WELCOME TO THE CRYSTAL
COAST GUIDE

Built for Marines and their Families, Available to Everyone!

Welcome all newcomers to the Lower Outer Banks of North Carolina. You might be a Marine newly stationed to Camp LeJeune, relocating for a job, retiring in the area or enjoying a wonderful vacation, we hope this website will help you find your way around the Crystal Coast.

Having been stationed at Cherry Point MCAS in the 1970's, Atlantic Beach, Bogue Banks, Emerald Isle and all the dunes in between became a favorite get away on weekends. Now, our son is stationed at Camp Lejeune. Arriving at Camp Johnson for MCT just in late 2008, Swansboro quickly became a great place to getway and enjoy casual dining, a fine cigar shop, and the quaint old towne of Swansboro.

Quick weekends riding bikes around Emerald Isle also gives the busy Marines from the 2nd MEF a place to forget about the job - and relax with friends and family.

 

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As a three generation Marine Corps family, we feel strongly about supporting all branches of services. The Marines of MCAS Cherry Point, MCAS New River, MCB Camp Lejeune, the training commands at Camp Gieger and Camp Johsnson, and all the other smaller facilities of the area have a great opporuntity to explore and enjoy, as I did, the history and beauty of the NC Beaches from the Outer Banks in Dare County to the small fishing villages of Sneads Ferry, Top Sail Island, and more.

About this picture: The left cover is that of my father, Lt.Col Joe Stargel worn on duty during WWII in the China and Japan theatres. The center cover is mine, former Capt. Rick Stargel worn during the late '70s with service in the  2nd MAW at Cherry Point, NC with deployments to Turkey, Norway and other southern and northern NATO support excercises.  The right cover is my son,  Cpl Richard Stargel of the 2nd CEB stationed at Camp Lejeune. He is currently deployed in Afghanistan.

 

Why this site? When we returned to the Jacksonville North Carolina area for graduations at Camp Gieger and visits at Camp Johnson - we started thinking - what do visitors do while waiting on their Marine to get off duty? Where would friends and family stay?

As we started researching and staying in hotels in Jacksonsville and visiting Swansboro, Cape Carteret, Cedar Point,  Emerald Isle and up the coast to Havelock - we knew a web site dedicated to helping Marine Corps visitors to the area was the right thing to do.  Having left the corporate world last fall (that is  to say, the company I worked for has reduced it's staff by 50%  and I had to hit the street !), my wife and I kick our small business technology company into high gear to help other small companies and pay the bills. 

The companies you will find on this web site, particularly the ones found in the Google ads have paid good money to try to reach you in hopes you can use their services. Please support these customers by visiting them personally, checking out there web sites, or visiting there online ads. By supporting each other, we support our economy and by keeping the Crystal Coast a vibrant, entertaining area, our Marines and other service members as well as the general public, will have a great place to enjoy the North Carolina Beaches!
 
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