Murrells Inlet MarshWalk

The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk is where the Grand Strand goes to eat seafood and watch the sun go down. Murrells Inlet, a fishing village about fifteen miles south of downtown Myrtle Beach, calls itself the seafood capital of South Carolina, and the MarshWalk is its front porch: a half-mile wooden boardwalk running along a natural saltwater estuary, with restaurants and bars lined up on one side and the marsh, the boats and the herons on the other. It is free to stroll, open year-round and works at any hour, but it is at its best in the late afternoon, when fishing boats come in, the light turns gold over the marsh grass, and live bands start up on the decks. The roster of places along the walk reads like a crawl list: Bovine's for wood-fired steaks, seafood and pizza; Wahoo's Fish House with its deck over the marsh; Drunken Jack's, the pirate-themed old favorite; Creek Ratz for fried shrimp and live music; Dead Dog Saloon for all-day casual meals and bands; The Claw House for lobster, oysters and a long beer list; and The Wicked Tuna for fish off local boats and sushi. The MarshWalk's slogan sums it up: the fun, the view and the music are always free. Come hungry, walk the full length first to pick your deck, and stay for sunset. In November and winter, the decks are calmer, the bands play mostly on weekends, and you can usually walk in for a waterside table.

The inlet's character comes from its working waterfront. Charter boats and fishing fleets still head out from the creeks here, and the legend that the pirate Blackbeard once sheltered in these waters is part of the local lore. The MarshWalk sits on the back side of the village's restaurant row, so the menus lean heavily on local seafood: shrimp, oysters in season, flounder and whatever the boats brought in. You will also find plenty of burgers and steaks for those who do not eat fish.

Strategy for a good evening: arrive an hour before sunset, walk the whole boardwalk from end to end to see which decks have music and space, then choose a table with a marsh view for the golden hour. Many visitors make it a slow crawl, a drink on one deck, appetizers at another and dinner at a third. The walk is family-friendly in the early evening, with kids watching crabs and birds in the marsh, and more of a bar scene later on weekends. Seasonal events add to the calendar, including a Halloween costume party, holiday celebrations, a boat parade and fireworks on special occasions, and a mini golf tournament between restaurants in spring.

Practical notes: the MarshWalk is in Murrells Inlet off Business 17, about a 25-minute drive south of central Myrtle Beach, and restaurants have parking lots that fill on summer weekends, so go early or share a ride. Off-season it is the perfect end to a south-strand day: Brookgreen Gardens or Huntington Beach State Park in the afternoon, then dinner here at sunset, five minutes up the road. Some kitchens shorten hours in winter, so check before you go on a weeknight.