Driving through the area on the main highways is not the way to fully appreciate the natural beauty that is often tucked away in the coves, sounds, and rivers of our coastal paradise.
Our main street is actually the Intracoastal Waterway. It is the best way to see the area.
If you cannot find a way to enjoy a boat ride, at least take the time to ask some locals about their favorite spots.
The area has some wonderful hiking trails. The scenery that you can find will restore your soul.
Our climate offers a wonderful change to people who are looking for an escape from winter without giving up spring and fall.
If you are think about relocating, Carteret County Schools are a source of pride.
While the Southern Outer Banks is made up of small towns, it is also a place where people live year round. Modern services are available to make life very comfortable these days. We have wonderful small restaurants and plenty of unique shops in both Swansboro and Beaufort.
With scenic beauty that is hard to beat, friendly people, a moderate climate, lots to do including some of the best boating and fishing around, the Crystal Coast is a great place to visit or even to consider as a retirement location.
Come visit the beaches of Emerald Isle and decide for yourself if our area is as close to paradise as I like to think it is.
A sunrise on our beaches is hard to beat.
For more information check out my Carteret County blog.
Why we love it here?
It is hard to say that any place is perfect. There always a balance between what you like and what you don't like. That also changes as you age. At one time I was close to homesteading in Newfoundland.
Today I would steer you to my articles, Ten ways Carteret County met our needs, Why I love living in Carteret County, and to the Crystal Coast Electronic Village Homepage as answers to why we have chosen this area.
From that reading it is easy to understand why we enjoy living in a small subdivision called Bluewater Cove near Cape Carteret. It is what we were looking for in a place to live. It's close to services and close to the beach but not on the beach. We have a dock behind the house and are close to some great trails. I can ride my bike in the neighborhood and not face a lot of traffic.
I also use my kayak on the White Oak River and have learned to love exploring the river and surrounding waters with our skiff.
This area also has some great festivals like the Newport Pig Cookoff, the Emerald Isle Saint Patrick's Day, and the Swansboro Oyster Roast. We were also impressed with the Emerald Isle Christmas Parade.
It is a friendly area with a great future. So right now it is the spot for us. I often write about the area in my other websites. If you are a very avid reader, you might find some content on multiple sites, but usually the content is fairly specific to the sites.
View from the Mountain
Ocracoke Waves
Crystal Coast Living Blog
Crystal Coast Blog 09
Crystal Coast Blog 08
Some archived articles
More Crystal Coast Info