Let's Go Places: The island of ice cream

This month we're coming to you with one question: How far are you willing to go for ice cream? We're not just talking about your basic chocolate ice cream that cheers you up after a bad day or some soft serve at a buffet. We're asking how far you'll travel for some of the best ice cream that you've ever tasted.

Lopez Island Creamery makes pints, sandwiches, and pies by hand, one batch at a time, ensuring that quality is always a priority. They have classic flavors like vanilla, cookies and cream, and mint chip, but they also branch out with Skagit Strawberry, Clearly Coconut, and Bow Hill Blueberry. This ice cream is perfect for an indulgent dessert, birthdays, parties, gifts, and pretty much anytime you want something sweet.

Luckily you can find their products in grocery stores near Everett, Marysville, Burlington, and Bellingham, but if you want the fully authentic experience, you'll need to go to the Island Store on Lopez Island or the Factory Store in Anacortes.

To do that, you'll need a vehicle that can handle the miles, keep you comfortable on your journey, and hold your ice cream haul on the way back. The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition answers the call, with plenty of features that'll make you excited for all the adventures you plan to take.

This hybrid vehicle gets an EPA-estimated 38 miles per gallon in the city and 35 miles per gallon on the highway, with 219 net horsepower to boot. An Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive system and TRD 18-inch bronze-finished alloy wheels with Falken WILDPEAK AT tires help keep you in control, rain or shine. Five different drive modes (Eco, EV, Sport, Trail, and Normal) offer even more customization for every trip, allowing you to change how the vehicle performs with the push of a button.

A rugged exterior frame sits atop an elevated chassis that provides 8 inches of ground clearance on bumpy or uneven roads. LED projector beam headlights illuminate the way ahead of you. Roof rails and cross bars on the top allow you to store the cargo that you can't fit in the trunk, and that's a very real scenario if you're making it a weekend of exploration on Lopez Island before returning home with your ice cream.

Everyone can relax in a spacious, comfortable, and versatile interior, but the RAV4 isn't just comfy; it has some sweet tech too! The 8-inch multimedia display raised on the center of the dashboard is your tool for accessing Toyota Audio Multimedia, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, all of which are supported wirelessly. There's also a 12.3-inch multi-information display behind the steering wheel that shows you turn-by-turn directions, safety information, and other alerts.

Functionality is programmed into literally every inch of the RAV4. 5 USB ports give your devices the energy they need to stay on all day and night, plus an accessory power outlet in the back of the vehicle lets you use your bigger gadgets that require some electricity. And then there's the Connected Services Suite with available features like Remote Connect, WiFi Connect, Safety Connect, and Service Connect.

When it comes to safety, Toyota has you covered. Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert notifies you audibly and visually when there's something approaching from a spot that's difficult to see. Finally, every new 2023 Toyota RAV4 is equipped with the active safety package called Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which includes a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Automatic High Beams, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, and Road Sign Assist.

So, what are you waiting for? Your next adventure awaits in the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition, which starts at $34,025 MSRP.

For more information on the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or any of Toyota's models, visit buyatoyota.com.