Take your daughter to Alpharetta, Georgia, this spring
Sometimes a mother-daughter trip doesn’t have to involve a plane ride. Alpharetta, Georgia, is a quick drive south (less than two hours from Greenville), and yet it feels destination-worthy.
Teenagers will think they have hit the jackpot. There’s shopping, there’s brunching, there’s art for photo backdrops. There are places to walk and bike and soak in some sunshine. And with some planning, there could even be a concert to light up your Saturday night.
Stay in Avalon
If you love retail therapy, stay in Avalon, perhaps at the plush Hotel Avalon. The town is a planned shopping oasis, the likes of which Greenville has yet to realize. Shopping in Avalon includes 570,000 square feet of retail stores, including Free Bird, Lululemon, Arhaus, Chanel, Johnny Was, Jo Malone, Kendra Scott, Tory Burch, and so much more, all arranged along a pedestrian lane. And there’s also a spa, a nail salon, and places to get a blowout. The Container Store is here, too, plus Crate and Barrel. You can get a lot accomplished in a day.
Restaurant options are stellar in Avalon, and it’s all about cafe-style sidewalk dining. Consider lunch at gusto! for fresh bowls and wraps, or Antico Pizza Napoletana for traditional pies. Come evening, walk over to Colletta for Italian American fare, (an Indigo Road Restaurant, like Indaco in Greenville) or The Cape to try coastal South African cuisine. When a sweet craving strikes, Le Macaron hits the spot with its French pastries. Café Antico offers gelato and artful coffee drinks, and a stop at Five Daughters Bakery is de rigueur.
Downtown Alpharetta
In downtown Alpharetta, the Hotel Hamilton is picturesque, with beautifully appointed rooms. Its 11,000-square-foot courtyard is replete with twinkle lights, and there’s a lovely bar when Mom is ready for a cocktail. Boutiques line every street downtown and there’s something for everyone, from galleries to dress shops to gift shops. Afternoon tea at The Ginger Room is an extravagant affair. Look for themed teas throughout the year and expect to leave sated; an absolute feast is served along with your choice among dozens of varieties of teas, all served in china pots.
The Alpharetta Farmers Market is a gem and a great way to connect with local makers. Look for jewelry, candles, honey, soap, and more offered from area artisans, and the heart of downtown makes a great host for the popular Saturday event. The amount of public art in Alpharetta rivals that in Greenville, and though they may not have waterfalls, the numbers of fountains and walking trails feels noteworthy.
If you choose to dine in downtown Alpharetta, get a reservation at Lapeer Seafood Market. Their exquisite menu is matched by stellar service and interiors are pert and photo-worthy. Other notable eateries include Valor Coffee, 2B Whole European Gluten Free Bakery, and The Southern Porch for breakfast. It’s rumored that Greenville may be getting a Jinya Ramen Bar, so if you’d like to try it, there’s one right downtown; it makes a fun lunch.
Alpharetta is an easy destination for those of us in the Upstate. It’s 40 minutes closer to Greenville than Atlanta proper, so there’s simply a lot less traffic to deal with. When you add in the walkability, the flower-lined streets, the public art, and numerous hotel and dining options, a quick jaunt into Georgia feels like a superb way to spend a weekend with your mini-me.
Music and Memories
If you visit Alpharetta between April and October, you can catch a concert at the 12,000-person Ameris Bank Amphitheatre. The acoustics will blow you away and there really isn’t a bad seat in the house—including on the large lawn—to see acts like Irish singer Niall Horan, country crooner Sturgill Simpson, and English punk rocker Billy Idol. Watching the sky fade to black with your daughter next to you, listening to live music, is a thrill that’s hard to describe.
For more, visit awesomealpharetta.com.
