery is worth the drive. One of the few mom and pop ice creameries around, they have a good selection of flavors, nice portions, and excellent ingredients (e.g. they serve whole nuts, cherries, etc). While they don't serve the best ice cream I've ever had, they are - handily - the best in the area.