Sunset Beach, North Carolina was recently included on National
Geographic’s list of 21 Best Beaches in the World. It is the southern-most island in North
Carolina with Ocean Isle Beach bordering to the north and Calabash bordering to
the south. It is also considered a part
of the Myrtle Beach Metropolitan area.
Sunset Beach is a beautiful, serene beach with little
commercialization. The wide stretch of
beach separates the surf from the marsh
and is uninterrupted by boardwalks or high rises. Sunset Beach also exceeds its name. From late fall through early spring, you can
watch the sun both rise and set over the water due to the island’s south-facing
position.
Due to the low commercial atmosphere and undisturbed sand
dunes, it serves as a natural habitat to deer, fox, rabbits, birds, a lone
bobcat, hawks, eagles, falcons, seagulls, sanderlings, pipers, killdeer, ghost
crabs and nesting sea turtles. It gets
the name, “The Silver Coast” from the super fine, extra soft, silver-colored
sand, and you can find dolphin, coquina clams, crabs, cannonball jellies, sand
dollars and other shells in the ocean and on the shore.
In 1955, Sunset Beach was purchase from the Brooks family by
Mannon C Gore for $60,000 and the name changed from Bald Beach to Sunset
Beach. To give vehicle access to Sunset
Beach, Mr. Gore designed, installed and operated the original pontoon swing
bridge in 1958. Until the new 65-foot
high-rise bridge was built and opened on
November 11, 2010, the swing bridge was the only access to the 2.5-mile island.
Sunset Beach has become a favorite for many beach lovers due
to the moderate temperatures, relaxed lifestyle and southern hospitality. It is a member of the North Carolina Birding
Trail with multiple locations to view a variety of unique birds in their
natural habitats at the coast. There is
also a public boat ramp which makes boating, kayaking and fishing easy to
access.
There are also quite a few things available for you to do,
see and enjoy. Below is a list of some
that we recommend:
- Visit Historic Kindred Spirit Mailbox—For more
than 35 years, the weathered post office box has operated and is now an
established landmark which thousands of nature lovers visit annually. On the west end of Bird Island/Sunset Beach,
tucked high in a sand dune, the mysterious mailbox has been the muse for
hundreds of photographers and artists.
- Rent a Kayak with a Guided Tour—Explore the
pristine estuaries and channels unique to Sunset Beach with Summertide
Tours. See the abundant wildlife such as
Pelicans, Blue Herons, Sea Turtles, Sea Otters and dolphins. You can also enjoy an afternoon of fishing
for Red Drum, Sea Bass and trout.
- Boat, Jet Ski, Fishing or Bird Watching—Surfers,
Sunbathers, Scuba divers, and bird watchers come from all over the country to
enjoy the Intracoastal waterway and
network of rivers and tributaries filled with wildlife. You can take your own boat or hire a charter
to fish for mackerel or tuna or kayak through the marsh creeks.
- Visit Bird Island—It is a 1,300-acre State
Preserve barrier island that is connected to Sunset Beach and is home to
Loggerhead turtles and the purple sandpiper which is found only on Bird
Island. You can reach the island by
boating, walking or biking along the beach.
The island terrain serves as habitats and nesting areas for various
species that are threatened or endangered.
- Enjoy Free Outdoor Concerts—Every Wednesday
evening from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Sunset Beach Concerts present top
area performers at the Village Park Gazebo and Park featuring a variety of
music styles.
- Play Golf on Championship Courses—Sunset Beach
offers seven distinct golf courses built by the nation’s top golf course
designers. They are some of the most
diverse and challenging golf courses in North Carolina.
- Browse a Local Famers’ and Artisans’
Market—Weekly from May through October, on Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. –
1:00 p.m., there is baked goods, fresh produce, artworks, and a range of
quality handcrafted items to purchase.
It is located at Sunset Beach Park, 206 Sunset Boulevard North.
- Visit the Old Bridge Museum—From the 1950’s
until 2010, the single-lane, swing bridge served as the only way to access
Sunset Beach. It now sits surrounded by
live oak trees on a lot across from the Sunset Beach fire House.
- Visit Ingram Planetarium—The Planetarium has the
world’s third SciDome HD Digital Sky Theater, a state-of-the-art facility with
a 40-foot dome. There are laser music
shows as well as interactive exhibits in the Paul Dennis Science Hall which
include ViewSpace, an award-winning exhibit featuring a continuous broadcast of
the most recent updates directly from NASA.
Ingram Planetarium is located at 7625 High Market Street, Sunset Beach,
North Carolina. For additional
information, visit www.MuseumPlanetarium.org.
Sunset Beach is a beautiful,
noncommercialized beach and seaside town that you are sure to enjoy
visiting. It is a great place for a
daytrip, and as you can see from the list above, there are quite a few things
to do. Check it out and have fun.
