Sunset Beach Houses Late Afternoon

When visiting Sunset Beach before the sun goes down, the late afternoon offers a magical time in which the colors and atmospheric conditions create a dream-like atmosphere.

Not quite a fog but more of a haze from the ocean mist, the air becomes muddled and distant objects such the mile long row of houses seem to fade into the horizon.

Sunset Beach's one mile of housing along the beach offers a glimpse much like stepping into someone's back yard. In this case, however, you're stepping into someone's beach yard. Many of the homes have patio decks, and some have pits surrounded by planters and small fences to delineate their private areas from the public beach.

Long time residents in the modest bungalows to opulent mansions mix with weekend and week long vacationers filling the spots on many of the rentals along the beach.

Add to the mix the day-trippers who come, park, and explore the sandy shore of this north Orange County community, and you have a lot going on. When you visit, don't leave trash, and be respectful of the people who live or are vacationing at Sunset Beach.