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North Carolina Azalea Festival

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North Carolina Azalea Festival

Get it on the calendar now! This year’s annual Azalea Festival in Wilmington NC this year is happening April 1-5, 2020.

Join us this year for the annual Azalea Festival originally founded back in 1948. This is Wilmington’s premier annual event with big-name entertainment, galas, family events, and Southern hospitality. The goal is to be nationally recognized as a showcase for the community is a rich array of artwork, gardens, history, and culture. This festival encourages volunteers and civic participation with colorful parades, street fairs, home and garden tours, fireworks, music, delicious food, and of course beautiful gardens and flowers.

History

This festival originally started back in 1934 with Dr. Houston Moore, who had the vision of transforming a swampy Greenfield Lake into a beautiful park. With local clubs and participants as well as the Wilmington Rotary Club, Dr. Moore’s inspiration finally came to fruition 10 years later. The first North Carolina Azalea Festival was held in 1948 with over 60,000 participants.

The festival creates an estimated $51 million annually in economic stimulus with over 1000 volunteers, and thousands of participants. This community celebration is the largest festival of its kind in the state and features a full week of beauty, big-name entertainment, festival parties, kids events, parades, music, and more. There’s a lot of community pride and springtime pageantry with concerts and fares, over 200,000 attendees, and a beautiful parade celebrating Queen Azalea at the official opening of the five-day event. There are over 50 events throughout the week including street fairs, garden tours, special exhibits, workshops, activities, vendors, booths, music and more.

Visit the website to see how you can get involved. Since we are promoting this so early there’s plenty of time to volunteer, find out more about registration and parade attendees, or just get it on your calendar and be sure to attend one or all five days.

More Great Stuff Around Town

Ocean Isle Beach Museum of Coastal Carolina

Hidden Gems Around Sunset Beach

Our Special Place – Sandpiper Bay

Hidden Gems Near Sunset Beach NC

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We live in a beautiful part of the country and what better way to learn more about it than to explore some of the hidden gems and secrets around Brunswick County and Sunset Beach.

Here are some of our favorite Hidden Gems Near Sunset Beach NC.

Swamp Park

Located just a few minutes outside of Sunset Beach in Ocean Isle Beach is the Swamp Park. This outdoor adventure center lets you explore the ecological benefits of our beautiful environment. There are guided ATV tours, zip lines, Swamp boat eco-tours and dozens of hiking and walking trails. It’s a great way to explore our area and learn a little bit more about our nature preserves. Did you know they have the longest, fastest, and tallest the line on the East Coast? Swamp Park is located at 5550 Watts Rd. in Ocean Isle Beach North Carolina.

Hidden Gems Near Sunset Beach NC

Carolina Backwoods ATV Tours

Located a few minutes south in North Myrtle Beach South Carolina is the Carolina Backwoods ATV Tours. Get down and dirty with this family run business for the last six years. They provide guided tours and no experience is required. This is a fun adventure for the entire family. You can get here by going to 1461 Ash Little River Rd., Northwest in Ash North Carolina.

Barefoot Landing

While this isn’t too much of a secret, it is one of the best things to do and see around Sunset Beach. This is a huge shopping, dining, and entertainment complex in North Myrtle Beach. There are hundreds of things to do, large live music calls, restaurants, the Alabama theater, outdoor concerts and variety shows throughout the summer. It’s home to a variety of specialty stores and gift shops and there’s something for everyone.

Hidden Gems Near Sunset Beach NC

Brunswick town

Located in Winnabow North Carolina is a major pre-revolutionary port on North Carolina’s Cape Fear River. During the Civil War, Fort Anderson was constructed atop an old village site and served as part of the Cape fear River defenses below Wilmington. There are several colonial foundations and a two or trail which crosses the earthworks of the Confederate for. You’ll find archaeological ruins of the foundations of colonial kitchens, homesites, and various outbuildings. If you are a history buff this is something not to miss. It’s located at 8884 Saint Phillips Rd. SE. in Winnabow

Ingram planetarium

Located right in our own as Sunset Beach is the Ingram planetarium. This is a great place to see the universe up close and personal with a state-of-the-art facility and a 40-foot dome ceiling with a high definition digital system and surround sound. You can also visit the Museum of Coastal Carolina, the planetarium’s sister facility in Ocean Isle Beach. If you present your planetarium receipt at the museum you get $1 off admission. The planetarium is located at 7625 High Market St. and Sunset Beach and the Museum of Coastal Carolina is located at 21 E. 2nd St.

Hidden Gems Near Sunset Beach NC

Silver Coast winery

Located in Ocean Isle Beach, this little hole in the wall spot is a great place to enjoy a lovely glass of wine from grapes grown in Northern Virginia and Georgia. Discover the hidden treasures of the Silver Coast. You can shop in the unique little gift store and find a wide range of wine-related items and gifts. The barrel room features an enchanting waterfall and offers the perfect setting for special events, weddings, or simply enjoying a glass of rose.

How to get here: located at 6680 Barbecue Rd., Ocean Isle Beach

Sunset River Marketplace

Located in Calabash, the Sunset River Marketplace has been offering unique jewelry, pottery, art, and more since 2002. If you’re looking for something unique, a one-of-a-kind gift, or something nobody else has, check out this amazing little marketplace.

How to get here: 10283 Beach Dr. SW. in Calabash

We hope you start to explore some of these amazing Hidden Gems Near Sunset Beach NC – let us know below what you thought of them!

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Best Restaurants in Sunset Beach and What to Order

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You don’t have to go too far for great restaurants and food right here in Sunset Beach. Nearly all of our restaurants are within a couple block radius on the intracoastal waterway along Sunset Boulevard north. But what are the best places and what should you get? Whether you are a new be, local, or visitor, here’s some of our favorites.

Mavericks Java – located at 303 Sunset Boulevard north, this is the perfect place for brunch or breakfast or maybe just a great cup of coffee. If you’re looking for traditional omelettes, pancakes, and muffins, this is your comfort stop all week long. But, if you need something on the go, their breakfast sandwiches are great as well. They’re open every day of the week until 2 PM and if you need a good blended iced coffee, freshly brewed decaf, or foamy cappuccino, stop into Mavericks Java. You can also pick up a box of their coffee cakes, desserts, or muffins for a little snacking at home.

Simply BBQ

Simply Barbecue – located at 3240 Holden Beach Rd., which is the only one located outside of town but well worth the mention, is one of the best barbecue spots around and it’s a food truck, so you never know where they may end up. Technically they are a food truck but are primarily located next to the BB & T branch on the Holden Beach Causeway near to the entrance of the Harbour Island minigolf. Some of our favorites include the smoky ribs, baked beans, and spicy potato salad. Make sure you get an apple crisp on your way out and their sauces are both vinegary and sweet depending on how you like it. We love brisket so we often will stop in for a pound of brisket and simply take it home to munch on all week long.

Crabby Oddwater

Crabby Oddwaters – located at 310 Sunset Boulevard this tried-and-true local place has been here for decades. If you want true waterfront dining and Sunset Beach, this is it. While many places boast a farm to table mantra, Crabby’s is from ocean to plate. For a taste of true seafood check out some of our favorite dishes at Crabby’s including the Crabby Oddwater combo including salmon, shrimp, and scallops served with olive oil and fresh herbs. Of course, we usually don’t miss the she-crab soup in a velvety cream based sauce with Sherry. If you’re going to share something, check out one of their buckets, which comes with corn, potatoes, sausage, and butter. And for something truly unique, there softshell crab sandwich with occasional remoulade is amazing.

Fibber McGee

Fibber McGee’s – This local favorite is found along Sunset Boulevard up on the corner of Seaside Road. If you’re looking for some good old-fashioned Irish pub fair, this is great. We love it when it gets sunny and warm outside so that we can sit alfresco and enjoy a plate of their nachos, Ruben spring rolls, fried green tomatoes and their delicious slow roasted prime rib sandwich. These are just some of our favorites but if you’re into seafood, they make amazing shrimp tacos and a salmon BLT. Of course, you know they have your favorite Irish draft ready to serve up.

Sarah's Kitchen

Sarah’s Kitchen – located at 1649 Seaside Rd. SW. unit 7, this beach café is a perfect spot for breakfast Monday through Friday. They have huge homemade biscuits, lunch specials, and comfort food favorites such as grilled cheese and tomato soup, meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans, or a bowl of homemade broccoli cheddar soup. When we want some traditional home cooking, Sarah’s is where we go.

Will there you have it, some of our favorite restaurants around Sunset Beach and what to eat when you’re there. Have you eaten at any of these places? What were your favorites? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Best Hiking Trails in Brunswick County NC

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Planning a day hike? There are a lot of beach hikes in Sunset Beach and Bird Island to explore and most of them are pretty tame, at no more than about 3 miles.

The Waccamaw Neck BikewayBest Hiking Trails in Brunswick County NC

This 18-mile off-road trail is perfect for hiking, walking, or biking and it’s handicap accessible. It parallels the Ocean Highway and Kings River Road and is considered easy. On the trail, hikers can access the Huntington Beach State Park and the Brookgreen Gardens. Parking is available at the Morse Park Landing and Murrells Inlet as well as the Huntington Beach State Park. However, if you park at the state park there is an admission fee.

Grissom Parkway Trail

This park is located in Myrtle Beach and is a 5.2 mile, asphalt trail perfect for hikers, walkers, and bicyclists. It’s actually part of the 3000 mile East Coast Greenway system and because there’s no designated trailhead, you can park in any of the commercial areas along the Parkway.

Bird Island

Park at 40th St. and W. Main St. in downtown Sunset Beach and you’re right at the park entrance. This is a beautiful bird reserve with beautiful sandy beaches, high natural dunes, and more than 1200 acres of beautiful salt marsh and title creeks. You can wander around or take a bike on some of the paths or even sign up for one of the guided educational walk’s at 8:30 AM every Wednesday from June through August. The further you walk down you might even run into the mailbox labeled “Kindred Spirit”. This unique landmark has been used by visitors to express their hopes and dreams or just to share a positive note.

Green Swamp Preserve

This open ecological, 15,000-acre treasure has beautiful trails where visitors can enjoy rare plant specimens, endangered wildlife, and unique extensive populations of carnivorous plants including the Venus flytrap and the pitcher plant. To access, visit the Southeast Coastal Conservancy at 2807 Market St. in Wilmington.

Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve

This unique nature preserve is open to the public and available to individuals or groups for guided tours or just open trail systems. The David Sieren learning trail and the Troy Henry learning trail are several trails with plant identification labels throughout and learning stations. Each trail takes about two hours and there is a manual at the Arboretum or can be downloaded from their website

Boiling Springs Lakes Preserve

This large wetland makes up over 6000 acres of landscape to explore. There’s a lot of recreational activities and the trails are perfect for biking, or just taking in the wildlife and the rare wildflowers.

Don’t forget! If you’re buying or selling Sunset Beach real estate, contact our team or browse more local posts and general tips on our blog.

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New Year’s Eve Events Around Sunset Beach 2017-2018

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The end of the year is almost here. If you are still looking for someplace to celebrate, here’s what’s going on around Sunset Beach North Carolina as we ring in 2018.

New Year's Eve Events Around Sunset Beach 2017-2018

New Year’s Eve Party at Roberto’s at 6737 Beach Dr. SW. and Ocean Isle Beach. There New Year’s Eve menu will feature lots of seafood including crab cakes, scallops in a Burre Blanc sauce, bang bang shrimp, salmon, and lots of other fantastic seafood. They’ll also have special veal dishes, pork chops, Ahi tuna and truffle fries. The entrées range from $18-$27 and their open 5 PM to 10 PM on December 31. They are typically closed on Sunday but of course, it’s New Year’s Eve. Make reservations at their website Robertosnc.com.

The Brentwood Restaurant & Wine Bistro from 2:00 PM until 11:30 PM is there New Year’s Eve celebration. Located at 4269 Luck Avenue in Little River, the Brentwood is featuring a fabulous New Year’s Eve menu with house-cured salmon, jumbo shrimp, smoked duck breast, Angus beef Châteaubriand, braised lamb Osso Bucco and delicious sweet treats such as vanilla ice cream with warm chocolate ganache, key lime Charlotte, and crème brûlée. The four-course menu is $65 with additional chefs wine selection between $18 and $28. The regular dinner is from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM with early dinner from 2 PM until 3:45 PM.

New Year’s Eve dinner event at the Jinks Creek Waterfront Grille. Located at 14 Causeway Dr. and Ocean Isle Beach on Sunday, December 31 from 6:00 PM until 12:30 AM is a Prix Fix four-course dinner with Early Bird seating at 6:00 PM for dinner, which is $38 and 8:30 PM seating, which is $50, which includes dinner and the Ball Drop Party beginning at 10 PM. There will be appetizers and a midnight champagne toast. Special menus include butternut squash and apple bisque, tuna crudo with roasted sweet potato and beet Napoleon, surf and turf with petite filet mignon with shrimp, crab, and lobster or chicken strudel.

New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Pink Palace. Located at the Pink Palace and Sunset Room at 295–1 Rice Mill Cir. in Ocean Isle Beach, this will be a great event with their annual New Year’s Eve party. The Pink Palace will be transformed into a beautiful dining atmosphere with candlelight, China, hats, and noisemakers. The festivities begin at 7:30 PM until 12:30 AM and cost $45 per couple or $22.50 for one. Hurry quick, reservations and on the 27th. There will be shrimp cocktail, cheese trays, a pork tenderloin dinner, bunco games, music and dancing and a champagne toast at midnight. This is even a BYOB.

New Year’s Eve at Beach Cove at 4800 South Ocean Blvd. in North Myrtle Beach. From 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM on Sunday will be a beautiful plated dinner from 5 PM to 9 PM at $47 per person. This custom menu will feature grilled New York strip with Jack Daniel caramelized onions, seasonal vegetables, and handmade salted caramel cream puffs. From 9 PM to 2:00 AM at the town center party for just $15 per person at the door, enjoy hors d’oeuvres served at 10:00 PM, brownie bites, and a nice champagne toast for those 21 and over. There will be a DJ playing from 8 PM until 1 AM.

Whatever you choose to do, whether you are painting the town red are enjoying a quiet evening at home, we wish you safety, health, and joy in the new year.

Don’t forget! For all homes and real estate services around Sunset Beach and surrounding waterfront towns, call on Frank and Karen Baker! Your Sunset Beach and Beyond Realtors®

Old Bridge Preservation Society Wine Dinner 2017

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Old Bridge Preservation Society Wine Dinner 2017Want to get involved in the Old Bridge Preservation Society? Join us on Monday, November 13 at La Cucina Italian Grill, 1780 Chandlers Ln., #11 in Sunset Beach for a wine dinner benefiting the Preservation Society.

There are two seatings available at 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM. Tickets must be purchased in advance for reservations. Tickets are $60 each including tax and tip. Combine wonderful food and fabulous wines at a local Italian favorite. The ticket includes dinner, all wine tastings, tax, and tip, benefiting the Old Bridge Preservation Society.

Menu

  • First course – She-crab soup, a Carolina favorite paired with a Belle Provençal white wine from Ventoux, France.
  • Second course – ravioli trio with cheese, lobster, and a roasted garlic and spinach ravioli in homemade Alfredo sauce paired with Tavernello Sangiovese, from Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
  • Third course – chicken Pomodoro, Parmesan crusted chicken with Pomodoro sauce and buffalo mozzarella paired with Los Dos Garnacha/Syrah from Campo di Borja, Spain.
  • Final course – the Ganache-filled chocolate and cake paired with Bodega Norton Chardonnay Tardia Argentina.

Call La Cucina Italian Grill today for reservations at 910-579-9777. Tickets sell out so get your tickets early.

Old Bridge Preservation Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. The bridge is located at 109 Shoreline Dr. W. in Sunset Beach. It was formed in 2010 x 3 women who thought the iconic swing bridge deserved to be saved. The initial efforts were geared toward encouraging the Town of Sunset Beach to relocate the bridge, but when that did not succeed the group move forward independently. By the end of 2010 more than 6000 residents, visitors, and property owners have signed letters to serve the bridge. Today, the bridge and museum house or nestled in a shady spot surrounded by beautiful oak trees. The society still needs support to continue their work and share the story of the bridge for years to come.

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