Awesome Alpharetta is our new happy place. This treasure of a town has something for everyone. Its uniqueness makes Alpharetta the perfect destination for adventurers anxious to escape the ordinary!
Ameris Bank Amphitheater
Our third trip to Awesome Alpharetta was to take in a concert at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre. So impressive, the acoustics rival indoor venues in an outdoor setting. All 12,000 seats seemed to be filled for the Friday night, Jon Pardi party! There are five sections of Reserved Seats, an Orchestra and standing Pit section (all covered) and General Admission Lawn seats. The amphitheatre is sloped, so there’s not a bad seat in the house. The VIP section includes a private lounge, luxurious couches and food and drinks from a dedicated bar. It’s near the stage so VIPs don’t miss a beat.
Know Before You Go
The venue is wheelchair accessible and accommodations exist for those with disabilities and mobility issues.
It’s recommended you check the seating map for specific events before purchasing tickets. Refreshments and bathrooms are conveniently located throughout the theatre. Bags must be clear and no bigger than 12”x6”x12”, or small (6”x9”) non-clear clutch bags.
There are three main parking lots and parking passes are free with your order. Reserved seating is covered, personal sized umbrellas are allowed, but no golf umbrellas. I can’t say enough terrific things about the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre OR the concert!
Be sure to check out the 2025 Concert Line Up that just dropped here!
Friday night before the concert, we took a quick trip downtown for dinner at The Standard. This bar had a real “upstairs Carolina Ale House” vibe. Fourteen televisions made sure no one had to miss their favorite sports event. Outside seating was complete with live music. The Standard may be a bar, but the food was certainly not standard bar food. The two-patty hamburger was probably the best I’ve ever had. Pictured above: Garlic “Nots.”
Saturday
Saturdays in Alpharetta are special, especially April – November, 8:30 – 12:30. The Farmers Market is filled with food and fun for the whole family. This week featured Art in the Park. Blocks of artisans displaying their wares. We also took part in the Scarecrow Patch Walking Tour – over 120 scarecrows creatively displayed throughout Alpharetta.
Our Game Box Experience
Who’s heard of Immersive Game Box? Let’s just say, if I disappeared, my friends and family wouldn’t look for me in this building. The big sign read, “get your game face on.” I don’t have a game face, so it took less than thirty seconds for my anxiety to kick in. My gaming experience can be traced back to the early 90’s, I played Mario Bros, for a brief season, on my Nintendo. That’s the last time I held a controller. My boys, however, would have drooled over this destination. Joe and Porscha quickly put our fears to rest. Basically, you step inside a human-sized iPad and play games, using your body as controllers.
We ended up having a ball! This spot would be a blast with a group of your closest friends, OR as a team-building event with co-workers.
Immersive Game Box is located in Avalon, a district of Alpharetta.
Fairway Social
Since we had acquired a “game face,” we decided to check off the next item on our itinerary, Fairway Social. I feel like this is what you would get if Top Golf + Dave & Busters had a baby, but a little more upscale and a lot less chaotic.
Simulators allow you to play over one hundred virtual golf courses while you receive expert feedback on your swing. Football, basketball, soccer, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, rugby, bocce, cricket and zombie dodge ball are other sports you can pull up on the screen.
Our favorite part was the food. Pizza was some of the best and the side salad that comes with the chicken strips, literally takes up a whole side of the over-sized plate. Pro Tip: order the chocolate chip cookie on the skillet. It comes with raspberry but we left it off. The food was 10/10. We boxed up enough for each of us to have another meal. Score! Pun intended.
We are not the athletes Fairway is used to hosting, that’s for sure. You can reserve a bay for any amount of time. Most people start with an hour. The regulars next door (who were silently judging us) typically hang around for four! The atmosphere is laid back. Personally, I liked it better than Top Golf. I felt like it was more intimate and “cozy.” Me describing it as cozy is further proof I’m not their target audience.
Without a doubt, the perfect place for your kiddo, or your kid-at-heart, to have a birthday party!
Chiringa
After a long afternoon nap, dinner led us to Chiringa (Caribbean kite) on the square at S Main. Fabulous atmosphere with a full menu of choices sure to satisfy the pickiest palate. Indoor and outdoor seating is perfect for the family to relax. We enjoyed meeting General Manager, Logan, who took terrific care of us.
We recommend the Chicken Salad Sandwich and Fish Tacos. Oh… and the fries. Definitely the fries!
Saturday night, we made our way back to Avalon (it’s even more beautiful in night lights) to visit Five Sisters Bakery. If you like donuts, this is a must. Also located in the sweet spot of town, Avalon.
Sunday
Sunday, we had a gooey good time at the Slime Factory – another perfect birthday spot for the littles – and popped in Snooze to fill up our bellies before hopping on the highway! This AM eatery served up breakfast in a big way. By this time, lunch choices were available too. It was worth the trip. Do not live one more day without the BBQ sandwich with bacon jam… <insert Janice’s voice from FRIENDS> OH. MY. GOD.
Awesome Alpharetta is a short drive from Greenville. This one needs to take first place on your New Year’s Bucket List. We’re counting the days before we can go back!