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I vote beach. Depending on where, it could be as little as 2 hrs. Of course the mts are nice both in summer and winter. That would be 3 hrs though. Dream on!
I am not a big fan of the mountains, so buying a vacation home there would be silly. A relative just bought a lake house. That's OK...but it's in the middle of absolutely NOWHERE close to the VA state line. Other than being at the lake and enjoying whatever activities YOU provide...there's not that much excitement.
I personally would buy a place at the beach. I'm more of a beach person. The drive's not THAT bad, plus there's more to do, in my opinion (depending on which beach you choose).
I grew up a mile from the beach, so I'm over that. I'd definitely get a house out near Max Patch in Pisgah National Forest. Anywhere near Hot Springs, to be honest.
Find one decorated to your style through VRBO; you can negotiate with the owners as far as price in this economy.
Go a few times a year if you can afford it. Start off with off-season times around the on-season times.
Pretend it's your home. (Some accept pets.)
No mortgage, no maintenance, no worries. You can go to different beaches in different years. You won't get bored.
Just enjoy!
(But if you still have your heart set on buying a vacation home, the experience will give you an idea which beach you like. You should spend your life enjoying your life -- and the beach, though, and not just dreaming about it. )
the beach...you may have the option of going at off times, avoiding traffic... If I had a home at the beach, I would go mid-week to avoid weekend traffic...
Do you plan to use this home as a rental property or only for yourself? I think the factors I would look at would vary based on how I intended to use the home - if I had to draw income from it to help pay for it, I might choose a more popular, touristy, denser area. If it's just for me, I might go with something a little more off the beaten track.
Personally, if I was looking for a vacation home in NC, I'd choose Bald Head Island.
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The drive's not THAT bad, plus there's more to do, in my opinion (depending on which beach you choose).
