This particular adventure began with tickets to see Jack Johnson at Ameris Bank Amphitheater. If you’ve traveled with us before, you know we’re rarely going to drive into town, see a concert and drive home. Where’s the fun in that? So we packed our bags and turned one concert into another whole Awesome Alpharetta weekend.
A Welcome That Felt Personal
Our home away from home was the Hilton Alpharetta Atlanta. Before we even settled in, Alpharetta reminded us of just one of the reasons we love visiting. Waiting in the room was the sweetest welcome gift, courtesy of our friends at Awesome Alpharetta, complete with bottled Cokes for me and Preston. Hello, someone did their homework. Those happen to be our favorites. Awesome Alpharetta never disappoints. Ever. Guys, is it me or are we besties?
In a PR and marketing world where people and contacts can sometimes feel like revolving doors, the team at Awesome Alpharetta has become a staple. They’re solid, thoughtful, and people we can count on for every detail to be planned perfectly. The cokes and other goodies are small details, but it’s the small details that tell you a lot about people.
Hilton Alpharetta Atlanta was cozy, comfortable and the perfect spot for our overnight trip.
Good Things Come in Small Packages
Before the concert, we headed to Rickshaw Thai Kitchen for dinner. The restaurant is small, but you know what they say about good things and small packages… Rickshaw proved that point!
I ordered a chicken and rice dish. While the chicken was delicious, the rice stole the show. I have no idea what they did to make it taste like heaven, but they succeeded. I could have eaten an entire bowl by itself and called it dinner. Preston ordered the wings and devoured them, which is all the restaurant reviewing you need from a teenage boy.
Small restaurant. Big win.
Jack Johnson Under the Stars
With full stomachs, we headed to Ameris Bank Amphitheater. The concert was exceptional. Jack Johnson is one of the only artists I’ve heard who sounds better live.
The night was also a reminder of why the amphitheater remains one of our favorite concert venues. The atmosphere is fantastic, the shows are incredible, but it’s so much more than that. It’s the people.
During the concert, a woman beside us had set a drink on the ground. A man making his way out of the aisle accidentally knocked it over. He apologized profusely. She assured him it was fine. Everyone was friendly, no big deal. Except an attendant noticed. A few minutes later, she rushed over with a voucher to replace the woman’s drink. She didn’t have to do that. No one complained. No one asked her to fix anything. But she noticed and decided to do something kind.
That’s who they are.
Breakfast at The Original Pancake House
After a long night of live music, we needed breakfast. Enter The Original Pancake House. I ordered what I can only describe as the biggest omelette on Planet Earth. It was loaded with meat and cheese, cooked to perfection and so enormous that I didn’t eat another bite for the rest of the day. Definitely worth writing home about. This is me writing home.
On our way to Sandbox VR, we unexpectedly found ourselves at the Alpharetta Farmer’s Market. Naturally, we had to explore. We wandered through the vendors, enjoying a little extra time downtown. That’s one (other) thing I love about downtown Alpharetta – you don’t need an itinerary. Walk around, explore, follow the crowd.
Take off your shoes and step into the fountain!
Sandbox VR at Alpharetta City Center
Little (but super brave) Jackson chose the Stranger Things experience. Fun isn’t a strong enough word. He LOVED it.
Sandbox VR is a full-body virtual reality experience. Instead of simply putting on a headset and watching something happen around you, you become part of the action! Which also means it’s extremely entertaining for the person standing outside watching. Hello again, it’s me. Our guides were helpful and kind from beginning to end, making the entire experience seamless.
For kids, teens – or adults who don’t get dizzy thinking about virtual reality – this one deserves a spot on your Things to Do in Alpharetta List.
Alpharetta, You Did It Again
The great restaurants didn’t surprise us. The walkable downtown didn’t surprise us. The incredible concert venue didn’t surprise us. The thoughtful staff at Ameris didn’t surprise us. We’ve been telling you guys about Alpharetta for years now. At this point, if you haven’t learned and taken notes on our love for Alpharetta, Georgia, we don’t know what else to tell you. We’re fans. Big ones. And after another weekend filled with incredible food, live music, a surprise farmer’s market, and a trip into virtual reality, nothing has changed.
They don’t call it AWESOME for nothing, guys. Alpharetta, we’ll (hopefully) see you again soon!