Charleston

A couple of plant experts prove the grass is always greener on the upper side

Finding high design and old-fashioned charm in Savannah, our sister city to the south

All of Sylva seems to have turned out tonight for cocktails and dinner at Restaurant 553. Diners have laid claim to the umbrella-shaded tables in the lush courtyard where hundreds of dahlias bloom. Well-dressed gentlemen are kicking back on the front porch of the 101-year-old cottage, enjoying microbrews and martinis. It’s no wonder this is a go-to spot for Lowcountry cuisine and more.

If you’re looking for reasons to drag yourself out of bed in the morning, the Village Café in Blowing Rock offers plenty: French toast made with dense Argentinean fugasa bread; eggs Bernice with smoked turkey and tomato; Scandinavian eggs with vodka-cured salmon; crepes with Canadian bacon, Swiss cheese, and hollandaise; mimosas made with fresh-squeezed orange juice. But if you hit snooze, you won’t miss out.