Where should I buy a mountain vacation rental?

[Nicholas Libertin]

Bee Hive,

I would love to hear some thoughts/suggestions on where my wife and I should do our next vacation rental.  We have owned long term rentals for quite some time and recently bought a vacation rental in Fort Lauderdale and LOVE IT!  For our next purchase we would like to be somewhere in the mountains.  Criteria would be:

1.Mountain Views

2.Rentable nearly all year found.  i.e. hiking activities when its warmer, preferable skying in the winter

3.Relatively close to an airport <1.5 hours

4.No Crazy overpriced markets---no Breckenridge, Telluride here

5.Local government supports short term rentals*** this is an absolute must.  

[Gerald Pitts]

Another Smokies vote.  Also Blue Ridge, GA.  Not sure about skiing there, though.