5. Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the country's most-visited national park (it gets 12 million visitors a year), this stretch of Tennessee and North Carolina sets the scene for a beautiful year-round wildlife retreat. Rafting, hiking and camping in the summer, and skiing in the winter. There's also plenty of the region's renowned barbecue. A two-bedroom cabin ranges from $130,000 to $250,000, according to HomeAway.com.

Why Buy Now: Although property values have taken a hit, tourism spending remains high, says Karpinski. High occupancy rates for vacation rentals mean buyers willing to rent out their property when they're not using the place could handily break-even.

Read our story to learn more about taxes on vacation homes and click here for advice on insuring your second home. View our slideshow to find out about recession-proof places to retire.



· Printer-Friendly Version of This Article

Share This Article: Post to Netscape | Post to Digg | Add to Del.icio.us