It seems all who visit the Sunset Beach island want to call a piece of it their own, even if only for a few hours.
Beach goers typically stake their claim with towels, chairs, umbrellas and, in Sunset Beach, cabanas or large tent-like canvas-and-metal canopies.
More often than not, the strand has room for them all, even on a first-come, first served basis on holidays like July 4.