Snow days with coastal style: North Carolinians get creative when winter hits the beach

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY) — Here on the coast, where snow days are rare, North Carolinians are getting creative and finding unexpected ways to make the most of winter weather. 

At Surf City Surf Shop, it’s like July in January. 

If history repeats itself, people will flock to the beach to go sledding this weekend.  

In a place where snow gear and sleds are hard to come by, Surf City Surf Shop General Manager, Logan Beam, says surf and body boards are a perfect alternative. 

“Body boards for going down the hills, the kids like to do that because we don’t really have sleds around here,” said Beam. 

Stevens Ace Hardware Owner and Manager, Andy Stevens, says he’s also seen creative sled alternatives. 

“Things like trash can lids, plastic trash can lids, pool floats, those types of things work really well too,” said Stevens. 

Shelves at stores like Sportsman’s Warehouse were bare. 

Wiped clean of heaters, waders, and down to a handful of hand warmers. 

Stevens says there are alternative insulation methods for the home.  

“Drafty windows, you could use towels to try to block some of the drafts coming through your windows, doors same way, stick them underneath the thresholds there,” said Stevens 

Some other alternatives, if you lose heat, put a tent in the house to create a smaller, insulated space.  

Place plastic bags between sock layers to keep your feet dry. 

Pop a sock full of sand or dry rice in the microwave for a make-shift hand warmer. 

“’What are some things that people are coming in last minute to grab from here?’ Yeah, mostly it’s salt,'” said Stevens. 

Stevens still has some in stock, but if you don’t have access to salt, an alternative would be play sand or even kitty litter.  

An alternative to an ice scraper is mixing two parts rubbing alcohol with one part water and spraying it on your car window.