Alpharetta, Ga., is a charming town located minutes from the North Georgia Mountains but still close enough to Atlanta to offer a taste of big city adventure. Here are 10 free things to do in Alpharetta, Georgia, to help make a visit there an affordable family vacation.
1. Alpharetta Big Creek Greenway is a 6.1-mile long, 12-foot wide paved pathway that includes additional mountain biking trails and meanders throughout the city, great for walking, running, biking and inline skating.
2. Walk of Memories is the only memorial of its kind in the state of Georgia. A brick pathway pays tribute to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, community and friends and is inscribed with the names of all Georgia residents killed in service in World War II or later. A separate section is reserved for those who served in the military and survived. A tank, gun and helicopter are on display.
3. Wills Park Wacky World and Disc Golf is a 110-acre park featuring baseball fields, a disc golf course, lighted tennis courts, picnic pavilions, walking trails and two large playgrounds, including “Wacky World,” a unique kingdom that kids rave about. Situated at the edge of the park is the Alpharetta city pool, which has a diving well with three boards, a shaded kiddie, shaded and open deck areas and a concession stand.
4. Alpharetta History Walk. Pick up a complimentary Alpharetta History Walk brochure at the Downtown Alpharetta Welcome Center and step back in time as you explore the 17 historical markers located throughout the downtown Alpharetta area.
5. Alpharetta Arboretum at Wills Park is an outdoor living museum with 26 varieties of trees. Take a self-guided tour with a map from the Downtown Alpharetta Welcome Center and discover what makes each of the marked trees unique.
6. Alpharetta Arboretum at Cogburn Road Park is the smaller of Alpharetta’s arboretums and home to seven tree varieties. With a walking tour brochure from the Downtown Alpharetta
Welcome Center you can explore on your own.
7. Geocaching is a great family activity. Search for treasure along the Greenway and throughout Alpharetta.
8. Waggy World Paw Park is a park for dogs only. Take a furry friend with you or just go for the spectator sport.
9. Matilda’s is a magical complex of wildly decorated cottages that look like they sprang from the imagination of McKenzie-Childs. Indoors, every surface is cluttered with brightly painted pottery, furniture, fabrics and artwork.
10. North Park is a great picnic spot along with tennis courts, a football field with synthetic turf, a multi-purpose field, eight softball fields, two picnic pavilions, two playgrounds, an Adult Activity Center, Arts Building, and walking trail.
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