Things To Do In Alpharetta

Atlanta experiences all four seasons, but its mild climate makes it ideal for enjoying the outdoors almost all year. If outdoorsy activities aren’t your thing, don’t worry. There’s plenty of ways to enjoy nature in the city that don’t involve hiking - or camping. The city has a number of parks and green spaces that are never more than a few minutes walk from civilization (e.g. air conditioning, indoor plumbing, food, drink). Piedmont Park: Located in midtown, Piedmont Park is Atlanta’s Central Park. It has some of the most beautiful views of the city’s skyline and it stays consistently busy in the spring, summer, and early fall months. During the busy months, there’s usually a concert or festival going on, but you can almost always find a quiet corner to have a picnic or take an afternoon nap. Piedmont Park is also home to one of the best dog parks in the city. It’s located in the newer, northwestern section and very well maintained with a separate area for smaller dogs. Atlanta Botanical Garden: The Atlanta Botanical Garden is probably the best “nature” outing in Atlanta for non-outdoorsy types. It was recently expanded and modernized with the addition of a large visitors center. The garden hosts a number of exhibits and special events throughout the year. There’s plenty to see and do, and you’re never far from the MetroFresh café located in the visitor’s center. The Beltline: This multi-use, 22-mile trail system is just beginning to take shape, but it’s already become a great addition to Atlanta’s green space. Twenty-two miles can seem overwhelming, so if you’re new to The Beltline, join one of the walking, biking, or bus tours that are offered throughout the year. The Eastside trail between Inman Park and Piedmont Park is currently the most finished portion of The Beltline and well worth a visit. Because The Beltline follows an old rail line, most of the trails - even the unpaved ones - are flat and very walkable. Fourth Ward Park: Technically part of The Beltline, Fourth Ward Park just opened in 2011 south of Ponce City Market and is already incredibly popular. While it doesn’t have the rolling, green hills that Piedmont Park has, it does have great water features. Take a stroll along the walkways that are just a few feet above the lake and get a close-up view of the fountains. There’s also a playground for kids and plenty of open lawn space for picnicking. Grant Park: Grant Park is located in the Grant Park neighborhood, which is just south of downtown Atlanta. It’s most well known for being home to the Atlanta Zoo and the Cyclorama (both worth a visit), but it’s also perfect for going on a picnic or taking a leisurely stroll. Part of what makes this park so charming is the surrounding neighborhood filled with historic homes and small cafes. While it is a popular park, it never feels as crowded as Piedmont Park during the summer months. Make sure to visit the Grant Park farmers market located on the eastside on Sundays between April and December – it’s one of the best in the city.

Last weekend’s fireworks have fizzled and faded, but summer is just gearing up in Atlanta. This week’s to-do list includes a beloved Disney movie brought to life, the return of ‘90s alt-rockers the Goo Goo Dolls, a modern-art opening, more street food than you could shake a plastic fork at, and Georgia’s newest water park. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Atlanta. The Little Mermaid Midtown | Tuesday, July 8–Sunday, July 13 Before The Little Mermaid was one of Disney’s most beloved films, it was a fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. That origin is further obscured by the Fox Theatre’s latest production, which recreates the kid-friendly Disney version onstage—complete with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken. Singing crabs might not have been part of Andersen’s original vision, but they do make this Houston Theatre Under the Stars production a bubbly good time. (660 Peachtree St. NE; ticket prices vary; buy tickets here) Goo Goo Dolls and Daughtry with Plain White T's Buckhead | Friday, July 11, 7 p.m. The Goo Goo Dolls have lived many lives since their first shows in a sweaty Buffalo club called the Continental. They went from ripped jeans to radio rock in the span of just a few albums, and the band’s evolution continues on their latest tour with alt-rockers Daughtry. To prepare for what promises to be a packed show at Chastain Park Amphitheater, check out our playlist of bands you wouldn’t believe the Goo Goo Dolls have shared a bill with. (4469 Stella Dr.; $39.50–$375; buy tickets here) Scott Ingram: Blue Collar Modernism Buckhead | Opening Friday, July 11, 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Though he’s now based in Atlanta, visual artist Scott Ingram is a Midwestern boy at heart. As such, his work has always been heavily influenced by the modern architects of Chicago. That influence used to express itself in the minimalism of his work with nail polish, but now it’s starting to show up in the monumentality of his sculptures and installations. Blue Collar Modernism, Ingram’s latest exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, represents a return to the artist’s Midwestern roots, in which he explores minimalism through the eyes of the working man. (75 Bennett St. Suite A2; free to $5) Atlanta Street Food Festival Piedmont Park | Saturday, July 12, noon to 8 p.m. Summer brings no shortage of excuses to stuff your face, but none is more compelling than the Atlanta Street Food Festival. Dozens of food trucks will set up shop at Piedmont Park, and guests will have a hard time choosing from options that include fried green tomatoes, red velvet cupcakes, and Southern-style chicken with waffle fries. The festival also features live music and a Family Fun Zone with a superslide, rock-climbing wall, and mechanical bull. (400 Park Dr. NE; $10.50–$25; buy tickets here) Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags Over Georgia Austell | Opening summer 2014 Six Flags was already bringing it with thrill rides such as Acrophobia and Goliath, but the park has outdone itself with this summer’s opening of the new Hurricane Harbor water park. Admission to Hurricane Harbor is included with a ticket to the park, meaning you can ride roller coasters in the morning and splash around on water slides in the afternoon. Don’t miss the Bonzai Pipelines, a trio of slides with sharp twists and a four-story drop. (275 Riverside Pkwy. SW, Austell; $41.99–$69.99; buy tickets here) Photos: Atlanta Street Food Festival, Goo Goo Dolls, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor

On this week’s agenda: art in the park, celebrity basketball, cooking with children, and music from Tori Amos, William Green, and Kipper Jones. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Atlanta. Piedmont Park Arts Festival Midtown | Saturday, August 16, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Sunday, August 17, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Atlanta's largest public park is outdoing even itself with the fifth annual Piedmont Park Arts Festival, which will feature up to 250 painters, photographers, sculptors, jewelers, and other crafters. Sorting through the dizzying array of artistic disciplines is only part of the fun—live acoustic music, a bustling street market, and (of course) fried festival foods round out the weekend's bill. (1215 Piedmont Ave.; free) Atlanta Celeb Fest's Celebrity Basketball Game Sylvan Hills | Saturday, August 16, noon Atlanta Celeb Fest has drawn some of the biggest names in entertainment and sports to Georgia's capital, and its celebrity basketball game promises to be a sloppy—er, star-studded—affair. The game will tip off at noon inside Atlanta Metropolitan College. General-admission seating will let fans scoot close enough to the action to cheer on their favorite celebs and get whiffs of their paparazzi repellent. (1630 Metropolitan Pkwy. SW; $25+; buy tickets here) Eat a Georgia Rainbow at Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta Downtown | Sunday, August 17, 1 p.m. The Children's Museum of Atlanta has always been known for its hands-on activities, but Eat a Georgia Rainbow takes it a step further by adding food to the mix. This seasonal program features fruits and vegetables harvested in Georgia, and kids aged 8 or younger will be able to cook up a dish using local produce. As for the parents? Well, they're the brave souls who have to eat it. (275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr. NW; $12.75+; free for children younger than 1; buy tickets here) Tori Amos Cumberland | Tuesday, August 19, 8 p.m. Tori Amos has been a musical force of nature since the mid-1980s, but the singer-songwriter and classically trained pianist looks to be just getting started. She released her first classical music album in 2011 and seemed to be heading down an entirely new path, but her latest effort, Unrepentant Geraldines, marks a return to pop rock. Wherever she goes next, Amos is bound to find a captivated audience. (Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy.; $42–$67; buy tickets here) Fabulous Fridaze Concert Series with William Green and Kipper Jones Mableton | Friday, August 22, 7 p.m. The latest installment in the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre's Fabulous Fridaze series features a pair of acts who have been doing this music thing for a while now. Keyboardist William Green has been playing since he was a child, and his talents have led him to appear alongside Curtis Mayfield and Jennifer Holliday. Joining Green will be Kipper Jones, who trained as as Motown singer at the age of 15 and has penned hits for everyone from Chaka Khan to Brandy. (5239 Floyd Rd. SW; $15+; buy tickets here)