Activities fun and holiday fare abound In Garden City and Murrells Inlet!

Just because summer has come and gone doesn’t mean your vacation has to be over! In fact, the Garden City Beach area remains a draw for visitors throughout the year!
Temperatures are often still in the 70’s all the way up through December (we’ve definitely had our share of nice, warm Christmases!) and the nights are pleasantly cool; no snow shoveling and plugging in our cars around these parts! And this time of year offers not only less traffic and a quieter, more peaceful atmosphere, but plenty of specials and discounts are available on everything from house rates and golf to entertainment, dining and shopping in Myrtle Beach. There is also a great amount of holiday fare for the whole family. Some of the most popular Christmas shows include the Dixie Stampede Christmas Show, the Alabama Theatre and of course, the Carolina Opry Christmas Show. Holiday activities also abound at the Market Common, as well as the Palace Theatre, where this year, the 12 Irish Tenors will be performing from November until January.
For those of you looking to stay on the south end, Murrells Inlet offers activities and restaurants galore. Anyone who has vacationed or thought about vacationing in Myrtle Beach, Garden City Beach or Surfside Beach has probably heard of Murrells Inlet, the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina.” Located a short 2 miles south of Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet is a treasure trove of history, restaurants, quaint shops, and a variety of water sports and activities. Of course, being the Seafood Capital means lots of seafood, everything from fresh local fish and shrimp to steamed oysters and raw bars.
One restaurant certainly worth mentioning is Lee’s Inlet Kitchen, which has been an Inlet staple since 1948. Owned by the fourth generation of the family that originally started the place, the food is known for its quality and variety. Fried, broiled, blackened, and grilled seafood, the award winning she crab soup, and of course hushpuppies and honey butter round out the menu.
Another can’t miss feature of Murrells Inlet is the Marshwalk. The Marshwalk features 7 different restaurants with great water views, fantastic night life and live music, and on any given night there is something happening at one or more of the restaurants, particularly on the weekends. The Marshwalk is great for strolling along on a pleasant afternoon or evening and enjoying the view with a refreshing drink. Much like the variety of food the Marshwalk offers (seafood, steaks, sushi, gourmet and bistro and burgers and sandwiches, to name a few) the live music acts also vary. Some of the local favorites include Painted Man, a funk and soul group, Who Shot JR? a quirky blend of classic rock and modern classics, Act 2, a great acoustic band, Tru Sol, Ros Bonghi reggae, and Hot Sauce and Villanova, to name a few. Be sure to check the kicks section of the Sun News to see which nights the bands are playing. See you at the beach!