Keeping the kids occupied can sometimes be challenging, even with Georgia’s many outstanding attractions. Of course, you want to ensure your family has a great time, but you don’t want to break the bank. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. If you need help finding some free things to do in Alpharetta, Georgia, here are five options you can check out today.

Explore Wills Park

Wills Park is the jewel of the city’s public park system, with so many free things for the whole family to do. This downtown green space spans 110 acres, making it the largest park in Alpharetta. You and the little one can burn off some energy on Wacky World Playground. This mammoth structure features everything a kid-friendly attraction should, from slides and monkey bars to bridges, towers, and swings.

Challenge the older kids to a friendly game of disc golf. This popular sport is growing in Alpharetta, and this 18-hole course is one of the area’s best. The game features a combination of golf regulations and a unique set of Frisbee-like discs. It’s fun for players of all ages, easy to learn, and free to play on the Wills Park course. There are many other complimentary attractions here, too, like walking trails, outdoor fitness equipment, and an arboretum.

• Location: 11925 Wills Road, Alpharetta.
• Community Center Hours:  Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Discover the Alpharetta Arts Walking Tour

If your family is into art, you’re in luck. You can get some exercise and keep the kids entertained with a walking tour of the city’s art scene. Your first stop is the Alpharetta Welcome Center, where you’ll pick up an official tour pamphlet, or you can download the brochure online. Then, get ready to explore nearly 20 public art sculptures, some of which were created by local artists. One of our favorites is “The Visitor.” This charming bear by artist Geemon Xin Meng welcomes visitors to City Hall and personifies the city’s southern hospitality.

These permanent pieces and temporary installations attract art enthusiasts from all over Georgia, and there’s no cost for the brochure or the self-guided tour. Be sure to check out “Instruments of Inspiration,” a series of works that officials added to the collection in 2018. Its mission is to celebrate Alpharetta’s historic downtown music scene. These include sculptures like Marc Moulton and Duke Oursler’s steel and aluminum creation titled “Twist and Shout,” which pays homage to the 1961 song of the same name. You’ll find it on Old Roswell Street near the Arts Center.

Visit the Alpharetta and Old Milton County History Museum

If history is more your thing, you’re in for a treat. The Alpharetta and Old Milton County History Museum features plenty of artifacts and interpretative displays to satisfy your family’s craving for knowledge. Learn all about the history of Alpharetta with a tour, either by exploring on your own or with a group tour led by a local historian. The collections begin with a journey through historical Alpharetta, detailing the area’s early days as Cherokee territory and concluding with the modern city we know today.

This chronological timeline of the city’s past also includes the Alpharetta Stories Project. Guests can listen to the interviews and memories of approximately 70 long-standing residents. Some of these fascinating individuals also contributed memorabilia for the displays, and there’s never a charge for admission, which makes this one local museum you need to visit.

• Location: Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta.
• Hours: Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Catch a Concert at Brook Street Park

The Home by Dark concert series at Brooke Street Park is one of the summer’s best destinations for free live entertainment. Stop by the park on select Saturdays during 2023 and enjoy a night of music and stories. Bring your lawn chairs and a cooler of drinks and find your family a spot on the East Lawn behind City Hall on select dates from May through September.

You can catch performing artists like Carrie Welling and Christopher Alan Yates on July 8, Georgia Middleman and James David Carter on August 12, and Jonathan Kingham and Jason Sever on September 9. That’s just a few of the live performers showcasing their music at this picturesque city park. There’s no cost to listen, sit back, relax, and tap your toes to the rhythm. This beautiful 5-acre park is also one of Alpharetta’s top places for a nature-filled experience thanks to the arboretum, a paved walking path, and a small reflection garden.

• Location: Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta.
• Hours: Concerts start at 7:30 p.m. and end at 10:30 p.m.

Stop by Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center is another terrific destination near Alpharetta that’s free to explore. While donations are appreciated, entering the preserve and visitor center is free. Wander through a hardwood forest on the park’s 2.5 miles of trails. It’s the perfect place to take in the scenery, including a creek with rocky shoals, native plants and trees, and varied wildlife. Some ruins can be found on the grounds, such as the former gold mine and the foundation stones of Grist Mill.

There are also a variety of animal residents on the preserve. Meet King, the Florida king snake, or Maggie, the Nigerian dwarf goat. You’ll also see turtles, rabbits, salamanders, and chickens, all on the grounds of this outstanding 46-acre historic facility. If you want to get involved, you and the kids — ages 14 and up — can sign up to be a volunteer at this non-profit. Check the calendar to register for available service days. Offering to spend your free time at Autrey Mill is a great way to give back while getting behind-the-scenes access to the farm museum exhibits.

• Location: 9770 Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek.
• Nature Preserve Grounds and Trail Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Visitor Center and Farm Museum Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Well, there you go. The staff at Crème de la Crème of Alpharetta (Haynes Bridge Road), Georgia, put together this guide to some of the city’s best things to do that are completely free. What did you think of our picks? Did we miss one of your family’s favorite activities? Please contact us and let us know so we can add your ideas to our list.

Image by jatocreate is licensed with Pixabay License