Located on the outer reaches of the greater Atlanta metropolitan area is the mid-sized city of Alpharetta, known for its vibrant music scene, compact but flourishing downtown, and easy access to the North Georgia Mountains. You’ll see historic 19th-century buildings throughout town that house museums, boutiques, and restaurants specializing in regional Southern cooking. On weekends, the city center springs to life with cyclists and rollerbladers taking over the town green, and a farmers’ market showcasing the best and brightest produce from around the region.

One thing that sets Alpharetta apart from other cities in the area is its love for music. It has deeply ingrained connections to Georgia’s blues, jazz, and country scenes, and plays host to a variety of music festivals and performance spaces, including a jazz club and a 12,000-seat amphitheater. For outdoor-based adventures, Chattahoochee National Forest is just a couple of hours north, and provides plenty of hiking trails through Georgia’s stunning hardwood and pine forests.

The weather can swing radically from one season to the next in Alpharetta. Summers can be hot and humid with moderate levels of rain, particularly in the latter half of the season. From November through mid-March, temperatures drop considerably and frequently get below freezing with a substantial increase in rain and the occasional dusting of snow. Due to the relative extremes of summer and winter, shoulder seasons tend to be popular times for travelers to book vacation rentals in Alpharetta. Both spring and fall provide moderate temperatures and minimal rainfall, excellent conditions for exploring the town and its surroundings. And with Atlanta close by, you’ll find several events and festivals throughout the year to enjoy. For example, the Wire & Wood music festival, hosted in downtown Alpharetta, is a two-day celebration in October with local and nationally known musicians performing blues, country, rock, and bluegrass across several stages along with food trucks and beer vendors.

Webb Bridge Park

Located on the western edge of town, Webb Bridge Park features more than 100 acres of parkland along with soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and tennis courts. But the park’s main draw is its vast arboretum with hardwood forests, conifers, and other native tree species, all crisscrossed by hiking trails.

Alpharetta Arts Center

This modern art gallery showcases work produced by local artists from across various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and digital visual pieces. In addition to the ever-rotating series of exhibits, the center hosts classes for children on cooking and creative writing.

Live music

Alpharetta’s nickname, Music City, is well earned. No matter when you visit, you’re likely to hear the sounds of banjos, saxophones, and blues guitar riffs floating down the street from one of the city’s many music venues. Whether it’s at honky-tonk bar room stages, a high-capacity amphitheater, or concerts at the local polo club, there is never a shortage of live musical entertainment.