Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt Winners Announced

Thanks again to everyone that played in the Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt. We ended up with over 3000 qualifying entries!

We're pleased to announce that Paul Hammond from Akron, Ohio was drawn as the grand prize winner. Paul and his family will receive a $1,000 credit for their vacation this year (which we've heard will be their 10th at Sunset Beach!).

Other grand prize winners drawn include:

Choice of Trip Insurance/Linen Setup-Rich Brenner, Grant Hink, and Kimberly Myka

"Sun Catcher" Rental Package-Marcia Gilbert and George Lockhart

Choice of Shopping Trip/Beach Dinner-Kathy Bosse and Pam Krolczyk

Roberto's Dinner Certificate-Sue Schmidbauer and Peggy Stanley

Lynn Yates was drawn as our Day 10 winner of a copy of the "Sunset Properties-opoly" game.

We appreciated all of the interest in this contest, and we'll plan to do another again next year!

Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt-Day 10

Well, we've reached the final day of our first Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt. Hope everyone has enjoyed this little diversion while we all count down the days until 'beach season'.

We want to send thanks out to Mark Randle and the folks at Visual Data Systems (Ellicott City, MD)-they design and support our websites, and first came up with the Scavenger Hunt idea. Of course, we didn't realize how much effort it would take when we said we would try it! But it's been fun on our end-we appreciated hearing all of the vacation stories over the last two weeks.

Here's the final activity: Question: what type of animal might you see in the marshland as you cross the Sunset Beach bridge from mainland to the island? Clue: There are plenty of options for this answer, but we're looking for the one mentioned in this short YouTube video.

Once you think you've got the answer, email us by Saturday at 10 am at sunsetproperties@atmc.net.

Our Day 9 winner of a "Sunset Properties-opoly" game is Megan Woolheater.

We have close to 3,000 qualifying entries to date, and plan to hold the grand prize drawings Monday afternoon. We will post the winners mid-week on our blogs and websites after we have a chance to notify the winners individually.

Thanks again to all of you for playing! We'll do this again in the future.

Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt-Day 9

Hey-looks like we had a visitor from South Dakota yesterday! Thanks to the several of you that reached out to friends there.

We've reached our final two days of the Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt.

Our staff gets asked this question at least once a day by those that haven't stayed at either island before: what's there to do in the area?

At some point in the week, folks need to take a break from our great beaches. Could be they're sunburned (even though Mom told them to put that sunscreen on), or waterlogged (after being in the ocean all day).

Well, there's plenty to do off of the beach when you are ready. Golf and tennis for the athletes in the crowd. Fun shopping for others. A planetarium, wineries and agri-tours for the more inspired. And today's answer. Question #9: Which area museum can kids find a touch tank at? Clue: read the island info page for the answer under the All About... link on either website's home page.

Yesterday's answer: Sunset Properties (of course!). Congratulations to Sydney Love for being selected for the daily prize of a copy of our "Sunset Properties-opoly" game.

Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt-Day 8

ok-thanks to our Google Analytics-we've had folks following the Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt in the last week from every state but South Dakota. We would like to make it a nice round 50 states-can anyone help us out there??

Our round number answer yesterday was 40 pet-friendly homes. Since we're getting so many responses, we're not giving grades like my kids get at their school-if you have the correct answer, you qualify for the day. If not, no such luck. Tough love, as my Mom use to say. But it'll let the prize winners know they really earned it.... Just like Ruth Horne did for Day 7-she'll get a copy of our "Sunset Properties-opoly" game!

We've received some great stories with your answers, and suggestions. One was to post the daily answers somewhere. Makes sense-we'll add it to our Scavenger Hunt contest page by the end of the day.

Ok-ready for today's task? Question: Which company has the most sales volume on the island of Sunset Beach over the last 5 years? Clue: visit the sales page on our Sunset Beach website for the answer.

Once you have the answer, send it to us at sunsetproperties@atmc.net by 10 am Thursday to qualify for today's drawing and the grand prize drawing.

Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt-Day 7

We've received well over 300 correct answers so far to yesterday's question-nice job all. Congratulations to Tom Gunter-he was drawn as our winner of the "Sunset Properties-opoly" game for yesterday!

Day 7 is all about the dogs. Sunset Properties started offering 'pet-friendly' rentals about five years ago. Question: How many total 'pet-friendly' rentals does Sunset Properties offer? Clue: Now this is a bit more tricky-you'll have to do a rental search of our properties for both islands on either the Sunset Beach or Ocean Isle Beach website to get the total. Hint-it is a round number of homes.

When you have the answer, email us at sunsetproperties@atmc.net by 10 am Wednesday to qualify for the daily and grand prize drawings.

Good luck to all!

Sunset Properties Welcomes Junior Tennis Players This Weekend

Sunset Properties is pleased to be sponsoring the Brunswick County Junior Tennis Open this coming weekend March 24-25 at the eight courts at the Ocean Isle Beach Park.

This USTA-sanctioned event has 56 players scheduled in the different events from Boys and Girls 10's thru 18's. This is the first sanctioned tennis tournament for juniors in our county, and we're looking forward to a beautiful weekend to host all of the players and their families.

Draws and schedules should be posted on the USTA website by Wednesday evening. Weather permitting, the goal will be to try to finish play Saturday evening.

Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt-Day 6

Well, we told you the weekend activities were going to take a bit more time...

But thanks for all of the great stories and pictures that we received. Sounds like Pinterest was a bit of a problem for some that hadn't used it before-sorry about that. We'll be working over the next day to get posted all of the photos that were submitted to our website's gallery.

Ok, we're past the halfway point in our contest. It is Monday, so how about something a little less challenging. Today's question: what's the name of the Sunset Properties' program that provides each guest with free DVD movies? Clue: Visit our website home page for Sunset Beach or Ocean Isle Beach.

Email us at sunsetproperties@atmc.net by 10 am Tuesday with the answer to qualify for today's drawing, along with the grand prize drawings.

How about some winners for the last two days:

Day 4 winner: Debbie Yacenda

Day 5 winner: Alexandra Spitzer

Both win a copy of our "Sunset Properties-opoly" game! Congratulations.

Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt-Day 5

One of our favorite shows on television (ok-we're going to date ourselves now) is the CBS Sunday morning show. It's rare that we actually get to watch it Sunday morning, but thanks to DVRs, we find time sometime in the week to catch it.They typically have nice feature stories, just like all of the other news shows. But they usually toss in what I'll call a pictorial-nothing more than a minute or less clip of nature somewhere in our country. The pictures are relaxing, and also bring different memories for each of us that look at them.

So, in honor of "Sunday Morning", today's activity in our Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt has to do with pictures.Do you have a favorite beach picture from a previous stay? If so, go to Pinterest.com, search on Sunset Properties under the "people" option, and then pin that favorite picture to one of our four boards. To enter it in our contest, use the tag "Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt".

For the rookies that haven't stay on either beach yet, you can play too. Go to either of our websites and copy the exterior photo of the home you're going to stay in this year, and pin it to either the Sunset Beach or Ocean Isle Beach board at Pinterest. Again, use the tag "Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt".

Last option of the day-don't want to play on Pinterest.com at all? Go to our website's photo gallery, and post one (or more) of your family vacation photos there. You'll find the photo gallery under the "Social Corner" link at the top right of any page on our website.

All entries posted by 10 am Monday will be eligible for the daily prize drawing for the "Sunset Properties-opoly" game, as well as for the grand prize drawings at the end of the Hunt. We'll update you with Saturday and Sunday's daily winners tomorrow morning.Have fun-and enjoy the trip down memory lane again today!

Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt-Day 4

I saw one of my favorite sites at the beach this morning as I drove into work-a thunderstorm taking place far out in the ocean. As I headed over the bridge just as the sun was rising, the show was better than most 4th of July fireworks displays.

That view, along with some of the great stories that have already been shared as you sent in the answers to the daily questions over the first 3 days, has put me in the mood for beach memories. So that leads to our Day 4 activity in the Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt.

For those of you that have stayed with us before, take a minute to remember your favorite house that you spent time at. Then write a 2 or 3 sentence description of what you and your family enjoyed about that house, and then email that to us at sunsetproperties@atmc.net by 10 am Sunday. Be sure to include the house name in the description-we would like to use some of these on our websites as appropriate.

For those of you that will be first-time visitors this coming season, welcome! We're not going to leave you out of today's activity. If you have already reserved, why don't you go to the property page description for the home you have selected, and 'like' it for us (you'll see the button for that just under the House Name on its individual page). Then email us at sunsetproperties@atmc.net by 10 am Sunday to tell us which house you selected and why.

Congratulations to Jim Appleby for being selected as the Day 3 winner in our contest-he's going to be playing "Sunset Properties-opoly" with his family on vacation this summer! Looks like lots of folks are having fun with this contest-we're going to easily pass the 2,000 qualifying entry level by the end of the weekend! If you are just joining in, you can get an overview of the contest on our website.

Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt-Day 3

You're missing some beautiful weather at the beach right now-we topped out at a sunny 79 yesterday! Hope you’re getting some of this where you are as well.

Congratulations to Amy Shaffer for being drawn as the Day 2 winner from over 300 entries-she’ll get a copy of our “Sunset Properties-opoly” game, and still be eligible for the grand prize drawings.

Here's the Day 3 question: What’s the top claim reason for those that have to use their Trip Insurance policy?

Clue: Visit our Ocean Isle Beach website, and click first on the rental information tab to reach the trip insurance information.

Enter by emailing us at sunsetproperties@atmc.net before 10 am tomorrow to qualify for the prize drawing.

Contest note: it’s clear that many of you are participating from work (that’s ok-we won’t tell). Reminder that we’ll be posting questions on both Saturday and Sunday as well, and each will involve a few extra minutes to complete. We’ll see who the dedicated players are by Monday morning!

Scavenger Hunt-Day 2

Wow! We had over 250 entries yesterday. And not a single wrong answer-good job all! Everyone that responded has their first chance secured in our grand prize drawing! Congratulations to Lauren Winstead-her name was drawn as our first winner-Lauren will get a copy of the "Sunset Properties-opoly" game. Looks like we've got a strong field here-but we'll toss one more softball question out there today to let everyone 'get loose'. Day 2 question: Sunset Properties has homes participating in two programs that include linen service as part of their rental stays. Name the two programs. Clue: visit the promotions page at either our Sunset Beach or Ocean Isle Beach websites. Enter by emailing us at sunsetproperties@atmc.net before 10 am tomorrow to qualify for the prize drawing.

Scavenger Hunt-Day 1

ok-we're going to make the first question in our Scavenger Hunt a relatively easy one: In what year did Sunset Properties first offer vacation rentals?

Clue: visit the About Us page on our website under the "All About..." navigational links to find the answer.

Enter by emailing us at sunsetproperties@atmc.net before 10 am Thursday to qualify for the prize drawing.

Click here to learn all of the Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt contest details, and to see a list of prizes available (including the grand prize of a $1,000 credit toward your vacation)!

Next clue will be posted tomorrow by noon.

Sunset Properties Scavenger Hunt Starts Wednesday!

Starting this coming Wednesday the 14th, Sunset Properties is going to host a 10 day online Scavenger Hunt. Each day we'll post questions or tasks. Those that track down the answer and respond within the following day will earn chances in our prize drawings.

We will post the daily clues right here on our blog, as well as on our Facebook profile page around noon each day. We'll include hints as to where you can find the answer. That could be on one of our websites, a blog, Facebook, Pinterest boards, or another website.

From all of the correct daily responses, we're going to draw a total of 10 daily winners who each will receive our very own "Sunset Properties-opoly" game that we've created in celebration of our 25th season.

At the end of the contest, we'll then draw 10 more winners for some complementary services to add to your 2012 vacation with Sunset Properties. The top prize will be a $1,000 credit toward this year's stay!

Click through to our Scavenger Hunt page for all of the contest details.

Bookmark this page, and plan to check back starting at noon on Wednesday for the first clue.

Visit the Old Bridge on Your Next Sunset Beach Vacation

Those that have been coming to Sunset Beach for years know the sound by heart.... the rumble of tires on wood. Whether you lived on the island or nearby on the mainland, that was the sound of another vehicle crossing the old pontoon bridge between the two.

Most of us love our new bridge. The safety features it brings to those of us on the island is immeasurable. The elimination of restrictions to boat traffic on the waterway, even the saved time from waiting either for the bridge to open back to traffic due to boat openings (or worst-breakdowns). And the new views from atop the bridge and you head toward the island are just bonuses to all of that.

But I doubt you could find an island 'regular' that somewhere inside doesn't miss the old bridge. Yes, it is tough to overcome all of the advantages of the new one. But I can remember that one of my goals when driving to the beach for a weekend stay many years ago was to catch the stoplight on red at the bridge. That would be my signal that I had reached the beach-we took a deep breath; usually rolled down the car windows and took in the sights and smells of the waterway and ocean.

Well, if you aren't aware, a group of locals formed several years ago, and saved the old bridge as a piece of history. You can visit the old bridge on your next vacation-it is just across from the Town's main firestation on Shoreline Drive West on the mainland (just down the street from the Wings, Little Friends (which is part of our Sunset Properties Perks Club), and Island Breeze shops as a reference point). The group provided a number of events last year for both tourists and locals to share the history of the bridge, and it might be a great way to spend an afternoon or early evening this year. Visit the Old Bridge Preservation Society for a current schedule and to learn more about that group's activities.

You can find other local area activity ideas for your vacation on our Sunset Properties vacation rental website.