Murrells Inlet, SC

The name Murrells Inlet was made official by the post office in 1913, though the origins of this name are unknown. Much of Murrells Inlet was occupied by rice plantations in the 18th and 19th centuries, and rice was the most profitable crops of the southeast for many plantation owners. Our Inlet was also visited by pirates who used the serpentine creeks as hiding spots as they awaited the chance to plunder loaded ships bound for England. (Argh, matey!) The Civil War and several devastating hurricanes caused the rice culture to wane and by 1916 there were no more commercial rice growers in business. The new business for this area was commercial fishing. Recreational fishing and charter fishing excursions also began to become popular at this time. During the Great Depression, Murrells Inlet was blessed with much-needed jobs and money when Archer Milton Huntington and his wife Anna Hyatt Huntington spent millions of dollars to build a 9,000 acre homestead and gardens. They built Atalaya Castle for their home, and they hired only local workers, including brick masons, carpenters, painters, landscapers, etc. This elaborate retreat is now split between Huntington Beach State Park and Brookgreen Gardens.



This history was culled from the history link on the Murrells Inlet website.

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Huntington Beach State Park
Beautiful white sand beaches, picnic areas, nature trails, a Nature Education Center, camping, and even a CASTLE! Make sure to get plenty of photos of the alligators. A trip to Murrells Inlet isn't complete without a visit to this beautiful park!

Shell Landing
Visit Shell Landing to put in your small boat, kayak, or canoe for a paddle around the inlet. Tool around between marsh grasses and oyster beds as you enjoy the gorgeous and peaceful scenery. This is also a popular spot for shrimping.

Brookgreen Gardens
A phenomenal sculpture garden that showcases outdoor sculptures amidst beautiful gardens that display native flora and fauna. This National Historic Landmark also contains a zoo and offers tours and creek excursions. Brookgreen has many outstanding events year-round. It's hard to give a summary for such a wonderful place! (Photo from www.brookgreen.org. Click photo to follow link.)


Captain Dick's Marina
Charter Fishing Excursions and other water fun.

Express Watersports
Enjoy Murrells Inlet from land AND sea! SCUBA diving, parasailing, dolphin watching, kayaking, surfing lessons, and much, much more!


Golf
Many great golf courses await you in Murrells Inlet. Come out and play a round at Blackmoor, Wachesaw Plantation, Indian Wells, and more! The Myrtle Beach area is known as the Golf Capital of the World.

Marshwalk and Bike Path
Take a stroll along the Marshwalk and enjoy the views of the saltwater marsh. Keep an eye out for all the birds and wildlife, and check out some of the events happening along the Marshwalk. The Marshwalk extends south to a paved bike path that continues all the way down through Litchfield Beach! This nice wide bike path is popular with walkers, runners, bike riders and rollerbladers. Highly recommended!

Local Events
Murrells Inlet hosts several events year-round that you'll want to check out. Some of these include the annual Blessing of the Inlet, oyster roasts, boat parades, the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, the African American Community Coalition Annual Fish Fry, the Atalaya Arts and Crafts Fair, and many, many more!

Murrells Inlet is famous for its large number of incredible restaurants. You won't have any problem finding somewhere great to enjoy your next meal. But you may have a problem deciding WHICH restaurant to choose! Here is a list of just a few great choices.

*Inlet Crabhouse and Raw Bar - a local's favorite. I adore the lobster bisque!

*Flo's Place - Feel like you're in N'Awlins at this unique restaurant. If you've ever wanted to try 'gator stew, now's your chance! Seafood, Steaks, and a lot of good-time atmosphere.

*Drunken Jack's - Pirate themed restaurant that has been a favorite in Murrells Inlet for quite some time. Check out the legend of Drunken Jack here. The site also has coupons!


*Backfinz - This one looks like a bit of a dive, but is renowned for having THE best crabs and crabcakes in the area. Beware though, they allow smoking in the restaurant and it is usually quite full of smoke.

*Cedar Hill Landing - Great food and live music! Another huge favorite in the area.

*Nance's - Get your oyster roast here!

*Creek Ratz - Shagging on the Creek every Sunday! A fun place to eat. The kids can even draw on the chalkboard walls in the kids' section.

*River City Cafe - great casual fare and a fun atmosphere. Part of the Divine Dining Group, which owns and operates several great restaurants in the area.


*Other Divine Dining Group restaurants include Bovine's Woodfired Specialties, Wahoo's, and Divine Fish House. All are recommended!

There are plenty of other restaurants that you can sample from as well. Have a great time and enjoy all the wonderful, fresh, local seafood!

Murrells Inlet, SC has some chain hotels like Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express. I recommend renting a condo or house during your stay. There are some beautiful choices!

*Dunes Realty
*Beach Realty
*Garden City Realty

You can also camp! Huntington Beach State Park offers three levels of camping - RV, tent-site camping, and primitive camping areas with picnic tables, fire rings, and nearby restroom facilities.