Tips for finding the best shells!

Finding shells is often a matter of being on the beach at just the right time.   But, here are a few tips for finding that perfect shell at Sunset Beach, NC.

1. Go early in the morning.  The best time, in general, is an hour before or after low tide but you should try to get on the beach early to find the best shells. Make sure you have one bag for your shells and an extra bag for any trash you find.
2. Take your time!  Remember, you are there to have fun and enjoy the beach.  If you happen to find a great shell that's a plus but if you don't, there's always another day.  If you relax and take your time, the shells will find you!
3. Look where others don't.  You may think that the high tide lines or just below the dunes won't yield anything exciting but you never know what you'll find.  You might find a shell under a pile of seaweed or by a piece of driftwood.  There are many places that shells can be hidden. 
4. Bring your children!  Children are shorter, usually have great eyesight and even though they can't find their homework, they can pick out a small shell like no other!  Teach them to look for the shiny outline of a sharks tooth or the way a sand dollar might be half hidden in the sand.  They will love it.  
5. One of the most important things when shelling is to never take a "live" shell.  In some areas it's actually illegal to take live shells.  If you are new to shelling, just simply turn the shell over and see if there is a creature inside.  If so, return the shell to the ocean.  If you see a sand dollar that is green, purple, or brownish then it is still alive and should not be taken.  The only sand dollars that are safe to take home are the while or slightly grey ones that have died and have been bleached by the sun.  

This is taken from a shelling website.  

The art of shelling: 

Smell the salt in the air.  

Feel the sand on your toes.  

Listen to beach sounds by Mother Nature.  

Look at the seascapes and seashells.  

RELAX!

Third Annual Strawberry and Wine Festival

What signifies the beginning of spring in Brunswick County? Strawberries and festivals! Old Bridge Preservation Society (OBPS) has all the bases covered with the third annual Strawberry and Wine Festival. It all takes place on Sunday April 26 from 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Silver Coast Winery, 6680 Barbeque Road. Admission for the day is $5 and parking free. Headlining the entertainment for the day will be the fabulously popular band from Southport, Mike’s Garage Band. And of course, the star of the festival will be the large, luscious, ruby red strawberries dipped in chocolate or served in shortcake.

Want to dance, want to have a good time? Mike’s Garage Band bills itself as a band that just wants to have fun. They call themselves a band for the ages and play music that focuses mostly on the tunes the band members grew up with – classic soul and rock. Mike’s Garage Band plays all the favorites, dancing music from start to finish. Attendees should be sure to have comfortable shoes, a great appreciation for music and love the outdoor festival atmosphere. A great time is guaranteed.

Inside the Silver Coast Winery there will be an opportunity to sample and buy award-winning wines and learn more about the winemaking process. If you are a shopper, you can visit a number of booths of local vendors, service providers and sponsors, both inside the winery building and on the grounds. In between dancing and shopping, festival-goers will certainly work up both an appetite and a thirst. You don’t need to leave the grounds as barbeque and other festival foods will be available. Wine and beer, as well as water and soda will be available for sale.

For additional information about the Strawberry and Wine Festival, please go to oldbridgepreservationsociety.org or call 910.579.9021. OBPS looks forward to a great day with lots of people having a great time. The Third Annual Strawberry and Wine Festival will be held rain or shine Sunday April 26, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Silver Coast Winery, 6680 Barbeque Rd NW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Admission is $5.00; please no coolers, outside beverages, or pets. Parking is free. Bring your lawn chair and see you there!

Third Annual Strawberry and Wine Festival

Sunday, April 26

12:00-5:00

Silver Coast Winery, 6680 Barbeque Rd NW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC

Admission $5, Parking free

No coolers, outside beverages, pets

More info: 910.579.9021 oldbridgepreservationsociety.org

5 Reasons to Visit The Beach In The Winter

As I sit writing this blog, it is January and 60 degrees outside!  I often wonder, "Why don't people visit the beach in the winter"?  Here are five reasons, see you this winter!

1-Rates are at their lowest!  A $200.00 per night room in the summer can be as low as $50-$90 in the winter.  And, restaurants are running specials, especially mid-week.

2-There are no crowds!  Children are in school and it seems everything revolves around the school system.  So, if you do not have school age children, it is the perfect time to enjoy a quiet, adult friendly vacation.

3-The air is cool and crisp and the Sunsets are at their prettiest!  Winter is the perfect time of year to enjoy the beach.  Bundle up, take a few chairs and a good book and you can have a perfect winter day.  Since the crowds are down, you may even find a few sea shells!

4-Escape the harsh weather in your area!  The carolina coast has an average low of 42 degrees December - February and an average high in the 50's.  With a few days in the 60's and even 70's, you can't beat that!

5-Unwind after the holiday season!  Everyone needs a break from the stress of the holidays.  The beach is the perfect place to accomplish this and more.

As you see, there are plenty of reasons to visit the beach in the winter!  See ya soon!

Sunset Beach Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving Day is such a terrific time for family and feasting; but if you are like my family is this year, you may be wondering not what to have, but where to have it. With all the hustle, bustle and busyness, I’m just not sure that cooking a large feast is going to happen, so we are looking into our options of dining out for Thanksgiving dinner. Here are a few of the places we are looking at going.

-The Boundary House – 1045 River Road, Calabash, NC                                                          Seating is limited, so make sure you make a reservation. They will be doing a set menu meal of Turkey and Ham or Prime Rib.

-Brentwood Restaurant - 4269 State Road S-26-852, Little River, SC                                        Seating is limited so reservations are recommended. They will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, served family style.

-Causeway Gourmet – 100-7 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, NC                                      Causeway is offering both a buffet and takeout service. Their slots are feeling up quickly, so reserve your spot now.

-Brick Landing – 1882 Goose Creek Road SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC                                      They will be doing their annual Thanksgiving buffet, with seating at 12, 2 and 4pm.

All of these are great places to have a meal, so no doubt any choice is a great one!! Of course after all that food shopping is up next.

-Calahan’s of Calabash will open Black Friday at 9am.

-Tanger Outlets will be open Thanksgiving Day from 6pm to 2am and then reopen Black Friday at 6am.

-Costal Grand Mall will open on Thanksgiving Day at 6pm and will stay open until 10pm on Friday.

-Bass Pro Shop will open at 8am on Thanksgiving Day and other Myrtle Beach Mall stores will open at 8pm.

-Barefoot Landing will open at 10am on Black Friday.

After shopping 'til you drop, its time for some fun and some more food!

For my family we always like to end our Thanksgiving weekend by going to watch the Flotilla in Ocean Isle. It begins Saturday evening around dusk at 5:30 at the Inlet View Bar and Grill and goes down the Intra Coastal waterway to end at Sharky’s Restaurant. Afterwards, we enjoy dinner at Sharky’s while we listen to the local band Bailout.

Our Crafty Pumpkins

Fall is here at The Sunset Inn, and with temperatures hovering around 82 degrees, today it isn’t easy to remember. So we thought maybe we should decorate to remind us :). One of the great fall staples is the Pumpkin!! Our Kelly decided to be super crafty and make us some precious pumpkins to display, that bring in our coastal vibe to our fall season.

Find out how to at - www.craftsbycourtney.com/how-to-crafts/mod-podge-fall-coastal-theme-pumpkins/

Ok, so I’m not the Courtney that these crafts are by, but seriously, how cute are these?

After she tried a few, Kelly did have a couple of tips about doing these:

First - Do them in stages – work on it, let it dry, work on it again. If not you will get your places where the glue dries to your fingers and makes little tears on the paper when you are done.

Second - Dollar tree had great fake pumpkins to do this in, so that you can save them from year to year.

Third – Pick the paint color for your stem that work best for your décor.

Alright, let us know how it goes. And don't forget, you can always come see them in person here at The Sunset Inn. We have some great specials for November - and we will be doing our 15% off mid-week all month long!!

Fall Festivals, Sunset Beach & Ocean Isle Beach NC

With the oncoming of autumn, both leaves and resort activities tend to fall. Scintillating summer fun gives way to cooler temperatures and vacationers begin to thin out. Unfortunately, this is the off-season fate. Fortunately, the city of Sunset Beach, North Carolina offers ongoing fun during the off-season with beautiful weather, sand-kissed beaches, and an array of activities. Personifying this off-season fun is The Sunset Inn. Temperatures routinely reach the 70s and 80s during the autumn here, making for optimal exploration weather. And explore you will. Exciting fall festivals take place just outside your door while reduced rates and three new packages allow you to experience it all at a portion of the price.

The entertainment begins on October 4 at the Sunset at Sunset Festival, which begins with a 5K run over the Mannon Gore Bridge at 8 am. The festival continues at the Ingram Planetarium, where you’ll be entertained by the Brunswick Big Band featuring Linda Ladrick and The Imitations. After running and rocking, enjoy attractions from artisans, food vendors, and even a children’s section.

More festival fun comes with the North Carolina Oyster Festival, which runs October 18-19. There’s something for everyone: fresh fare, arts and crafts, children's activities, live music, the Oyster Stew Cook-off, and the Oyster Shucking Contest. October 24-25 showcases the North Carolina Festival by the Sea Holden Beach, which kicks off with a parade down the Holden Beach causeway and features arts and crafts for sale, food vendors, children’s activities, and much more.

Sunset Beach NC Packages

A plethora of packages will make your stay even more special. The Girlfriends Getaway Package features a manicure/pedicure for two at a local spa, lunch for two at local hot spot Fibber McGees, a bottle of wine, and more. Explore the island on a Bike or Hike Package, which includes two beach bikes for 2-3 full days, two Sunset Inn beach towels to take home, and one beach tote.

The sparks will fly with the Romance Package. Pop a bottle of complimentary champagne, nibble on chocolates, admire the fresh flowers, and indulge in a couples spa at a local spa. Renew your creativity November 7-9 or November 14-16 at the Maureen Ryan Griffin Writing Retreat 2014, where the author employs prompts and techniques to help you grow as a writer.

These packages, along with reduced off-season rates, feature a stay in elegant rooms like the Hatteras Grand Room, which features a private screened porch, a Whirlpool tub with bath salt, plush robes, and much more. Choose from the top level or the lobby level, both of which overlook the secluded salt marsh paradise of the Intracoastal Waterway. This North Carolina nook is also just a five-minute walk from the Atlantic Ocean.

At The Sunset Inn, a combination of exciting festivals, exceptional packages, and reduced rates make for ongoing North Carolina fun during the off-season.