As a Virginia transplant who relocated to the state 36 years ago, one of the biggest things that enticed me to make the move was the topography of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Of course, living this close also means the mountains are ripe for exploration, whether that leads to a springtime drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway or hiking up the Peaks of Otter in the fall. ​While most of my experience has been in Virginia and North Carolina, which contain the majority of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the range itself spans approximately 550 miles from southern Pennsylvania to northern Georgia. From an apartment above a working bakery to a tree house retreat in the branches, these stays prove there's no shortage of memorable places to book in the Blue Ridge region. Below, my favorite Blue Ridge Mountain cabins and vacation rentals, each one within 45 minutes of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the scenic thoroughfare that connects the mountains from northern Virginia to southern North Carolina and brings you to countless trailheads, overlooks, and waterfalls.