Hopefully someone more familiar with Alpharetta than me will see this post and answer it, as I'm not particularly familiar with Alpharetta. I've been through there many times, but am not familiar with all their shopping, restaurants, etc.

A google search of plant nurseries alpharetta lists several nurseries. I live in metro Atlanta, not in Alpharetta but in the suburbs very similar to Alpharetta. Our local Pike nurseries' inventories seem low to me, since they've had financial woes. If I was visiting Alpharetta I'd be tempted to hit Blossom and Bloom, Scottsdale Farms, and Perennial Grace. If I were you, I would ask on the gardenweb georgia gardening forum for suggestions about garden centers and plant nurseries.

I'm not familiar with their outlet shopping, etc. We've been to North Georgia Premium Outlet in Dawsonville, which is right up GA 400 from Alpharetta. It's a regular outlet mall, just like the others we see up and down the interstate.

If you would like to visit the aquarium, the Georgia aquarium downtown is nice. I think I remember it being not that far from Atlantic Station, the Ikea, etc. You might enjoy spending a couple of days downtown, visiting the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the aquarium, shopping at Atlantic Station and Ikea, maybe take in something at the Fox Theater. The Coke museum is downtown also.

If you would like to live in a metro Atlanta suburb, my impression is that Alpharetta is a very nice place to live, particularly if you have kids. It has a lot of swim/tennis subdivisions, I think I remember the schools are good, and there are lots of sports and recreation opportunities for kids. The crime is probably low.

I hope you enjoy your trip to Alpharetta.

Hi,
daisyinga thanks for your reponse. Yeah, I will post it again in gardenweb georgia gardening forum. I will be visiting downtown Atlanta too. Thanks again

a

There is a wonderful plant nursery in Alpharetta, Scottsdale Farms. I know this is an old post, but if someone happens to google alpharetta and nursery....check it out! They grow their own plants on a farm north of the area in Big Canoe, GA. The nursery has a nice atmosphere and nice selection of plants and gifts. They also have a restaurant with fresh food-lots of their own vegetables and farm to table meats. We went their for Mother's Day-and we will return next year! scottsdalefarms.com 15639 Birmingham Highway Alpharetta, GA 30004 (770) 777-5875

Don't forget to visit Dahlonega and all the little side towns, the mountains are beautiful and there are lots of lakes such as Lanier that are not too far from Alpharetta. The little town of Roswell is very cute too and if you are that far you might as well visit Marietta Square. There is a Scarlet GWTW museum and history museum, all sorts of cultural things near the square. There is a union as well as a confederate cemetery right near the Marietta Square. Be sure to visit Brumby Hall, Barrington Hall, Bullock Hall and of course The Swan Coach House for lunch! See if there is anything you'd like to see at The High Museum in midtown. There is also a Jewish Museum and puppet museum of puppetry arts and a cyclorama depicting the Civil War and also an IMax at Fernbank. I love Oakland Cemetery where Margret Mitchell is buried as well as other local luminaries such as the great golfer Bobby Jones and former mayor Maynard Jackson and many others. A great restaurant across the street is called Six Feet Under since it's near the cemetery, get it? I thin it's clever! Near there is Sweet Auburn where Martin Luther King was often around. There is a Tara Museum way south of the airport and the beach is about 5 hours away. Not sure how long you are staying though. Helen, GA is a cute place too. The north mountains are pretty. Kennesaw National Battlefield is a wonderful natural park to walk or run.