What's up, Chicago? I'm Erin Allen, and this is Curious City.

In our last episode, we learned how a mild winter can impact the local economy.

For the most part, whether it's unusually cold or unusually warm, in the short term, the effects end up being a wash.

Maybe a warm winter day motivates you to spend more money going out to eat.

But then you're likely to spend less the next week, regardless of the weather.

Still, there are folks who come out on top during a very cold winter, like auto mechanics, who

repair your car after you fall in a pothole, the independent snowplow companies shoveling out small businesses,

or rock salt providers who cash in in the most brutal of winters.

Chicago, like so many other frigid American cities,

cannot seem to wean itself off a road salt.

It helps keep cars on the road and keep humans vertical instead of horizontal.

But the chloride from salt is corrosive.

It hurts wildlife and contaminates waterways in the environment.

It russes out cars and buildings, and it does a number on the roads themselves.

When it's environment versus safety, safety is winning out big time.

We spent some time looking around for a cold weather community that does not use roads all.

People suggested a few cities, like Montreal,

Davenport, Iowa, Holland, Michigan, and a few more.

But it turns out they all use road salt in some way, shape, or form.

However, we did find a place.

Today we're going to revisit a conversation

about a magical land that doesn't use any road salt.

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