The Alpharetta, Georgia, area is beautiful and filled with stunning parks, gorgeous waterways, and fun places to get outdoors. When looking for the perfect getaway to spend time outside with your family, explore these six nature-filled experiences near Alpharetta.
Old Rucker Park & Farm
Mother and daughter picking corn in the backyard by Nenad Stojkovic is licensed with CC BY 2.0
Your family will enjoy spending time at Old Rucker Park & Farm to learn about gardening, chicken care, and more. This organic farm, operated by the City of Alpharetta’s Recreation, Parks & Cultural Services Department, hosts a community garden and provides educational classes to kids and adults. Old Rucker Park & Farm sits on 10 acres of land with a seasonal stream running through the varied terrain. The recreation department reserves about 7 acres of this farm for passive recreational space so that families can enjoy the serenity of nature.
As you stroll through the grounds of Old Rucker Park & Farm, you’ll see the organic community garden with locals tending to the vegetables they’ve planted. You’ll also notice the native pollinator garden and an outdoor classroom where the staff of this park holds classes and workshops. Examples of classes your family members can enjoy here include kid’s gardening, a foray for mushrooms, and a bird walk. After taking some of these classes, your family can apply their knowledge to plant a low-maintenance garden in Alpharetta.
Location: 900 Rucker Road, Alpharetta.
Contact: 404-314-1245.
Webb Bridge Park
With so many amenities and outdoor features to keep you and your family busy, you’ll want to visit the 109-acre Webb Bridge Park often. Kids can play sports on the grass or synthetic turf fields, play with balls on baseball fields or tennis courts, or stroll along the 1.5-mile walking trail. This family-friendly park is also home to the Webb Bridge Park Arboretum, with more than 20 species of native plants, including trees found in hardwood and conifer forests.
During the warmer Alpharetta months, your family can take advantage of dipping their toes in the on-site lake and having a bite to eat from food at the concession stands. Other unique features of Webb Bridge Park include a Play Me Again piano, the Little Free Library, and the Webb Zone Playground.
Location: 4780 Webb Bridge Road, Alpharetta.
Contact: 678-297-6123.
Brooke Street Park
You can easily travel from downtown Alpharetta to experience nature when you visit Brooke Street Park, behind Alpharetta City Hall along Haynes Bridge Road. This pocket-sized 5-acre park has an arboretum with native trees and plants, a paved walking path, and an open lawn for relaxation.
During select times of the year, the park hosts live music on the covered bandstand in front of the lawn, and throughout the year, you can wander the park admiring the public art sculptures placed around the park. After stopping at the nearby Fulton County Library, pick up some books and enjoy some quiet reading by the landscaped stream that winds through Brooke Street Park.
Location: 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta.
Contact: 678-297-6000.
Wills Park
When you want to spend the day at Alpharetta’s largest park, head to Wills Park. This 120-acre park offers visitors a vast array of recreational opportunities, ranging from baseball to horseback riding. Not only does Wills Park have seven grass baseball fields and six lighted tennis courts, but this park is also home to the Alpharetta Recreation Center, Alpharetta Community Center, and the Wills Park Equestrian Center.
Kids of all ages will get a kick out of playing on the 18-hole disc golf course, tinkering on the Play Me Again piano art installation, and climbing on and around the Wacky World Playground. Nature buffs will appreciate the Alpharetta Arboretum at Wills Park, and your furry friends can romp and play with other dogs at the on-site Waggly World Dog Park. When the family feels like stretching their legs, enjoy wandering along the 1.25-mile or 2-mile walking trails in Wills Park.
Location: 11925 Wills Road, Alpharetta.
Contact: 678-297-6100.
East Roswell Park
About 6 miles south of Alpharetta, the charming town of Roswell is home to the lovely East Roswell Park. This 40-acre park has a disc golf course, dog park, outdoor fitness center, and a large playground the kids can spend the day enjoying. Be sure to bring your family’s favorite sports equipment so they can play softball, soccer, or tennis.
For an immersive nature-filled experience, lace up your hiking shoes and hit the nearly 3-mile hiking trail that takes you through hardwood forests and past a cascading creek with several small waterfalls. Once you return to the central portion of East Roswell Park, you can use the restrooms near the playground and quench your thirst from the on-site water fountains.
Location: 9000 Fouts Road, Roswell.
Contact: 770-594-6134.
Chattahoochee Nature Center
Whether you want to spend a quiet day in nature, see local wildlife and birds, or canoe on the Chattahoochee River, you’ll find all that and more when you visit the 127-acre Chattahoochee Nature Center just outside of Roswell. Hikers will appreciate the 2.5 miles of nature trails to look for wild birds or take the short Wildlife Walk to view beavers swimming in their pond, butterflies in the butterfly garden, and various birds in the on-site aviary.
If you have any thrill-seekers in your group, they’ll have a memorable time on the Screaming Eagle Aerial Adventure course. This course offers a zip line canopy tour and a challenging but fun ropes course. You can also take guided canoe tours or enroll in an educational nature program at the Chattahoochee Nature Center.
Location: 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell.
Contact: 770-992-2055.
Our team at Crème de la Crème of Alpharetta, 8730 Nesbit Ferry Road, hopes you and your family enjoy these delightful nature-filled experiences around our area. If you have suggestions for other places to get outside and enjoy fresh air and sunshine, let us know so that we can share your recommendations with others in our community.