All in a Day on Ocean Isle Beach

After publishing my last OIB BLOG, “Welcome Back” it was requested that I provide some of the contact information to the beach activities of which I spoke. Here are some, there are more but this is a strong start.

Beach Portraits:
Jordan Portrait Design, 100-5 Causeway Dr., 910-579-3500, www.jordanportrait.com

Bike Rentals:
Surf Unlimited, 17 Causeway Dr., 910-579-1525, www.surfunlimitedsurfshop.com

Children’s Activities & Programs:
Madeline’s PLAYHOUSE, 100-1 Causeway Dr., 920-575-7263, www.madelinesplayhouse.com Children’s Toys, Games, Books, Arts & Crafts, Puzzles, Dress-up.

CAMP OIB, at the OIB Community Center, 44 E 1st St., 910- 579-4394. 10 a.m. – 12 noon, Arts, crafts, games, and stories for children 3 – 10 years of age. Limit of 35 participants, first come-first served – No advance reservations. Activity Participant Forms must be completed for all participants.

Museum of Coastal Carolina, 21 E 2nd St., 910-589-1016, www.museumofcc.org. Family programs, Monday – Friday at 3:30pm; and special programs Monday’s and Thursdays 7:00-8:00pm.

Deep Sea Fishing School & Charters:

Capt. Brant’s Sport Fishing Charters, at the Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Center at the bridge,
910-575-FISH, www.OIFC.com

Hurricane Fleet Sport Fishing, waterfront Calabash, 910-579-3660, www.hurricanefleet.com

Fishing Licenses & Tackle:
Island Tackle, 6855 Beach Dr. SW, 910-579-6116.

Fishing Tackle:
Sheffield’s, 57 Causeway Dr., 910-579-9615

Jet Skiing:
Ocean Isle Fishing Center, Phone: 910-616-4SKI, www.oifc.com/jetski.cfm

Kayak, Surf Board and Body Boards Rentals:
Surf Unlimited, 17 Causeway Dr., 910-579-1525, www.surfunlimitedsurfshop.com

Parasailing:
NC Water Sports, just right of the pier at 1 E First St., 910-616-3200, www.ncwatersports.com

Surfing Lessons:
Ocean Isle Surf Academy, 910-579-1525, www.oceanislesurfacademy.com

Planetarium:
Ingram Planetarium, 7625 High Market St., Sunset Beach, 910-575-0033, www.ingramplanetarium.org

Putt-putt:
Ocean Isle Beach River Country Miniature Golf, on the Causeway, 910-579-2030.

Real Estate:
Sunset Properties, 102 Causeway Dr., 910-575-8603. Keep up with the market. Ocean Isle Beach is a terrific place to consider for investment. And with a healthy inventory and motivated Sellers, 2008 may be the time to make the investment. So plan an hour or an afternoon with us during your upcoming vacation to look at the properties available for purchase on the island or in the area.

Sunday Services:

Ocean Isle Beach Chapel, (non-denominational), 4 W Third St, 910-575-4166‎

OIB Sunday Service, (non-denominational), on the beach, just right of the pier, next to the cross, 910-575-4166, 8:30am.

Ocean View Baptist Church, 7025 Beach Dr. SW, OIB, 910-579-6833

Saint Brendan’s Catholic Church, 5101 Ocean Hwy W, Shallotte, 910-754-8544

Seaside United Methodist Church, 1300 Seaside Rd, Rte 904 Sunset Beach, 910-579-5753

St. Luke Lutheran Church, 5869 Ocean Hwy W, OIB, 910-579-0107

Shallotte Presbyterian, 1025 McRourk, Shallotte, 910-754-6929

Summer Concert Series:

Offered by the Property Owner’s Association each Friday night, 6:30-8:00pm, at 21 E2nd St. at the Coastal Museum, here on the island. Enjoy an evening with your family and friends listening to live music. Each concert will feature a different band playing family friendly music. Bring a lawn chair, food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Wine Tasting:

Silver Coast Winery, Barbeque Rd., 910-287-2800, www.silvercoastwinery.com, Monday – Saturday 11am – 6pm, Sunday 12pm – 5pm. Special events throughout the year.

Remember, to make your reservations early!

Diane Dalen
Broker-In-Charge
Ocean Isle Beach
June 24, 2008

Why Stay in a Vacation Rental Home instead of a Hotel?

Though vacation rentals is our business, we know that many folks have never considered staying in a vacation rental instead of a hotel such as those we offer through Sunset Properties. When you consider the advantages, we think you'll agree that renting a home is generally more relaxing for the family, and can save you money on the trip.

Vacation rental homes are typically second-homes for their owners. Many of our owners stay in their homes for at least several weeks each year, so they are furnished and equipped to their personal tastes. It's not a sterile environment such as you might find at a typical hotel room.

Even in our smaller cottages, there's room to spread out compared to a hotel suite. Most cottages have three to eight bedrooms along with a living room, dining area, and full kitchen. Some homes have additional living space in the form of a loft or more. All of the homes have departure maid service included in the rental price, so you don't have to spend the last hours of your trip worrying about cleaning the house.

You can search for available homes on our website by going to www.sunsetproperties.travel, selecting the island that you are interested in, and then do a quick rental search for the dates that you are planning to go on vacation.

As we all look to save some money while traveling this year, having a full kitchen allows the family to have a special dinner out, but enjoy the rest of their meals at the house. Don't know your experience, but when our family travels, we end up spending more on dining out than we do for the rooms! You can control your costs (and avoid the driving and potential waits for table and the meal) by eating in.

For most parts of the year, you don't have to book a vacation rental home months in advance. Those guests that have a favorite rental home will tend to book well in advance to be sure to reserve that home for the same time next year. But if you don't have a strong perference on the house (or even like to stay in different homes each trip!), you can find a home on our website or by calling our reservations staff at 888-339-2670.

So when you're planning your next family vacation, consider staying at a vacation rental home instead of a hotel. If you're heading toward Sunset Beach or Ocean Isle Beach, NC, we hope you'll choose to stay with Sunset Properties. If you're going somewhere else in the country, check out your options in that area by visiting an industry association website at vrma.com.

Ready For Cool Italian Ice?

One thing I look forward to when I go to the beach is a cool treat. After six hours of lounging out in the sun and surfing a good session, it’s a pleasure to enjoy an ice cream cone or a well made milkshake. It’s easy with all the ice cream shops hugging the coast from here to Cherry Grove and Myrtle Beach. Common sense says it’s not right to pass on great ice cream, but recently I have taken on an appreciation for Italian Ice.

Sunset Slush offers REAL Italian Ice in a multitude of tasty flavors. There is a great selection of tropical and traditional flavors that can be combined anyway you like in a small, medium or large size. My favorite combination is lemon lime mixed with mango and my fiancé loves the chocolate. Choose the large size, like me, and get 4 scoops in a colorful souvenir koozie that you can keep filling up every time you visit.

Sunset Slush began as a mobile business on area beaches. Its local popularity has grown to include a store that is centrally located between Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach on NC route 179. It is a bright yellow building that provides a fresh tropical environment. There is a great patio where friends and family can sit back and enjoy their delicious frozen treats. Stop by after a day on the beach and I guarantee you’ll be refreshed.

Written By: Jake Foutz - Marketing, Sunset Properties

WELCOME BACK

Ocean Isle Beach, NC comes to life again for 2008.

Most of you reading this OIB BLOG know only the summer season with all its vibrancy. However, the annual change in lifestyle here starts off slowly and then takes off. In late spring, we see a slow transition in the number of lighted homes. Where just a few weeks ago we might have seen only a handful of lights, now each house is lit with life. There are just more than 425 full timers on the Island, but in the summer we swell to more than 3,200 homes occupied at any given time with more than 25,000 people.

Our puppy, Freddy, knowing only the quiet of the Island, barks with each new sound. While we are working to help him acclimate to his new neighbors and teach him that he does not own the island, just the house, he still holds our neighbors accountable. We're acclimating, as well. While we enjoyed our uncluttered lives and the serenity of the beach these past months, we welcome the color, laughter and activity our friends, family and visitors bring.

You come with friends, family and faithful companions. With anticipation you arrive on Saturday and settle in. On Sunday morning you wake, with no certain agenda. You dress in your bathing suit and wander out to a full house with the smell of coffee, sweet fruit and bacon. You gather on your decks to enjoy the warmth of the day, the breeze of the ocean. Some may go to one of the two non-denominational services offered on the beach at the pier. Others will head directly to the beach, and start packing the golf carts and tow carts with chairs and umbrellas, coolers, boogie boards, shovels and pales, frisbees and balls, and radios and books.

You settle in, look out at the horizon, listen to the surf and the birds, and take a deep breath and recognize your here. You play with your children, you enjoy your family, and catch up with your friends. You start planning your days with parasailing, jet skiing, canoeing, surfing, fishing trips, golf, children’s programs, turtle exhibits, planetarium visits, go carts, put-put, cooking, restaurants, and a must - the Friday night concert.

Yet with all these activities life on the beach remains a lifestyle of simple pleasures- companionship, food, exercise and natural beauty.

Diane Dalen
Broker-In-Charge
Sunset Properties
Ocean Isle Beach