Murrells Inlet is many things to many people. The “Seafood Capitol of South Carolina,” certainly. Home to Brookgreen Gardens, Huntington Beach State Park and the MarshWalk. And a historic village that was once frequented by pirates, including the legendary Blackbeard, according to tales.
Now, it’s in the running to be named the “Best Small Town in the South” through a contest promoted by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards. An expert panel selected Murrells Inlet as a contender for the contest, which launched on March 4.
The contest gives voters four weeks to vote for the candidate of their choice at https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-small-town-in-the-south-2024/.
A person can vote once a day on their computer, phone, tablet, etc. for the run of the contest. The contest is GDPR compliant, and votes are now allowed even from Europe.
The judges praised Murrells Inlet for its Lowcountry charm, saying, “South of the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach and situated on the Hammock Coast, Murrells Inlet moves along at a slower pace. ‘The seafood capital of South Carolina,’ Murrells Inlet has long been a destination for fishing and water sports, as well as for dining on some of the freshest seafood at local restaurants. Garden enthusiasts will love wandering the grounds at Brookgreen Gardens, home to the largest collection of American figurative sculpture in the United States, while outdoor aficionados can hit the trails at Huntington Beach State Park.”
The Hammock Coast isn’t new in catching the eyes of editors and contest judges at USA Today. Historic Georgetown won USA Today’s Best Coastal Small Town contest in 2018 and has been a contender every year since. Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park have also been in the running for contests, too, such as “Best Botanical Gardens” or “Best State Park for RVers.”
Mark A. Stevens, director of tourism development for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®, said he is thrilled that Murrells Inlet is nominated for the USA Today “Best Small Town in the South” contest.
“Murrells Inlet is a shining example of the beauty and serenity of the Hammock Coast,” Stevens said. “I urge everyone to vote for Murrells Inlet, which attracts people from all over the country to enjoy its scenic waterfront, pristine beaches, and award-winning restaurants and attractions.”
Voting ends Monday, April 1, and the winners will be announced on 10Best on Friday, April 12, at noon.
Murrells Inlet is one of only two South Carolina locations named in the contest. The other is Seneca, South Carolina.
In addition to the two South Carolina nominees, others in the running for the “Best Small Town in the South” contest are Abingdon, Virginia; Alexander City, Alabama; Ashland, Kentucky; Batesville, Arkansas; By St. Louis, Mississippi; Brevard, North Carolina; Carrboro, North Carolina; Fairmont, West Virginia; Golf Shores, Alabama; Gulfport, Florida; Lynchburg, Tennessee; Maysville, Kentucky; Natchitoches, Louisiana; Sevierville, Tennessee; St. Marys, Georgia; Starkville, Mississippi; Thomasville, Georgia; and West Monroe, Louisiana.
“Prior competitions have been hotly contested, and we look forward to seeing how you rock the vote in your own community,” the editors wrote in a press release about the contest.