15 Best Things to Do in Alpharetta, GA: Avalon & Greenways
Alpharetta used to be where Atlanta’s tech workers went home to sleep. These days, people drive here on purpose. This northern suburb now has a walkable downtown, one of the region’s best outdoor shopping districts, a popular amphitheater and a long greenway through the woods. Add a river just down the road, and you’ve got more than enough for a weekend.
The best things to do in Alpharetta, GA are spending an evening at Avalon, eating and shopping in Downtown Alpharetta, biking the Big Creek Greenway, seeing a concert at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, enjoying Wills Park, and paddling the nearby Chattahoochee River.
You’re about 25 miles north of downtown Atlanta, so plan around traffic on GA-400. Once you’re here, most of what you’ll want is close together.
1. Spend an Evening at Avalon
Avalon, at 2200 Avalon Boulevard, is an upscale open-air shopping and dining district with restaurants, a movie theater and plenty of benches for people-watching. Go on a warm evening, when the patios fill and the lights come on. You don’t have to buy anything to enjoy the walk.
2. Skate at Avalon in Winter
During the holiday season, Avalon sets up a seasonal ice rink, and few places around here make for a prettier winter evening. Dates and prices change from year to year, so look them up before you go. Go early in the season or on a weeknight, since weekends get busy.
3. Explore Downtown Alpharetta
The historic core has been reinvented around Alpharetta City Center and the Milton Avenue area, with restaurants, breweries, shops and public green space. You’ll find it friendlier and less polished than Avalon, and a Saturday here goes quickly. Park once and walk, since everything is close together.
4. Shop the Saturday Farmers Market
The downtown farmers market runs on Saturday mornings during the season, with local produce, baked goods and crafts. Spend an hour here and you’ll get a good feel for the community. Arrive early for the best selection, and have breakfast at one of the nearby restaurants afterward.
5. Bike the Big Creek Greenway
This paved path runs along Big Creek through woods and wetlands, and locals use it for biking, walking and running. Even a few miles feels like getting out of the suburbs, and the flat ground suits most ability levels. Go in the morning, because weekends are popular. Watch for cyclists when you’re on foot.
6. Ride the Alpha Loop
The Alpha Loop is the city’s growing network of multi-use trails, designed to link downtown with Avalon and the Greenway. Work is still going on, so look at a current map to see which sections are open. The finished loop should make it easy to get around without a car, and it already makes for a fun walk.
7. See a Concert at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
This 12,000-seat outdoor venue hosts big-name tours, comedians and themed symphony concerts through the warmer months, and metro Atlanta has few better places to see a show under the sky. Look at the calendar when you’re planning, and give yourself extra time for parking and traffic afterward.
8. Relax at Wills Park
This big city park has trails, sports fields, a pool, a dog park and an equestrian center that hosts horse shows. Families will find it easy, and it sits close to downtown. See if anything is on at the equestrian center while you’re there, since events are fun to watch and often free.
9. Learn the Local History
The Alpharetta and Old Milton County History Museum, located in City Hall, tells the story of a county that went bankrupt in the Great Depression and ceased to exist. The museum is small and more interesting than you might expect. Look up the opening hours, and combine it with a walk downtown.
10. Paddle the Chattahoochee
A short drive south, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area offers tubing, kayaking, fishing and riverside trails. Outfitters rent boats and run shuttles during the warm months. The water runs cold, since it’s released from the bottom of a dam, so read the National Park Service safety information before you head out.
11. Explore Autrey Mill Nature Preserve
Just to the east in Johns Creek, this nature preserve has wooded trails, a stream and a small heritage village of historic buildings. Take the kids for a quiet, easy walk and a break from all the retail. Its site has current visiting hours and events.
12. Hit a Bucket at Topgolf
Topgolf Alpharetta is a popular night out, with climate-controlled hitting bays, food and drinks. You don’t need to be good at golf to have fun. Book a bay in advance on weekends. Groups with mixed skill levels do well here, since most people are just there for laughs.
13. Race at Andretti
If it’s raining or your kids need to burn off some energy, Andretti Indoor Karting and Games has fast go-karts, arcade games and a restaurant. Expect noise and plenty of birthday parties. Weekday afternoons tend to be calmer. Look up the height requirements in advance if you’re bringing younger kids.
14. Try the Local Breweries
The craft beer scene here has grown up with the downtown. Jekyll Brewing is one of the better-known names in the area, and you’ll find more options along the way. Pick one with a food truck or live music, and your evening is taken care of. Taprooms tend to change their hours seasonally, so look before you go.
15. Day Trip to Historic Roswell
About 15 minutes south, Roswell has an appealing old downtown known as Canton Street, plus the old mill ruins along Vickery Creek, which you can see from a pretty trail and a covered bridge.
Its historic homes, including Barrington Hall and Bulloch Hall, give a look at the town’s antebellum past, including the people who were enslaved there. Look up tour hours, and stay for dinner on Canton Street.
Best Free Things to Do in Alpharetta
The Big Creek Greenway, the Alpha Loop and Wills Park are free, and so is walking around Avalon or Downtown Alpharetta. The Saturday market costs nothing to browse, either, so you can fill most of a day on a budget.
When to Visit and How Long to Stay
Spring and fall are the best seasons, with comfortable temperatures for the greenway and outdoor dining. Summer is hot but good for the river and amphitheater shows. Winter is quiet, brightened by the holiday lights and ice skating at Avalon. A weekend is about right, and you can also stay here as a slightly calmer base for seeing Atlanta. Just plan around rush hour on GA-400, which can be slow.
Where to next? Try our guides to Douglasville, Jasper and Macon, or see the best things to do in Georgia for the whole state. You can also browse all our travel guides on Decidel.
How we checked this guide: details were checked against published sources in November 2026. Hours, trail sections and event dates can change, so confirm with the venue before you go.
