where would you look for a vacation home within driving distance of the triangle?

[Leftyforlife]

I can only go by my personal experience: if you like the water, buy a houseboat on a lake. LOTS of fun and much cheaper. Most neighbors at your marina are relaxed and friendly; willing to help out when needed. And you do not have to stay at the dock. You can cruise around the lake and then at night find a private cove to anchor.

[rmccarty]

If buying a timeshare seems like an option, check into RCI (the RCI website is sadly in need of a major overhaul, but if you Google RCI, you'll discover alot of info). You can buy weeks like traditional time share or you purchase points and vacation whenever and where ever you can locate a timeshare to match your points and your schedule. As someone already mentioned, you find these on eBay for cheap. Depending on how many points you could afford, you could get a significant amount of vacation time. Check out http://www.tug2.net . If you chose this route, find a good attorney experienced in timeshares. Timeshares are a real estate interest so be sure to do your homework. If buy a timeshare interest of out NC, your timeshare interest will be governed by the real estate/timeshares laws in that state. We have a Disney timeshare in which we can exchange points with RCI - for a fee. I wish we had bought RCI instead b/c we could have bought it for less $$$ and could go to lots of different places in the USA and around the world.

[PatRoy1]

If I was going to buy a vacation home, it would definitely be in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Gorgeous, peaceful, cool in the summer. Hot Springs area is appealing.

Would not buy at the beach. Crowded, hurricanes, high insurance rates. If I want to go to the beach, there are no end of rentals available.

Would definitely not buy a vacation home with the idea of renting it out. Sounds like a lot of trouble to me but I'm glad other people don't see it this way. Love VRBO. Have rented through it numerous times.

[underPSI]

Being a current owner of a beach house at Atlantic beach (sound front) I can say after it sells I will never own another house at the beach. I don't care if you build the house out of aluminum it will rust. Too many problems associated with the salt air. I do 95% of all home repairs and I'm just sick of fixing rusted parts made from material that doesn't rust.
Once it sells I will be looking for a property on Hyco Lake. I think Hyco is absolutely beautiful especially compared to Gaston. Gaston is too crowded and too large for my likings.