Why Murrells Inlet is the Perfect Beach Escape

If you appreciate a beach vacation off the beaten path, you’ll love Murrells Inlet. Leave the high-rises and traffic behind when you arrive at this quaint fishing village. It’s treasured by artists, naturalists and families for good rea-son. Once frequented by pirates (there are rumors that Blackbeard himself docked here), it’s filled with places to explore and stir the imagination. 

A Pirate’s Life

Step aboard the Sea Gypsy for a high-seas adventure of your own. Get tickets at the Arrgh Ships Store & Ticket Booth by the front stairs of the Dead Dog Saloon restaurant. Children get a face painting of a curly mustache or an anchor tattoo, and are dressed in a lucky treasure hunting vest, then taken to the ship by a crew. (No worries, par-ents come along as well). Once aboard, young pirates use a treasure map to find the sunken treasure.

Explore Nature

If you’re a nature lover, you’ve hit the Mother Lode in Murrells Inlet. Kayak or paddle board at sunrise. Rent your kayak, pedal board or standup paddle board at Crazy Sister Marina, then set out to explore the beautiful inlet and saltwater marsh channels. Or, rent a personal watercraft for a high-powered way to tour the waterways. 

In the Wild

Make a lifelong memory with a dolphin cruise with Blue Wave Adventures. It takes your breath away to view these magnificent creatures in the wild. Their boat, Tursi-Ops, derived its name from a fun play on the scientific name of the dolphins they see, Tursiops Truncatus. The boat is built specifically for viewing, so everyone has a great seat for the show.

Away from It All

Huntington Beach State Park with its surf fishing, bird watching and sea breezes is another great way to spend a day. Enjoy the variety of wildlife such as loggerhead turtles, endangered plant and animal species and maybe even an alligator. There’s even a historic aspect to the park, as it’s home to Atalaya, the picturesque, Morrish-style win-ter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, philanthropist and sculpture. In fact, the 44th Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival is coming up Sept. 27-29 with about 100 artisans, food, music and more.

A Taste of the Coast

Of course, you’ll want to dive into some scrumptious seafood during your stay. Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk offers a variety of waterfront dining. Wicked Tuna Grill & Sushi Bar serves fresh seafood from its own fishing fleet, making the “Hook to Plate” philosophy a very real experience. Or chow down on the fantail shrimp, oysters or fresh catch of the day at Drunken Jack’s. Wahoo’s Fish House also offers sushi, as well as fish prepared in exquisite ways such as the bourbon BBQ Mahi, Carolina Wahoo and pan seared salmon.  

You won’t find a more perfect place for a beach vacation. So, book your Murrells Inlet vacation rental and plan your escape.