Murrells Inlet is a little seaside community in South Carolina. This fishing town has a year-round population of over 6,000 residents and has been steadily growing into a beloved vacation and retirement destination. It located just south of Myrtle Beach and is among the Grand Strand, the collection of popular beach towns in the Carolinas.
Known for its Restaurant Row, Murrells Inlet residents and visitors cherish the award-winning fresh seafood and barbecue; it is considered to be the "Seafood Capital of South Carolina." Main Street is loaded with cute shops, eateries and has maintained the feeling of a true southern fishing village. Many claim that Murrells Inlet is the hidden treasure of the Carolina coast for antiquing.
In Murrells Inlet there is an abundance of natural beauty that creates a nature lovers paradise. Explore Brook Green Gardens, one of the most lush and breathtaking gardens in South Carolina. Huntington State Park offers miles of trails to bird watch, fish, and join in a nature program. Murrells Inlet has miles of white sandy beaches ideal for swimming, surfing, kayaking, and basking in the sun. The year-round mild weather creates the perfect climate for lots of golf and tennis.
Houses in Murrells Inlet have a median price of $194,000. The majority of the homes are mobile homes with two bedrooms, explaining why homes that cost less than $100,000 make up 21% of the market. There are single-family homes and a few apartment complexes. For the Grand Strand these homes in Murrells Inlet are some of the least expensive.
Price Range:Murrells Inlet provides the over 15,000 residents a relaxed coastal community. It is popular with tourists and therefore considerably increases in population during the warmest summertime months. The mild weather has also made it a great place for retirees. The snowbirds come down in the winter months to escape the piles of snow and icy weather. Like all visitors and locals, they revel in the great golf, tennis, and salt air. Residents and visitors cherish the award-winning fresh seafood and barbecue; it is considered to be the "Seafood Capital of South Carolina."
This is definitely a car-oriented town. The majority of residents use their cars to drive to and from work. The small community size and spread out residential area makes this place ill fitting for public transportation.
The ocean provides all manners of water recreation; take pleasure in scuba diving, surfing, kayaking, swimming, boating, and fishing. Huntington Beach State Park or Brookgreen Gardens add striking beauty to the lives of visitors. Their pristine gardens and wetlands are wonderful for learning about local plants and animals.
Former rice plantations of Murrells Inlet have been transformed into some of America's top-ranked golf courses. They are built among tidal rivers, giant oaks, and saltwater marshes. Notable Wachesaw Plantation East was created out of the former rice plantation. This gently rolling course was designed by Clyde Johnston and has been awarded 4 stars from Golf Digest�s �Places to Play.� Amid the eye-catching lakes and wetlands, this course has even been the site of televised LPGE tournaments.
Close by Myrtle Beach is home to over 120 courses of such high caliber that it has been dubbed the �Golf Capitol of the World.� World-class golf course architects including Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, the late Robert Trent Jones Sr., and many others have designed courses. There are even courses designed by pros like John Daly, Arnold Palmers, and Jack Nicklaus.
Murrells Inlet abundant recreational activities are best enjoyed in the area�s fine outdoors. The mild weather makes bicycling, golf, and tennis year round sports. The ocean is great for all forms of water recreation. Enjoy the blue waters by scuba diving, surfing, kayaking, swimming, and boating. The gulf stream is close enough for day trips. Parasail, jet ski, and take banana boat rides to feel the ocean spray on your face. The surrounding waters allow for abundant deep sea and inshore fishing opportunities. Five river systems means your catch may include bass, bream, and crappy. Flounder, black drum and winter trout are found in the tidal creeks. Take a sports fishing boat out on the Atlantic and go deep sea fishing to bring home wahoo, snapper, grouper, sea bass, and tuna.
Explore the beauty of the inlet by strolling through one of the many breathtaking parks. Huntington Beach State Park is so pristine that it even won a statewide stewardship award. Brookgreen Gardens are one of the world�s premier outdoor sculpture gardens and has over 9,000 acres of breathtaking flora and fauna. Walk along the 1250-foot Marshwalk that is directly along the creek.
Said to be a hidden antiquing gem, shopping at one of the charming antique stores in Murrells Inlet will have you bringing home lots of treasures.
The nightlife in Murrells Inlet maintains its charming laid back atmosphere without any compromises on quality entertainment and food. Known for its Restaurant Row, residents and visitors cherish the award-winning fresh seafood and barbecue. Murrells Inlet is considered to be the "Seafood Capital of South Carolina".
Nightly live music and entertainment can be found at the Dead Dog Salon. Dance the night away at CreekRatz; they feature djs playing dance favorites.
The vibrant nightlife of Myrtle Beach is only a drive away. Whether you�re interested in dancing at nightclubs, singing karaoke, watching live concerts, or learning the shag, there is a perfect venue for everyone. The House of Blues at Barefoot Landing draws internationally known musicians and is one of the areas largest venues. Other popular venues for music include the Palace Theatre, the Alabama Theatre, Calvin Gilmore�s Carolina Opry, and Legends in Concert.
There are a multitude of nightclubs in Myrtle Beach, most of which are located at Broadway at the Beach�s nightclub district Celebrity Square. It features New Orleans-style boulevard and has 10 clubs perfect for dancing all night long, singing karaoke, or enjoying a relaxing beer.
The most popular festival in Murrells Inlet is the annual Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival. This beloved event is held at Huntington Beach State Park. From pottery to jewelry, hundreds of arts and crafts vendors showcase and sell their handcrafted items.
Atalaya's Special Day and the Huntington Beach Surf Fishing Rodeo are other events held at Huntington Gardens.
Murrells Inlet Oyster Roast is held at Spud's Waterfront Dining Parking lot. This favorite event of locals features an afternoon of all you can eat steamed oysters.
Neighboring Myrtle Beach always seems to be hosting a popular event. The Spring Bike Week and Bike Rally is the largest single motorcycle and Harley rally in the Carolinas. Bikers flock to this event to enjoy great food and live entertainment.
The Sun Fun Festival is the summertime kickoff for South Carolina�s Grand Strand and a beginning of the Sun Fun Summer of Celebration, which runs during the summer from June through September. The Sun Fun Festival includes four days of live entertainment, air shows, a professional sand sculpture contest, parade, pageants, sporting events, and kids fair.
The Brookgreen Gardens is the showplace of art and nature developed in the 1930s by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Once four colonial rice plantations, this 9,000-acre garden is meticulously maintained. It is dotted with over 550 pieces of America's finest 19th and 20th century sculptures, the largest showcase of American figurative sculpture in the US. Artists include Frederic Remington, Daniel Chester French and Mrs. Huntington. There are over 2,000 species of plants. Native animals and birds can be seen in the wildlife park. Special guided nature cruises and kayak trips wind through the tidal creeks and abandoned rice fields. Gourmet picnic baskets are available for purchase.
Huntington State Park is a picturesque oceanfront park that boasts some of the most pristine wildlife areas around. There are miles of trails that wind their way through the beach, wetlands, and sand dunes. Daily nature programs are available to teach you about the local plants and animals. Several species of birds live in the fresh and saltwater lagoons, making this a great spot for bird watching. Amenities include RV and tent sites, nature trails, and a gift store. The Huntington home, Atalaya, is incorporated onto the grounds. Local brick masons built this 22 fireplaces and 36 rooms mansion in a Spanish style.
Murrells Inlet public schools are part of the Georgetown County school district. There are 10,340 students in the school district with an average of 14 children per classroom. This is below South Carolina�s state average of 15 per class. The districts test scores are slightly below the state average in both reading and math.
Murrells Inlet was first home to the Maccamaw native Americans. Throughout the1700s this area was colonized by the English and planted with large tracts of rice. Rice plantations produced a large share of the world rice and were more powerful and wealthy than tobacco, sugar, and cotton farmers. Pirates frequented the coastline and hid in the Inlet�s winding creeks to raid the loaded ship cargos. During the Civil War the Confederacy used the inlet as a port to ship goods to England in exchange for war materials. The Union attacked in 1863. This battle and a devastating hurricane that soon followed forever handicapped area rice production. The last commercial rice grower was out of business during the late 1800s and fishing soon replaced it was the most popular industry.
Fish were caught and shipped north on schooners. In addition, fishing soon became a popular recreational sport of the area. In 1914 a fishing excursion on the Inlet cost only $5 per day trip.
During the Great Depression multimillionaire Archer Milton Huntington developed his 9,000-acre garden and estate. He greatly boosted the economy by hiring local workers to create his dream Spanish style home that has 22 fireplaces and 36 rooms. Huntington further enhanced the community by building a medical clinic, church, and community center.
Soon many people were moving or visiting Murrells Inlet and have continued to maintain what drew them there in the first place: sandy beaches, river landings, and a quaint seaside community.
Murrells Inlet is a single neighborhood.
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