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After a day of fun in the sun, you'll find there's lots to see around your Sunset Beach vacation rental. Science and nature lovers can explore the galaxy at the Ingram Planetarium, or check out the area's rich natural history at the Museum of Coastal Carolina in nearby Ocean Isle Beach. Then, head to the Kindred Spirit Mailbox on Bird Island. This beachfront installation features a single mailbox with a journal, where visitors have been leaving personal notes and reveries for 30 years. You can look out over the Atlantic and compose your own entry to add to the collection.
Sunset Beach is an ocean lover's paradise, and it's not hard to see why. With its broad, sandy coastline, visitors flock to the area for its bounty of waterfront activities, and you'll find plenty of outfitters offering kayaks, fishing charters, and jetski rentals. The Intracoastal Waterway runs through town, offering a protected lagoon for fishing and boating. Bird-watching at the nearby – and aptly named – Bird Island Preserve is a popular pastime, and you can spot everything from pelicans and ibis to loggerhead turtles amid the more than 13,000 acres of dunes and marshland.
Sunset Beach is the ideal base camp to see the sights of Myrtle Beach. Vacation rentals are close to places like Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, a marine life attraction with dive tours, live shows, and unique marine life in naturalistic habitats, and Family Kingdom Amusement Park, a beachfront amusement and water park with rides, slides, and games. You'll also like the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, a lively promenade near the beach with shops and restaurants, and the Hollywood Wax Museum, a museum outpost with celebrity wax figures, a souvenir store, and a mirror maze.
Like most of the state, Sunset Beach has a humid subtropical climate, which means dry, mild winters and hot, humid summers with plenty of rainfall. Summers are decidedly warm, with regular storms and average highs around 89 degrees in July and August. Winters are cooler, and hover just above freezing between December and February. The toasty summer months are popular with visitors, and Sunset Beach vacation rentals tend to be at their priciest during this season. But the relatively warm winters mean you can score some pleasant, waterfront real estate without the high price tag.
Unlike the more populous cities of the "Grand Strand" to the south, Sunset Beach still has a relaxed landscape that's more rural than urban. The town is made up of 2 sections, with a large barrier island separated from the mainland by the calm waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. You'll find plenty of marshy wetlands along the inlet, and the island itself offers sandy beaches and a fishing pier that extends 900 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. The island's also home to a 13,000-acre bird sanctuary, where you can observe pelicans, gulls, and several species of migratory birds.
The nearest airport is in North Myrtle Beach, SC (CRE-Grand Strand), located 13 mi (20.8 km) from the city center. If you're unable to find a flight that fits your schedule, you can also fly into Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR), which is 27.1 mi (43.7 km) away.
Sunset Beach has an array of kid-friendly places to explore on a family trip. Vacation homes are available near places like Sunset Beach Park, a waterfront park with oak trees, a fishing pier, and a veterans’ memorial, and Waties Island, an unspoiled barrier island with rich flora and fauna on quiet beaches. Kids will also like the Swamp Park, an outdoor amusement park with ropes courses, zip lines, and eco tours.
Our 2021 property listings offer a large selection of 4,139 vacation rentals around Sunset Beach. From 1,638 house rentals to 2,401 condo and apartment rentals, find a unique house rental for you to enjoy a memorable holiday or a weekend with your family and friends.