Sunset Beach North Carolina Area Happenings And Things To Do While Your Family Is On Vacation.
- Register for our Free Vacation Giveaway!
Sunset Properties is teaming up with Our State magazine for a special promotion this month. You can use this link to register for a chance at a free family vacation at a designated oceanfront home between now and the end of April. Hurry-this sweepstakes ends December 15th!
Sea Oats West is a modern four bedroom oceanfront duplex at Sunset Beach, and sleeps 10. It is part of the Sunset Properties “Platinum Perks” program, which includes free linen and early check-in privileges. One lucky sweepstakes winner will receive a spring week for free in this home(1)!Sunset Properties offers close to 400 vacation rental homes and condos on the islands of Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach on the southern coast of North Carolina. We work with some of the best homes on each island, and offer special services such as our Perks Club, Platinum Perks program, and Pet Friendly rentals. We’ll be introducing our new “Linen Ready” service next month for 2012 which includes linen setup and towels in designated rental homes.So, take a minute now to register for the free vacation giveaway. Then visit our website to make a summer reservation.Sunset Properties Staff
(1):Please see the Our State website for full sweepstakes guidelines.
- 3rd Annual Turkey Trot Nov 24th 10 am
Looking for a fun and very informal way to get ready for this year's Thanksgiving feast?Jean and John Hutchinson are hosting the 3rd annual Turkey Trot on Sunset Beach, starting at 10 am on Thanksgiving day. They've figured out 5k and 1 mile courses for those that want to run (though most of us will be walking!).
Our family joined in two years ago, and had a ball. Everyone gathered at 6th and Canal Drive on the island, and then had an enjoyable walk/run while catching up with neighbors. And it relieved some of the guilt as I ate the 2nd dessert helping later that day....
Some event notes from the hosts: "This event is NOT A RACE, and there are only winners and no losers. This is a fun start to a great Thanksgiving Day! Also, NO AID STATIONS OR WATER STATIONS AND NO HELP NAVIGATING TRAFFIC!!! Seriously, BE VERY CAREFUL, and YIELD TO TRAFFIC!! There will be no police or officials to stop traffic so YOU MUST STOP; YOU MUST KEEP YOUR CHILDREN WITH YOU, and YOU MUST WAIT UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION TO CONTINUE YOUR RUN!!! Each person is completely responsible for their own well-being and completely responsible for their own and especially their children's safety."
Translation: Have fun, but be safe. And enjoy!If you need a rental home for Thanksgiving weekend at Sunset Beach, check out the Sunset Properties website for options.
- Check out these Sunset Beach Videos!
We've updated our video page on the Sunset Properties website with links to several new clips you'll want to check out.Thanks to the Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority for creating and sharing several of these. You'll find videos on a family's stay in a vacation rental home on Sunset Beach, along with informational videos on sea turtles, kayaking opportunities, and the lighthouses in Brunswick County.
You can also view the winning video from our 2011 guest photo/video contest
We hope you enjoy them all!
- Sunset Properties Photo and Video Contest Winners Announced
Sunset Properties is pleased to announce that Ryan Koechig from Media, PA has been selected as this year's winner of our photo contest.
His sunrise photo looking down Tubbs Inlet behind the bayfront homes from one of our rentals on Cobia Street was the top choice of both our staff and on our facebook pages.
Sunset Properties has also selected Sara Gerlich from Indiana as this year's winner of our video contest. Her family video showed some of the games that many families play on our beach strands during their summer vacations.
Both Ryan and Sara will receive an IPad 2 as their prize for winning the contest.
We appreciated all of the entries-we had well over 400 photos submitted for the contest this year, and a handful of videos. You can see all of the family memories in our photo gallery (located in the social corner link of our website at sunsetbeachnc.com).
Thanks also for all of the comments on our finalists-we appreciated the feedback! - Our Two Video Finalists for 2011!
Thanks for the entries into this year's video contest as well. We've narrowed the field down to these two finalists:Sara Gerlich's video
Maria Fehr's video
We'll announce the winner of the IPad 2 early next week!
- 2011 Photo Contest Finalists
Who should win the IPad2?A group of Sunset Properties staff members spent the last two weeks pouring over all of the entries for this year's photo contest. We were very impressed by the response-well over 400 photos were received this year!
Every one of the judges complained that they had trouble narrowing down the choices for the top five. Here are our five finalists that we've selected for this year's contest.
We'll be watching for feedback over the next week before we select one of these as our grand prize winner for photos. The lucky photographer will will a new IPad 2 for their use from Sunset Properties.
We'll also post the video finalists on Tuesday this week.
#1-Beach view-Evans
#2-Marsh view-Koechig
#3-Beach Access Walk-Pearson
#4-Beach Wedding-Pickle
#5-Beach Smiles-Stone
Have an opinion on which of these five should be selected as our top photo this year? Post it on our facebook page, or email us at sunsetproperties@atmc.net.
- Ennis Wins TV at Sunset Properties Appreciation Event
Amy Ennis accepts her new TV from Sunset Properties General Manager Pat WolfeThanks to everyone that braved a chilly evening at the OIB Park to attend the Sunset Properties Appreciation Event. We enjoyed the food catered by Causeway Gourmet, and the music as well.A total of 41 housekeeping contractors were recognized at the event for qualifying for this year's grand prize. These individuals qualified by working each of the prime summer weeks and completing all of their assignments with no complaints from guests or homeowners. Ennis was selected from a raffle of those individuals for the TV.The company also gave special recognition to eight individuals that qualified for the third year in a row. They include: Alice Nolan, Betty Fuller, Clementine Hill, Lori Bass, Nancy Gibson, Rhonda Smith, Sherry Dowless, and Sheryln Ford.We thank all of the vendors and homeowners for a great 2011, and look forward to working toward even better results in 2012. - Sunset Properties Launches 2011 Photo & Video Contest!
This is our 12th year for a photo contest, and we thought we would spice it up with two great prizes this year. The winners of each division (photo and video) will each receive a new IPad 2 from Sunset Properties!Here's how it works:1. 2011 rental guests or homeowners of Sunset Properties are encouraged to take photos or videos of their family having fun at the beach this year.
2. To submit the photos, go to our social corner link at the top right of any of our website pages at www.sunsetbeachnc.com. Then click on the 'gallery' link. At the bottom of that page, you'll see a link to 'upload your photos now'. Just follow the instructions from there. (Please note: photos can only be considered for the contest if you leave your name and email address as directed during the upload process).
3. To submit a video, post the video at YouTube, and then email that link to us at marketing.sp@atmc.net. Again, we'll need your name and email address in order to consider the video in the contest.
4. The deadline for submitting either photos or videos is September 17, 2011.
5. Our staff will select the winner of each division by early October.
Please note: Sunset Properties will provide the IPAD 2 to the two selected winners. Internet service will not be provided, and will need to be obtained by the winners.
So get started thinking about what might be a winning shot or video idea. We'll be looking for your entry! - Sunset Slush now on Sunset Beach!
Hey-good news for you Italian ice fans. When you come to Sunset Beach this coming summer, you'll be able to find a new Sunset Slush store right on our island! It just opened next to the Island Market in the middle of the island. Since it is brand new, they haven't decided on the regular hours yet. But as popular as it was on the first day, there's no doubt it will be busy all summer long! Remember-Sunset Slush is a business partner in our Perks Club. So show them your rental keys when you order for special discounts available only for Sunset Properties' guests! - 2011 Sunset Properties Housekeeping Seminar
Sunset Properties held its 2nd annual Housekeeping Seminar on Saturday, March 19th at the Sea Trail Conference Center, and we had another packed room for the event. We appreciated everyone taking their time Saturday morning to talk about some 'tricks of the trade' to make it easier and more productive to clean vacation rental homes.David Sides, Housekeeping Manager for Sunset Properties, lead the event. We covered some operational changes planned for the new season, talked briefly about standards and expectations, heard from some of our cleaning product vendors (thanks to Vince and Mike from Brame Products for joining us again this year!), and listened to the company's management team of Pat Wolfe (General Manager) and Ron Watts (President) about their expectations and how the housekeeping role plays into the overall vacation experience for our guests. Phyllis Conner, the Housekeeping Supervisor at Sunset Properties, gave a great 'cleaning tip' session that got plenty of attention from the crowd.David Sides (left) was moderator for one Q & A session with Pat Wolfe (middle) and Ron Watts (right with microphone) at the seminar.
We had an excellent turnout at the event, including returning and prospective cleaning contractors, homeowners, and Sunset Properties staff.
David Sides got some terrific help from Shane with the raffle tickets at the end of the event for some sample cleaning products that can be used this coming season.
- What a Beautiful Weekend!
Every now and then, we get a wonderful reminder of how lucky we are to live at the beach. This past Sunday during the holiday weekend was one of those days. Though we haven't gotten any snow along our coast like almost everyone else has this winter, it's still been cold and wet. So it was a pleasure to wake up to 50 degree weather Sunday morning. We went for a nice walk on the beach with our two dogs-no one else in sight for the entire one hour walk! Our retriever got to play in the water a bit; and we enjoyed watching a couple of dolphins being lazy in the nearby ocean. The afternoon topped out at a sunny 70 degrees, and the beach strand filled up a bit. One of our sons got sunburned (and received his first lecture of the season on using suntan lotion)! I checked my journal, and it looks like it only gets warmer from here! And we can't wait to spend some more time on the beach as it does. - Construction of Island Sewer System Moving
Brunswick County is in the process of installing a town-wide sewer system for Sunset Beach, and construction started on the island's portion in December.
Currently the waste line that will tie the island to the mainland is being laid out along Sunset Blvd from North Shore Drive all the way to the ocean. Once the piping for this section is linked, it will be pulled through a hold bored under the ICW, at one point being 65 feet under the waterway. This portion of the project is scheduled to be completed by early March.
Work on Sunset Blvd and Main Street will be halted during the summer months, but construction activity on the vacuum system will continue on some of the side streets during the peak summer season this year. The completion date for the island portion is January 2012.
Homeowners will have the opportunity to attach their homes to the sewer line once the system has been tested and certified in early 2012. Bill for the project's assessment probably will be distributed no earlier than Spring, 2012. Though the final cost per parcel can not be determined until the County has received all of the bills, the current estimate is somewhere between $6,000-$7,000 per home. Homeowners will have the option to pay within 30 days of the assessment and receive a 5% discount, or they can arrange payment terms of up to 10 years with the County with an interest rate not to exceed 4%.
- Valentines Promotion a Hit!
Thanks to everyone that participated in our spring flowers promotion. We ended up passing our goal of 25 arrangements by the 8th day, and our friends at proflowers.com were able to deliver all of them by the end of Valentines Day. We look forward to seeing those that reserved spring stays down here at the beach in just a couple of months! - The next 25 Spring Vacations get 2 dozen roses for Valentines!
Another snow and ice storm is heading your way? We haven't gotten anything more than a snowflake or two here at the beach this winter, but we know everyone else has gotten their fill already-and we're not into February yet.So we here at Sunset Properties have come up with an idea to warm any heart. We're giving 2 dozen assorted roses from our friends at proflowers.com to each of the next 25 individuals that reserve a spring vacation with an arrival date of May 21st or earlier for here at the beach. Use them as a Valentine's present for someone special.The promotion runs until February 10th. For more information, see the 'what's new' box on our website.Hurry-we expect to give all of these roses away! - Walking Over the New Bridge
Thanks to a suggestion by one of the island residents, there was a walk over the new Mannon Gore bridge onto the island on November 1st before it opened to auto traffic.It was a beautiful afternoon, and hundreds of area residents came out to walk, jog, or bike the new span. Sunset Properties closed its offices early that day so the staff could walk the bridge with their families.We were fortunate to walk just as the old bridge was opening for some boats to pass through, and we took some interesting photos from above. You can view more photos on our website or on our Facebook page .No final word on when we'll start driving on the bridge, but our guess is by the end of this week. - Sunset Beach Bridge Walk-Over Scheduled
There will be a public 'walk-over' of the new Mannon Gore bridge at Sunset Beach on Monday, November 1st from 1-5 pm.Everyone can walk or ride their bike across the bridge, and take pictures (Sunset Properties will have some posted shortly afterwards on our blog and facebook pages) during the event.
An official opening of the bridge to car traffic has not been set, but we expect to be driving across it by the end of the week.
- Sunset at Sunset Festival Another Fun Event!
The 4th annual Sunset at Sunset Festival was held last weekend, and offered a good time for all.The weather itself was magnificent after a week of heavy rains-the sun was out and shining! Sunset Properties was both a sponsor and a participant of the event, so we had the opportunity to say hello to several of our property owners who stopped by our booth. There were several musical performances, lots of art vendors, service vendors and food vendors (after all, what's a festival without a fried elephant ear!?!).
Sunset at Sunset kicked off the festival season. Next is the Oyster Fest (October 16-17 on Ocean Isle Beach), followed by Festival of the Sea. If you missed us at Sunset at Sunset, please stop by and visit us at the Oyster Festival! posted by Diane Dalen
- 1st Oyster Festival Tennis Tournament Raises $1k for Community
Sunset Properties was the presenting sponsor this past weekend for the first Oyster Festival Tennis Tournament held at the OIB Park. The event was hosted by the Brunswick County Tennis Association, Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce, and the Brunswick County Parks and Recreation.Other business sponsors included Palmetto Publishing, D&D Tennis, and Brunswick Community College.The event raised approximately $1,000 that will be used for community projects by both the Chamber and BCTA.Winners by division included:Men's Singles: Champion: Darren Cranfill; Runner-up: Scott LahtiMen's Doubles: Champions: Dana Leavitt/Roy Mann; Runners-up: Darren Cranfill/Cordell BurhamWomen's Singles: Champion: Penny Watts; Runner-up: Haley WilsonWomen's Doubles (shown above with Tournament Referee Dave Gongora) Champions: Garin Waters/Kristine Roberts; Runners-up: Mary Jayne Viola/Linda FlahertyMixed Doubles: Champions: Chip Eisele/Liz Waldron; Runners-up: Jason Huff/Penny WattsGirls 14&U: Champion: Penny Watts; Runner-up: Anna James - Mannon Gore Bridge Dedicated
The Town of Sunset Beach joined with the N.C. Department of Transportation on Friday October 1st to dedicate the new bridge from the mainland to the island of Sunset Beach.The bridge has been named for Mannon Gore, the original developer of the island. His son Ed Gore unveiled the new sign after speaking for the family at the event. Over 300 attended the event at the mainland base of the new bridge. A reception followed at Sea Trail.The bridge is scheduled to be open to traffic later this month.Shown in the photo from left: Congressman Mike McIntyre, DOT Board Member Michael Alford, Diane Gore, Ed Gore, DOT Secretary Eugene Conti, and other Gore family members. - The Parson's Table
Last week I had the pleasure of dining at The Parson's Table. For those of you who are not familiar with this fantastic restaurant, The Parson's Table is located in what was once the Little River Methodist Church. The intimate and unique setting includes the original hardwood floors and stained glass windows that remained after the church closed it's doors. The fine dining atmosphere is complimented by antique decor found throughout the restaurant. The Parson's Table serves award winning steaks, seafood, lamb, and veal. Our meal began with pleasant and efficient waitstaff who served us crackers and cheese as we viewed the menu. We sampled the Oyster Rockefellar which was magnificent and then followed by salads with a vinaigrette dressing and a bread basket filled with yummy cornbread.The entrees we chose were the Seafood Pesto(great portion of seafood) and Crabbed Stuffed Flounder which was prepared and rolled into 4 sections. The portions were large but not overwhelming-just worth the price. The chef walked around checking with the patrons to ensure their meals were cooked to satisfaction. Dessert was a slice of Amaretto Cheesecake. The portion was more than enough for two and we were glad we ordered to share. This was the perfect finishing touch to a great meal. The Parsons Table is located at 4305 McCorsley Avenue Little River, SC. I would strongly recommend making a reservation during the summer months. This would be a wonderful location to celebrate a special occassion or to just enjoy a good meal with family and friends. You can view their website by going to: http://www.parsonstable.com/ or contact them at 1(843)249-3702. The Parsons Table is a member of our Perks Club. Guests staying with Sunset Properties will receive 15% off their total bill when they show their keytag to the waitstaff. - Earl Has Moved On; Sun and Shells Are Here
Hurricane Earl passed by Sunset Beach Thursday night with little action for us. We didn't receive any rain, and the winds weren't much either. The surf was higher than normal in the afternoon-we watched some waves top one of the area's piers at one stage. So the surfers in the crowd had fun!
One of the surprises the morning after the storm is what you can find on the beach itself. All sorts of great shells get washed up-we found lots of welks, some starfish, even a sand dollar (though it isn't really the season for them) this morning as we walked along the beach.
The weather for this Labor Day Weekend at Sunset Beach is going to be hot and clear-it should be a terrific weekend! You can still reserve a vacation rental through Sunset Properties-just call us at 910-575-8662 to find the perfect home for your family.
- Thanks for the Award as a Top Beach Blog!
Presented by: Online SchoolWe appreciate the recognition for our blog on life and events at Sunset Beach. Our entire staff gets a chance to contribute posts to the blog, and we hope those that follow it on a regular basis enjoy those efforts. - Try A Charter Fishing Trip on Your Next Sunset Beach Vacation
The kids and I wanted to try something different before school started, so we we opted for a half-day fishing trip on "Follow Me" charters.Captain Steve and Tom made it a fun trip for us novice fishermen. The "Follow Me" is a 40' boat, and is docked at Sharky's Restaurant on Ocean Isle Beach (a 10 minute drive from the island of Sunset Beach). We had a bit of weather delay our trip from the typical 6:30 am start for an hour or so. To keep out of the storm once we went out, we stayed close to the beach instead of going the typical 11 miles off-shore for the trip.
As it turned out, we probably had more fun this way. We were catching spanish mackerel-most of which were just over the size limit. But we probably caught about 50 fish, and kept 35 of them. The kids stayed busy for most of the trip reeling them in and letting Tom help us store the fish away.
Most of the trip was spent just off of the Ocean Isle Beach strand, but we also did some fishing off of Sunset Beach as well. At the end, our two sons tried their hand at shark fishing. No luck this trip on that-we lost the bait, but didn't catch anything.
Captain Steve wrapped up the trip by taking us back through the Little River inlet, and up the waterway past the Sunset Beach bridge.
We were told that September is a great time to fish in our area. If you would like to try something different on your next vacation with Sunset Properties, consider a fishing charter with "Follow Me" out of Ocean Isle, or our Perks Club participant Hurricane Fleet out of Calabash. Our kids really enjoyed the trip!
The catch!
Followmecharter.com - Celebrate Labor Day Weekend at the Beach with our Wacky Sunglass Contest!
Our staff was wondering how we could celebrate the end of summer on Sunset Beach this year, and we've come up with a fun promotion. Book a short-term stay (minimum of two nights) at a Sunset Properties' vacation home for the Labor Day Weekend anytime during the period of September 1st through 7th. Then once you are here, send us a beach photo of you with your craziest set of sunglasses on. Once our staff stops giggling over the pictures, we'll pick a winner. And the winner gets? A FULL VACATION REFUND sent to them. We'll have instructions on where to send the photos included in your Welcome Envelope with the house keys at arrival. So start making your beach plans for the Labor Day Weekend by visiting our rental search page at www.sunsetbeachnc.com. Once the vacation is booked, find those old pink flamingo sunglasses in the back of your closet, and we'll see you here at the beach shortly!
