The Green Belt runs parallel to Sunset Beach and is also the setting for the annual art festival and the starting point for a self-guided route. A history tour adds another way to explore, with buildings that have had different uses over time. When planning your stay, you can choose between the art program, walking route, and local history.
Green Belt and Beach
The Green Belt is a 14-acre park with a pastoral character. Public restrooms and outdoor showers are available in the Sunset Beach area. Check their current operating status before your visit, as operational details can change. The park and beach offer different points of reference for a coastal stay. These facilities may be useful when visiting the beach.
The Sunset Beach Art Festival
Las Damas has hosted the Sunset Beach Art Festival annually for more than 50 years. Unique vendor booths, live entertainment, and activities for children line the Green Belt. The “Art Gallery” is a juried art exhibition featuring a diverse selection of art media. The festival therefore combines booths and entertainment with a dedicated exhibition format. If you’re planning your stay around the festival, check the dates for that year’s event.
The Self-Guided Walking Tour
The self-guided Sunset Beach Walking Tour is 2.8 miles long. From the Green Belt, it crosses Pacific Coast Highway to Sunset Island, then heads north to the Water Tower, south to Warner, and back to the starting point. The route connects these named places in a loop. Unlike the history tour, which focuses on historic buildings and their past uses, this tour follows a set sequence of places.
Buildings and History
The history tour through Sunset Beach includes buildings from different periods and with different uses. The Old Lookout House was a former Coast Guard observation post during World War II. The Fourth Street Towers is a residence built in 1912 from repurposed wood and featuring a whimsical mural by local artist Neill Ketchum. King Neptune’s Restaurant was built in 1920 and combines military memorabilia with nautical antiques. Caslin’s “Original” Castle dates to 1924 and was used to store illegal spirits during Prohibition.
The construction years 1912, 1920, and 1924 place three stops in chronological order. Their historical emphasis differs: the Fourth Street Towers highlights repurposed materials and a mural, Caslin’s Castle its use during Prohibition, and King Neptune’s Restaurant its military and nautical antiques. The Old Lookout House adds its former connection to the Coast Guard during World War II.
For the broader travel overview: Huntington Beach.
