By Tatum Love, Staff Writer

Laying in bed, you roll over and look at the time. It’s 3 p.m. and the infamous “are you still watching?” screen pops up on your TV for the third time. You don’t know what else you could be doing with your day, and then you get an idea: You could go to Walmart for the fifth time this week!

One of the major struggles that comes with living in a tourist destination is finding things to do in the offseason, when so many businesses and restaurants are closed and the chilly beach is not an option.

Taking a trip to Avon: Going down South is something not many people do regularly but is a trend some students love. The beaches on Hatteras Island are different than the beaches we see every day: they’re super wide, secluded, and you can drive on them. Real Watersports, located in Rodanthe, throws special events almost every month and offers a wide variety of shopping for all ages.

Go to Seagreen: Seagreen Gallery in Nags Head is absolutely free to roam, unless you plan on buying a cool piece of art, some jewelry or one of their various crystals. The backyard of the Seagreen Gallery houses chickens and bunnies. Almost all of their art lining the garden and inside the shop is made of recycled and reconfigured objects.

Thrift shopping: If you haven’t ever been “thrifting,” you must live under a rock. Thrift shopping is a relatively new trend, and a cheap and fun way to discover new clothes and other hidden treasures. Part of the thrill of thrift shopping is searching through every single rack, trying to find that perfect piece that is unique and affordable to complete your outfit. 

Visiting Jockey’s Ridge: Winter sunsets are easily the most beautiful sunsets the Outer Banks has to offer. So why not enjoy it with the best view on the beach? Grabbing a few cozy blankets and watching the sunset on the top of Jockey’s Ridge is almost magical. Across the road from Jockey’s Ridge, there are lots of different shopping options such as Kitty Hawk Surf Company, Life is Good and Kitty Hawk Kites.

Go Surfing: Surfing in the winter is one of the most popular activities for locals. The denser and higher energy of the swell makes the experience a lot more thrilling for some compared to the summertime. Even though the cold temperatures might be challenging, you can still have an unforgettable time.

Sophomore Tatum Love can be reached at 22LoveTa53@daretolearn.org.