Sunset Beach Seashore

It was amazing, had a great time, very beautiful and peaceful. Definitely allot of beach to walk. Though, I got to say there wasnt many shells at all.

The Name Is Justified I visited Sunset Beach in the winter. It was quiet and peaceful, though pretty cold. Not many people around, which made for a relaxing walk along the shore. The sunset colors were really beautiful—soft and calming. A nice place to unwind, even in the off-season.

Sunset Beach is the southern most Brunswick Islands beach and ranked by National Geographic’s as one of the 21 Best Beaches in the World. Miles of pristine, clean and serene beach front and neighbor to Bird Island, a 1300 acre state preserve, and the Kindred Spirit Mailbox. Three miles of white sand and undisturbed sand dunes, offer a natural habitat for a vast array of coastal wildlife and nesting ground, including the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. Sunset Beach has a full-service fishing pier with snack bar and grill, outdoor showers and modern bathroom facilities. If one is willing to make the 1.5 mile stroll along the beach one will first encounter the primitive 1.25 mile nature trail etched into the north side of the dunes. And shortly after, the Kindred Spirit Mailbox located up in the dunes offering travelers the ability to pen encouraging words to those who come afterwards. Author Nicholas Sparks was so moved by the mailbox, it became the inspiration behind his 2018 novel Every Breath. Parking is available right on site and on-street parking but comes at a price of $5/hour. An adjacent sand lot does offer all day parking at $10, so for a planned day a better option.

Sunset Beach is easily one of the best beaches in North Carolina! For the best experience, I recommend heading there in the mid-afternoon, especially during peak season when it can get pretty crowded. If you’re driving in, try to carpool when possible—parking is limited, and they do charge for it now. Still, it’s absolutely worth the trip!