This North Carolina Island Is One Of The South's Most Underrated Vacation Spots

Set sail for Sunset Beach

What makes a great beach town? First, there’s the beach itself: There must be wide, sandy shores with sparkling water and plenty of shells, of course. Every beach town needs a handful of mom-and-pop restaurants where you can order the catch of the day (fried and served in a plastic basket, ideally), a waterfront bar where you can watch the sun set, and a friendly ice cream shop. Also important: a few places for old-fashioned fun like a putt-putt course or a fishing pier. If you’re visiting, you’ll need a variety of accommodations, from amenity-rich resorts, to rental houses, to budget-friendly hotels.

There are lots of sweet little beach towns across the South that check all of those boxes, and many of them—understandably—are jam-packed with tourists during the spring and summer months. Which is why Sunset Beach, North Carolina’s southernmost barrier island, is such a gem. Unlike neighboring Myrtle Beach (about an hour away, just over the South Carolina line), with its bustling boardwalk, outlet mall, and dozens of attractions, Sunset Beach has a peaceful small-town feel and everything you need for a laid-back beach trip.

Related: 11 Best Beach Resorts in North Carolina

Things To Do In Sunset Beach

Hit The Beach (Of Course!)

Bring your umbrella and chair and find your perfect spot on the sand. With no high-rise buildings along the beachfront, and a wide, flat expanse of shoreline, there is plenty of room to spread out. Sunset Beach is a hot spot for collecting shells and is known for having lots of sand dollars that wash up on the shore.

If you’re in need of a bathroom or something to eat, head to the Sunset Beach Pier. The 900-foot pier is a great place for strolling and fishing, it’s also a convenience store and restaurant, and even has a game room. Getting to the beach is easy; there are 35 public access points and three parking lots near the beach. One of the lots is free—a rare occurrence along the coast—but it fills up quickly. The beach is dog-friendly, but only during a certain window of the year. Animals are not permitted on the beach from the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Spend Time In Nature At Bird Island

A trip to Sunset Island isn’t complete without a visit to picturesque Bird Island, which you can access from Sunset Beach or by boat. This protected, undeveloped preserve is known for its winged residents, which live in the island’s dunes, wetlands, and marshes. Between May and August, you may also see Loggerhead turtles or their eggs; the island is a popular nesting site for this endangered species.

Leave A Note At The Kindred Spirit Mailbox

Bird Island is also home to the Kindred Spirit mailbox. Tucked away at one end of the island, about a mile from the last access point at Sunset Beach, you’ll find an unusual sight: a mailbox and a bench. For decades, people have made pilgrimages to this isolated yet beautiful location to share their thoughts in a notebook left inside the mailbox. Local volunteers collect and replace the notebooks when they are filled up, then they send them to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s Randall Library, which stores the books, preserving the stories within.

Play A Round Of Golf

Serious golfers can take their pick from six beautiful and award-winning courses within Sunset Beach. The Sea Trail Golf Courses—named for their designers: Rees Jones, Willard Byrd, and Dan Maples—offer players three different layouts and degrees of difficulty. If putt putt is more your speed, head to Tropical Adventure Mini Golf in nearby Calabash.

Shop Local At One Love Market

This open-air market across from the Sunset Beach Pier is a one-stop shop for locally-made jewelry, art, and crafts, fresh produce and food, apparel, and more. Not only does it provide a place for area makers and farmers to sell their products, proceeds benefit local rescue organizations both “human, furry, and wild,” as One Love puts it. The market is open seasonally, so check the calendar for dates.

Where To Eat In Sunset Beach

Seafood Spots

Seafood lovers will find lots to love in this town. Fibber McGees is a popular spot, not only for its ample outdoor seating, but for its Irish pub-meets-fish shack menu. For something a little more upscale, The Boat Landing Restaurant has views of the Intracoastal Waterway and a dinner menu that includes fresh-catch fish tacos, corn-dusted fried oysters, and shrimp po’boys.

Burgers, Breakfast, and More

For burgers, live music, and cold beer, head to Mavericks Pointe. Sarah’s Kitchen is a local favorite for breakfast, especially pancakes. The breezy covered patio is nice, too. MooTown is a cute ice cream shop serving 40 flavors of Blue Bell and Hershey’s, plus milkshakes and other frozen treats.

Where To Stay In Sunset Beach

Hotels

With its charming decks and porches, the two-story 14-room Sunset Inn is a dreamy place to stay. Breakfast is free here, and the beach is just a few short blocks away.

Resorts

Sea Trail Golf Resort has one-to-four-bedroom villas available for rent on its property. Villas come with kitchens, access to two pools, and a screened-in porch or balcony with views of the golf courses. At Legends Golf Resort you can choose from two- or three-bedroom condos.

Rentals

Sloane Realty Vacations offers house and condo rentals close to the beach. Some properties are pet-friendly, and others come with boat docks.

Related: The 15 Best Beaches In North Carolina

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