Autumn’s in the Bag!

Ah, autumn! The season bursts on the scene with leaves of bright red and gold; and the cool, crisp days signal a time for renewal. Sounds like exactly the right time to head to the awesome community of Alpharetta, Georgia, where shops abound and the city’s spa services and restaurants are unrivaled. To kick off the season and help you experience the autumn harvest of retail deals and regional treats, the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau will give a canvas bag full of bargain opportunities to everyone who stops in at the Alpharetta Welcome Center on Main Street during September and October. Alpharetta hotels – many providing free shuttles to shopping districts, spas and restaurants – are offering special fall rates beginning as low as $59.

Serious Shopping Scenes
You’ll wish you could spend the entire autumn season in Alpharetta when you begin your adventure through Alpharetta’s unique and varied shopping districts. Go to www.AwesomeAlpharetta.com for more details.

Waltz Over to Matilda’s – This magical complex of whimsical cottages enchants, inspires and delights. You’ll find every surface cluttered with painted pottery, fabric or artwork. www.matildascottage.com

Don’t Get Crabby – Instead, go to the Crabapple shopping district! Once a cotton mill, Crabapple now houses a home accessories shop, women’s clothing store and more.

Meet Me at the Mall – Alpharetta’s North Point Mall is a shopper’s paradise, with more than 135 major retailers plus five department stores. Kids love the carousel! New to North Point is the American Girl Boutique and Bistro (a little lass could spend hours there). Immediately surrounding the mall, look for more stores, movie theaters, coffee shops and the world’s largest Ethan Allen store. www.northpointmall.com

You Can Always Go Downtown – Alpharetta’s downtown mixes antique and home furnishing stores with restaurants, cafés and art galleries.

Alabama in Georgia – Near the intersection of Old Alabama and Haynes Bridge roads, there is a chic collection of shops including Red Twig Gallery, destination for Décor Divas. Nearby is a tea parlor, Fresh Market grocer and Bloom, a clothing boutique.

Leave it to the Queen – That’s the Queen of Hearts Antique Mall where 130 dealers sell American and European antiques, McCoy pottery, silver, linens, china and collectibles.

Get Blown Away at Windward – It is safe to say that Alpharetta’s Windward Parkway offers at least one of everything – your favorite restaurant, hotel or store.

Spa Me, Baby
When you are all shopped out and could use a little pick me up, Alpharetta has just the thing – oh-so-lavish spa treatments that you surely deserve. Here is a sample of the many Alpharetta spa stops:

My Favorite Spa – Facials, body treatments, massage. Dedicated to making you feel at home. www.myfavoritespa.net

Mind & Body Day Spa – Whiten your teeth while receiving a foot and hand massage. http://mindandbodydayspa.com

Natural Body Spa & Shop – Selected by Allure magazine as the best day spa in Atlanta. All natural products are used. www.naturalbody.com

Bon Appétit
Alpharetta is home to so many destination and cutting-edge restaurants (from nouveau cuisine to Southern cooking) that you could eat at a different one for weeks without repeating. Go to www.AwesomeAlpharetta.com for a complete listing, but here is tasty sampling:

Rainwater – Upscale dining from the kitchen of a two-time James Beard House invitee. (Ooh-la-la) Rainwater received The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence five years in a row. Hurry on over. www.rainwaterrestaurant.com

Smokejack BBQ – Well, hey, you’re in the South where barbecue is practically required eating. Groove to the blues while busting your belly with the Pork-zilla Barbeque Sandwich (it comes with fried pickles, y’all). www.smokejackbbq.com

Pure Taqueria – This Mexican hacienda is located in an old Pure Oil service station. The line of hungry patrons is always long, so arrive early for Tres Ceviches or Taquitos de Pollo. www.northfultonshops.com/puretaqueria

Alpharetta, Georgia - one of the South’s most progressive and affluent communities - offers an array of amenities and services. Located just 22 miles north of Atlanta, Alpharetta is a vibrant community with more than 23 modern hotels; dining choices for any palate or pocketbook; and more than 100 retail establishments. With its mild climate as the catalyst, outdoor recreation is the key to enjoying the many golf courses, equestrian events or family activities in one of the city’s many parks. Alpharetta has been named a “City of Excellence” by the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend magazine. For more information, visit the Alpharetta Welcome Center, 20 North Main St., Alpharetta, Georgia 30004; call toll-free, 800-294-0923, or visit www.AwesomeAlpharetta.com.