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August Already?
Yes, it is August already and I’m scratching my head wondering where this summer has gone. Although there have been some hot days I thought would never end, the speed that time moved during June & July must have broke records this year. And what a beautiful summer we have had at Sunset Beach! You Sunset Beach lovers know how difficult it is to paint the picture of this pristine island for those who have never seen it. Believe us when we tell you the island is as beautiful as it sounds. I’ve met a lot of 1st time visitors to the island of Sunset Beach this year ranging from California to London, & Indiana to the Dominican Republic, all singing high praises of this 2½ mile long piece of paradise. Even if you live right here in North Carolina, come see how a naturally growing island looks before the days of summer pass you by.
Of course, you will want one last drive over the historic one lane floating pontoon swing bridge at Sunset Beach, NC which has served us well as the only access on & off the island. The current bridge, built in 1961, replaced a cable swing bridge built by Mannon C. Gore in 1958 and is the last remaining bridge of it’s kind crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Officials tell us that by the end of September, 2010 (yes-Next Month!) traffic will be directed on to the new 65 ft. bridge currently in the final stages of completion. English Construction will then begin work on the removal of the temporary road and the still undecided future of the historic swing bridge. The Sunset Inn is currently selling 16 X 20 prints circa 1984 of the Sunset Beach historic bridge for only $45. Quantities are limited, so get one today!
A Sunset Beach Bridge Dedication will be held Friday October 1, 2010 at 4pm with a reception immediately following at Sea Trail. Tickets can be purchased at Sunset Beach Town Hall for $25.
Sunset At Sunset Celebration will be held this year Saturday October 2, 2010 beginning at 10am. The location is beside Ingram Planetarium and the celebration will be full of vendors, music, area information & family entertainment. Make plans now to attend!
Turtle Hatching Update- There have been a couple of nests that successfully hatched in August on Sunset Beach, which is wonderful! The volunteers excavated both of these nests and counted the eggs with many spectators waiting to see if any unborn turtles would make their way into the ocean. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any hatch during the excavation but I was lucky enough last year to witness quite a few born with only a hand full of us around. I have attached photos of the sweet baby turtles on their journey. There is a nest due to hatch within the next 2 weeks on the very east end of the island. If you have never seen them hatch, it’s a joyous sight full of wonder that everyone should witness at least once.
As always, we hope to see YOU at Sunset Beach, NC soon. Stop by any Sunset Beach business to say hello and tell them you read about the island on SunsetBeachNCwebcam.com!
Shhh…It’s a Secret Beach
Sunset Beach, NC & Bird Island may have been a very well kept secret for 55 years until the April issue of Southern Living Magazine. It was a surprise to many when our 2 ½ mile island was one of 10 of the South’s Most Secret Beaches. Of course to Sunset Beach lovers, it was no surprise at all. The article nicely yet briefly describes our wide, spacious beaches and features an appropriate sunset photo of the beach. It’s funny how when you know a secret getaway, you so badly want to tell others what a treasure you have found, but if you do, it’s not a secret getaway anymore. Here at Sunset Beach with an island that continues to accumulate more sand every year, we can afford to let a few more know about our secret beach. Let’s just continue to treasure it.
It was certainly no secret that Sunset Beach was the place to be this Spring & Easter Break. The weather has been gorgeous with warm sunny days and cool breezy nights. The kind of weather when you can throw the windows open and let the pollen in. Sweet Springtime, that I love so much, won’t last long before we are complaining about the heat. Easter Sunday was a beautiful beach day and my family enjoyed the glorious morning at the Easter Beach service, along with countless others. No need for a fancy dress or 3 piece suit here, flip flops & a beach chair are the accessories of choice. With daughters I usually fuss over to look just right Easter morning, this was definitely my favorite Easter Sunday ever… and theirs too!
Local Activities this spring include:
Find the time to travel to Sunset Beach in the spring and you won’t be disappointed.
 Just Imagine March at Sunset Beach!
Just imagine 70 degree sunshine, a wide open beach, flowers coming to life, wildlife visible again and practically having an island to yourself. That's what life is like in March at Sunset Beach, NC. A better indication of spring's arrival than the likes of a groundhog's shadow, are the gators in the sun and the dolphins in the waterway. Makes you just say "Ahhhhh...Spring is here!" Funny how quick the seasons seem to change and the warm air blows in. Hey you, why imagine it when you can be here too? Sunset Beach officially invites you to head to our 2 1/2 mile island to see the Kindred Spirit, Beautiful Bird Island, the growing beaches and so much more. There are many spring local events providing entertainment for all types. We have attached a schedule of them to this blog, but be sure to check for exact dates.
The new Sunset Beach Bridge work continues and the spans are all almost completely in place. Some days there are spectators parked for hours entranced at the bridge work in progress. Each day work is visible and interesting, anticipating the final completion. After speaking with English Construction, they are confident that traffic will be traveling on the new bridge before the fall season arrives. Many questions have been raised about the old bridge, with no definite answers yet. What will happen to the old Sunset Beach Bridge? North Carolina Dept. of Transportation gets to decide the fate of our beloved Bridge.
Spring in all it's splendor won't last long. Before we know it, the hot summer will be upon us. Spring Break, Easter Break, use any reason you can to get away to Sunset Beach in the spring and you won't be disappointed. Why imagine March at Sunset Beach, when you can be here to enjoy it?
March
Brunswick Islands Home & Garden Show
Shallotte
(800) 426-6644 or (910) 754-6644
www.brunswickcountychamber.org
Battleship NORTH CAROLINA Behind the Scenes Special tour
Wilmington
(910) 251-5797 ext. 3006
www.battleshipnc.com
Taste of Southport
Southport
(910) 279-4616
Pi Day at Ingram Planetarium
Sunset Beach
(910) 575-0033
www.ingramplanetarium.org
Amateur Wine Competition Medal Ceremony
Silver Coast Winery
(910) 287-2800
www.silvercoastwinery.com
Remember When Oldies Music Festival
La Belle Amie Vineyard
(843) 399-9463
www.labelleamie.com
April
Southport Spring Festival & Azalea Sale
Shallotte
(910) 279-4616
A Day at The Docks Festival
Holden Beach
(910) 842-7355
North Brunswick Spring Festival
Leland
(910) 383-0553
North Carolina Azalea Festival
Wilmington
(910) 794-4650
www.ncazaleafestival.org
Snow is coming down and Things are looking Up!
Yes- It is snowing at Sunset Beach, NC! As I load the newest photos of the Bridge construction here at Sunset Beach, the snow is steadily falling on the island of Sunset Beach. The temperatures have been colder than usual and perfect for rarely seen snow at the beach, but we haven't seen the white flakes fall until tonight. We've watched the news, talked to family and even traveled to see snow for our kids' sake, but each time our temps drop, the rain stops....Until now. Because it is rare for us to experience the snow, to the majority of the locals and all of the kids, it's a beautiful sight. The clean, fresh look of a blanket of snow at the beach is gorgeous. Our local meteorologists say we might even get 2-4 inches, which is very rare for us. As beautiful as the past snow photos of our old Sunset Beach Bridge are, I imagine that tomorrow morning's snow photos will be different. The new bridge has taken major transformations in less than 30 days and the photos are a great timeline of the change. We spoke with the project manager of the bridge about these changes and they are on schedule for the Dec. 2010 completion date. I personally expected much longer/larger Span Beams to be used, but have since been advised otherwise. It's too complicated for me to explain, but so fascinating to watch.
Happy Valentine's Day to all and I will post some new snow photos as soon as I can. Of course, you can always see the webcam for immediate views of the snow falling & the bridge construction!
Turkey At The Beach...
Thanksgiving at the beach will always mean
Get ready for family; shop, cook & clean.
Turkey, ham & stuffing we ate
Collards, yams and more on my plate.
Forks were flying as our lips smacked
Leftovers where? The fridge is packed!
“Now let’s play a game” the kids did yell
Too sleepy to fight, under the tryptophan spell
Guesstures can be a humorous game,
But a family feud started with those kids to blame.
Play some corn toss & golf, walk on the beach
Hear the ole “No Christmas gifts for me” speech
Steamed oysters & shrimp on Saturday night
The fire from the chimnea felt just right.
Sunday comes, it’s time they go
Goodbye, goodbye, we love you so!
Clean again, find my terrified cat
Sit down to relax and think, “It wasn’t so bad”
Only 3 weeks till Christmas when we gather once more
I think maybe a Holiday cruise I’ll explore!
I always love to see my family come to Sunset Beach and we had excellent weather this year! My brother-in-law swears he saw me skipping & throwing confetti before they even got out of the driveway, but I made sure he was over the bridge by then. I hope you all got to enjoy Thanksgiving with the overeating, sleeping late & dysfunctional family time that comes with it.
If you were lucky enough to visit Sunset Beach this fall, I’m sure you were shocked at all the bridge construction that has taken place. It is really coming together as you can see from the photos I’ve posted. English Construction has confirmed that they are still on target with the December, 2010 completion date. The island businesses are preparing for the spring and two Sunset Beach businesses are launching new & improved websites. Be sure to check out www.thesunsetinn.net and www.sunsetvacations.com.
With the peace & quiet that comes in the fall months, the wildlife has come out to play on the island. We’ve enjoyed the bald eagles that grace us with their presence and the island deer roaming around. We feel lucky to share this little piece of paradise with all walks of life and hope you’ll make the time to visit Sunset Beach, too. The Christmas shows in Myrtle Beach, SC are amazing! The always enjoyable Shallotte Parade is this Saturday, December 5th which starts at 10 am. Also, on December 5th, Ocean Isle Beach is having an Island Home Tour hosted by the Museum of Coastal Carolina. The tour begins at the museum at 3pm; for more information go to http://www.museumofcc.org/. Yes the holiday season is busy and you have much to do, but all the shopping and relaxing you need is right here at Sunset Beach. We hope to see you soon!
Happy at Sunset Beach!
Don’t you just hate your co-workers, friends or just plain strangers walking around humming songs and acting like they don’t have a care in the world? You know those naturally “happy” people that seem unaffected by the economy that make you think, “Wonder what their secret is?” By golly, I’ve figured it out. It’s got to be one of two things…either it’s medication or they’ve got the beach on the brain. Specifically for me, it’s Sunset Beach, NC on the brain and I can’t seem to get enough. To me it’s the most wonderful time of the year (school starting back) and the weather is amazing. After some careful planning, I have made the time to savor moments on the beach; put the kids on a school bus, tie my sneakers and walk the island. One day I’m a starfish rescuer throwing the live ones back, the next I’m a dolphin watcher as they jump clear out of the water and this year I’m learning the patience of turtle nest watching, too. Hate me, but I’ve become a “happy” carefree islander and I wish the same for each of you. Reality is easier to handle after a deep breath of salty air & sandy feet and it’s blissful to be at the beach, even if it’s just on your mind.
It has been a long time secret of island lovers that Fall is the best time to enjoy the beach. This fall will be no exception and for many of you that came over Labor Day Weekend, you know what I mean. The mornings are cooler yet the water & sun are still ideal for beach days, golf, shopping, bicycling, or anything. Come look at Sunset Beach properties for sale (www.sunsetbeachsales.com) while the prices & interest rates are still low. I’m no expert, but there are great real estate deals on Sunset Beach and Dave Nelson knows the island properties like no other realtor in the area. We hope to see everyone at The Sunset At Sunset Celebration this year October 3rd from 10am – 5:30pm (go to www.sunsetatsunset.com for more info). Also, make sure you plan a trip to the North Carolina Oyster Festival held at Ocean Isle Beach, NC October 17th & 18th this year which features live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, festival food, a road race, kid's area, North Carolina Oyster Shucking Championships and an Oyster Stew Cook-off. The Sunset Inn on the island of Sunset Beach has fantastic accommodations convenient to the festival. Go to the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce (www.brunswickcountychamber.org) for more info about the NC Oyster Festival, which was named 2007 NC Event of the Year. Go to www.tripadvisor.com to get more info about The Sunset Inn or directly to www.thesunsetinn.net.
The Sunset Beach Bridge is progressing at a steady pace. We are happy to accommodate some of the Bridge builders at The Sunset Inn and they’ve told us everything is right on target with a completion date of Dec. 2010. Most recently, Shoreline Rd. beside Bill’s Seafood & Crabby Oddwaters has a newly paved section and is open to traffic. Also, the on-ramp to the new bridge has been paved. Be sure to check out the photos attached of the bridge and some of a recent turtle nest excavation where we got to witness the hatching of a lone late blooming turtle (so cute!). Better yet, come see it all in person and be the envy of your co-workers, friends, & just strangers in general when you’ve got the beach on the brain! Hope to see you happy at Sunset Beach soon.
It occurred to me that I have started 2009 with a new attitude, and I like it. I have never been one to make resolutions, but I do reflect on the year past. Like many of you, I am glad 2008 is over and relieved we made it through able to maintain our pride and hope. I am committed to making 2009 a better year for my family and I have never lost sight of that silver lining…well almost. My new attitude is not to wait for change, but to make it. I’ll do things differently this year like make wiser investments in living, loving and laughing more. Christmas reminded me that giving to less fortunate is greater than anything I could receive and time spent with someone you can laugh with is time well spent. I refuse to take for granted the coastal life I live and plan to use my local resources more effectively. Why do I buy on the internet when my neighbor sells it down the road for pennies more? I want to listen better and follow through with ideas. So many times I focus on daily duties and forget to use my imagination. I did something recently that I haven’t done in a long time and I enjoyed it immensely-I went to see a movie on a weekday during the day (shrugged off the guilty feelings of not working, actually watching a movie without animation and didn’t have to share my popcorn- and wow-it was fun!). It was like skipping school and keeping the secret. I plan to visit with friends more often and quit worrying if they see my house a mess. Who really cares? Something else I am enjoying in 2009 is sitting on the front porch (even when it’s cold) and letting the warm sun shine on my face. I close my eyes and imagine I am somewhere far away, but I couldn’t be more blessed than being at Sunset Beach.
English Construction has worked diligently on the bridge and progress is truly visible. I have posted some photos where you can clearly see the girders now crossing over HWY 179, Shoreline Dr., connecting the pilings. I remember reading that the bridge will be 65 feet high, but that number didn’t hit home until I am driving under it now. It will definitely take some getting used to and for those of you with Acrophobia (fear of heights), well, good luck. The new bridge will surely be an adjustment for us all.
If you are waiting for an invitation to come see Sunset Beach and the famous one lane pontoon bridge, this is it. The Bridge had an unexpected visit from dolphins in December and I was excited to see them. Come enjoy a long Martin Luther King weekend for a January getaway. The crisp and clear weather just enhances the beauty here at the beach. Remember, The Sunset Inn has nightly accommodations and will be happy to see you. Whatever you decide to do in 2009, come live and laugh a little at Sunset Beach.
I’ve heard it said, “The weather is here, wish you were beautiful,” and I always thought it was cute but not so true. If you’re like me, when the weather is great, everything looks beautiful. This is the case these days at Sunset Beach, NC. The fall weather has brought clear skies and a strong reluctance to pack away the shorts & flip-flops. If you were lucky enough to be here the early to mid part of October, it was PERFECT! The water was still warm enough for most and the mid-day sun was hot. Now it has cooled slightly to the average fall weather of 60-70 degrees with low humidity creating gorgeous sunrises and spectacular sunsets. Fall days like these make for excellent leisurely walks or bicycle rides anytime of the day.
A new traffic pattern opened up on the Sunset Beach causeway yesterday, October 22nd. The newly curved road takes traffic around a portion of Sunset Blvd. which will allow construction vehicles and workers space to work on the new bridge being built. I’ve included some photos taken this week. Being an island resident, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the smooth transition and have no reason to complain. The charming one-lane draw bridge still manages to keep me on “island time” and makes me appreciate the infinite gifts of nature that surrounds Sunset Beach.
A quick note to those of you that have never been to Sunset Beach, NC before…what are you waiting for? The island is about 2 miles long and features a wide, clean, sugar-sand beach that magically grows each year. We are conveniently located between Myrtle Beach, SC & Wilmington, NC offering an unlimited variety of activities nearby suitable to all interests. These fall months are ideal for a peaceful visit to include holiday shopping, enjoying theater shows, golfing, or just relaxing on one of the 14 private screened porches overlooking the marsh at The Sunset Inn. Those of you who already discovered Sunset Beach, now through March is a great time to come unwind from it all, eat at your favorite restaurant without waiting in line, or roast some fresh local oysters (available at Bill’s Seafood). With all that Sunset Beach has to offer year-round, the new saying should be, “It’s always beautiful at Sunset!”
Here we will be featuring live webcam views of Sunset Beach NC. Be sure to check back to see the progress of the construction of the new bridge to Sunset Beach. Also feel free to subscribe to our blog or get our blog feed info at the right to get all of our latest info delivered directly to your email box or feed reader.
Thanks for stopping by!
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