Sunset Beach, North Carolina, boasts broad, limitless beaches, salty air, surfable waves, and an abundance of delicious fresh seafood. I know your thoughts are already on the patio, drinking a mai-tai. Isn’t that an adorable tiny drink umbrella? Please, yes.
The good news for us (and maybe negative news for you). #sorrynotsorry), but this gorgeous beach is directly in our backyard! We’ve been there numerous times and are here to help you find the best things to do in Sunset Beach, NC so you can have a great vacation.
We’re not huge “people” people, preferring to visit major cities like Charlotte rather than laze about and become human toast, but this beach may have changed our minds. It’s the perfect romance hideaway for a relaxing weekend or something more thrilling! Whatever your tastes are, we have some great Sunset Beach date ideas for you!
If you seek the ideal balance of thrilling activities in Sunset Beach NC and leisure, keep reading because you’ll be calling in sick tomorrow and Googling “fastest way to get to Sunset Beach North Carolina.” #prediciton!
Sunset Beach, North Carolina has 25 things to do.
1. Bird Island’s Kindred Spirit Mailbox
A bench surrounds this mailbox on the beach, which is filled with pens and journals. People have gone down the beach for 30 years, baring their souls and leaving them by the water. You may take pens and journals and record your most intimate thoughts, desires, and concerns without anybody knowing. You didn’t expect to receive free therapy at the beach, did you?
The mailbox was the inspiration for Nicholas Sparks’ novel “Every Breath!”
The Way To The Kindred Spirit Mailbox
The mailbox is a little out of the way, but it is worth the effort! The best choice is to park your car at Sunset Beach Public Beach Access on West 40th Street in North Carolina. Cross the bridge, then turn right (away from the pier).
From there, walk along the beach for approximately 30 minutes (1.5 miles) until you reach the mailbox on your right. It’s easy to see from the shore, but once you reach the Jetty, you’ve gone too far.
2. Coastal Carolina Museum
While not located in Sunset Beach, this museum is near Ocean Isle Beach and is worth a visit if you and your spouse like history. The museum showcases the natural history of the coastal region, including displays on coast reefs, marine life, and even sharks! One of the best things to do is near Sunset Beach, North Carolina.
Maybe go there once you’ve finished your weekend swimming. #Logic.
3. Planetarium Ingram
Oh, space, everything! Ingram Planetarium is a popular Sunset Beach destination for science enthusiasts interested in learning more about the solar system and space. If you don’t like space but are drawn in, the Sky Theatre features amazing laser shows. You will see lasers set to Pink Floyd, The Beatles, U2, Country, and other music!
Another wonderful element of the Pal Dennis Science Hall is a hurricane simulator, which lets you experience what it’s like to be in a storm! If you enjoy science or are looking for free things to do in Sunset Beach NC, you should visit Ingram!
Yes. You read that right: entry is free.
4. The Swamp Park Eco Adventure Zip-Line Park is number four.
Head down to Swamp Park for more adventurous couples (like us!) who need a break after baking in the sun all day. Zipline tours, guided ATV rides, climbing an aerial adventure park, and resting on the Shallotte River are all alternatives. There are even live alligators!
And now, with all this talk about sharks and gators, you’re never going to get into the water.
5. Silver Coast Winery No. 5
If we didn’t propose a great adult beverage, you may believe we were abducted! Silver Coast Winery, located only minutes from the shore, has been producing award-winning wine for the past decade.
We walked in for a sampling and found some quite odd wines! The wine isn’t the best you’ll ever drink, but it’s decent, the interior is quite cute, and the staff is super friendly, making it one of the best things to do in Sunset Beach NC. Caleb favored “Calabash Red,” whereas I chose “Calabash White.”
6. Go to Calabash Town
Speaking about Calabash, it’s a delightful seaside town just a few minutes from the beach. It began as a fishing community but has now grown into a wonderful tiny town full of character and great seafood.
It even includes a seafood dish called “Calabash Style,” which is lightly breaded, fried, and always served with hushpuppies. This wonderful dish is typically served family-style! Eating seafood in Calabash was the highlight of our vacation to Sunset Beach.
7. Go to Bird Island.
If 1300 acres of pristine beaches, dunes, breathtaking salt marsh, and natural tidal rivers seem intriguing, Bird Island is the place to go. It is one of ten sites that make up the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, and it is easily accessible by walking along the Sunset Beach beachfront towards the South Carolina border.
Throughout the summer, you may take a guided tour of the region and learn more about the Carolina Coast. This is also the site of the Kindred Spirit Mailbox!
Oh! Also, turtles! Bird Island is home to loggerhead sea turtles, which are considered endangered in the United States.
8. Summertide Adventure Tours
Take a Twilight Tour of Sunset Beach, which departs at dusk and allows you to relax in the water while enjoying the stunning sunset over the beach!
If you’re looking for something more exciting to do for the day, they also offer water parks, adventure excursions, and fishing adventures!
9. Sunset Beach Pier
What is a beach without a pier? It would not be a beach!
Aside from (lame) jokes, the Sunset Beach pier is 900 feet long and has a fish-washing table, a snack bar with a grill, a gaming area, and an air-conditioned pier house for when the heat in North Carolina gets too much. Read every day from June through August!
If you want to go away from the beach, you may go fishing off the pier and catch a variety of species. You’ll be able to buy bait as well as a fishing pass that includes the use of a rod, avoiding the need to uncomfortably squeeze your own into the car.
10. Bird watching
Did you know that North Carolina is home to 440 bird species? You’ve reached your “learning something new every day” goal for today. You are welcome.
Sunset Beach is a stop on the North Carolina Birding Path, which is more of a collection of bird-watching locations than a path itself.
Sunset Beach features six locations: Canal Street, North Shore Drive, Bay Street, 40th and Main, Bird Island, and East and West Lakes. With all of the birding activity in the area, this is one of the best things to do in Sunset Beach NC if you and your spouse enjoy birds!
11. Visit One Love Market
Farmers’ markets are my favorite places to shop. Typically, they provide complimentary meal samples. But I am getting ahead of myself.
If you appreciate farmers’ markets, you should stop by this seasonal, open-air market in Brunswick County that supports local artisans and farmers. Handcrafted jewelry, veggies, hand-baked sweets, and shabby-chic, bohemian-style apparel are all available!
They are only open during the summer, so check the schedule before visiting!
12. Eat The Best Bagel In Calabash At The Famous Bagel Dock
This is not the place to be if you are following a keto diet. So what about the rest of us? OMG, GO TO BAGEL DOCK ASAP. Run. Walking is not permitted.
They’re the greatest bagel store in North Carolina for a reason, and I guarantee the bagels will rival those in New York.
Every day, they make fresh bagels, cream cheese, salads, sandwiches, and pastries in their store. They use reverse osmosis-treated water, which they say is what makes it so tasty.
They provide a huge selection of cream cheese and bagel flavors that you may customize to your liking. We wanted to eat so many of them since they were soft and chewy.
13. Consume Extremely Fresh Seafood
North Carolina, as a coastal state, has some great seafood in general, but the seafood in coastal NC is much better! It may even be better than the seafood in nearby North Myrtle Beach!
We had some of the best, no-frills, but incredibly excellent seafood at Calabash’s Waterfront Seafood Shack, which we will remember for the rest of our lives. You can determine whether the “catch of the day” was indeed caught that day.
14. Investigate Sunset Beach Trading Co.
Yes, it’s bright blue and purple, and it seems like a tourist trap, which it is. But it’s still something you have to see.
Inside, you’ll find a range of beach-themed knick-knacks, including shirts, pants, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and souvenirs. This is the place to go if you leave your tropical-printed shirt at home.
Even if you don’t buy anything, they have tasty ice cream to assist you beat the summer heat!
15. Participate in a Tideline Fishing Charter
Sunset Beach offers several fishing options for couples. Sunset Beach Tideline Charters provides a range of private tours and cruises to fish for red drum, flounder, speckled trout, and other species. If sunset cruises and environmental excursions are your thing, they also provide these!
16. Pay a visit to the Sunset Beach Swing Bridge and Museum.
From 1958 to 2011, this swing bridge connected the island to the mainland. It is currently a small museum and community gathering place. It is operated by the Old Bridge Historical Society to connect the area’s past and future through education and preservation.
17. Take A Sunset Beach Ghost Walk
You may learn about the area’s unique history at nearby Ocean Isle Beach, which includes Spanish conquistadors, pioneers, pirates, colonists, plantations, Civil War naval conflicts, shipwrecks, whisky smugglers, stunning storms, and more!
If that isn’t enough, Ocean Isle Beach is said to be one of the most haunted places on the East Coast! If you’re feeling courageous, you can learn everything about it on this horrific ghost walk!
18. Bald Head Island Lighthouse No. 18
The first lighthouse, built in 1795, has since been dismantled. This version was created in 1816, therefore it is still rather ancient! You may take a boat to Bald Head Island (no cars are allowed on the island) and join a lighthouse tour to learn more about the island’s importance in American history and the Civil War.
19. Join TourH20 for a pontoon ride.
Would you like to do something romantic and genuinely southern? Finish the day with a three-hour sunset pontoon boat ride! You’ll be able to explore the beautiful beach area and maybe even see some dolphins!
TourH20 also offers nature excursions on the pontoon boat or, if pontoons are not available, on the water.
20. Sunset Beach Park is number twenty.
If you still want to unwind but are tired of sand in your shorts (there’s so much sand), head to Sunset Beach Park. There are breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, tall oak trees, and strolling trails perfect for a romantic sunset picnic. The Calabash Deli is an excellent place to buy sandwiches for this reason!
If you need some souvenirs to take home, the Sunset Beach Waterfront Market also offers shipping services!
21. Golf
Sunset Beach, and the Brunswick Islands as a whole, are golfers’ paradise. Sunset Beach is known as “NC’s Golf Coast,” and it is home to six championship golf courses, with many more nearby.
22. Bald Head Island Beach is number 22 on the list.
If you thought Sunset Beach was tranquil, wait till you see Bald Head Beach! Because vehicles are not permitted on the island, you can only get there by passenger boat from Sunset Beach. You can hire bikes or golf carts when you arrive.
Bald Head Island Beach is a 15-mile-long marshland haven of solitude with fantastic bird watching!
23. Brunswick Historic Town and Fort Anderson State Historic Site
This is another one for history enthusiasts. Brunswick was a major port before the Revolution, but it was destroyed by British soldiers and never rebuilt. During the Civil War, Fort Anderson served as Cape Fear’s defense. You may explore the waterfront environment and learn about the area’s history.
It’s around 45 minutes from Sunset Beach, so pack your best road trip questions and plan a quick road trip!
24. Dine at La Cucina Italian Grill for delectable Italian fare.
I told you to eat fish, and now I’m suggesting you eat Italian food. The spice of life is diversity!
Some consider La Cucina to be the best restaurant in Sunset Beach, and it is known for its chef’s specialties made with fresh ingredients and handcrafted pasta that transports you back to Italy! Their wine-by-the-glass selection is also extremely impressive!
They also provide a gluten-free menu, which is uncommon to find in little towns like this!
25. Stay at Brunswick Beaches RV Park.
If beachy resorts aren’t your style and you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, this RV site offers full hookups in quiet areas around the lagoon. You may also rent a cabin or pitch a tent at this resort, which features a swimming pool, horseshoe pits, a sand volleyball court, a camp kitchen, and fire rings. Good day, made marshmallows.
Helpful Travel Planning Hints
- If you’re planning a trip to Sunset Beach and want to make the most of your time on the water, use our Sunset Beach tide chart.
- Want to know how the weather is or how many guests you’ll have up close and personal with? Take a peek at the Sunset Beach NC webcam!
- Are you looking for a holiday rental? Sunset Properties specializes in beachfront properties, so they understand what they’re talking about!
- Click here to see the prices for accommodations around Sunset Beach.
Conclusion
Sunset Coastal was voted one of National Geographic’s 21 Best Beaches in the World; it’s a little coastal village full of beauty and charm! Sunset Beach is a lovely, calm holiday to spend with friends, whether you want to sunbathe on the beach or enjoy superb seafood with a happy hour at the waterfront.
There is so much to see and do that you will want to return to explore the endless coasts! What do you think you’ll do?
