The Best Things to Do in Spring in Atlanta

Atlanta boasts world-class cuisine that not only includes great southern food, but other tasty options as well. The patios at Atlanta restaurants open early and that is where you’ll find many Atlanta foodies. Various restaurants change their seasonal menus to lighter dishes and the bartenders mix up new libation options. Many Atlanta neighborhoods, including Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, Grant Park, Virginia Highlands, and Midtown feature restaurants, pubs, and wine bars with great patios for relaxed spring dining.

A great opportunity to explore new neighborhoods, enjoy a couple glasses of wine, and meet new people, art strolls in Atlanta are popular in the spring. There are a couple of strolls held regularly each month, such as the Castleberry Hill Art Stroll. But there are also a few that showcase emerging artists and art galleries. These strolls are open and free to the public; sometimes, they even include lite bites at certain locations during the stroll.

With several large parks to choose from, spring weekends are the perfect time to grab a basket and load it with your favorite snacks, wine, and blankets for a picnic in the park. From Atlanta’s premiere greenspace, Piedmont Park, to Grant Park and Old Fourth Ward Park, you have quite a range of options. Many of the parks have paths, as well as breathtaking ponds and lakes where you can take a quiet stroll with your family or significant other.

Taking a bike ride is not only great exercise, its a fun environmentally-conscious way to explore the city. The city and surrounding areas offer paved trails with scenic views, forests, rocky landscapes, and greenspace to explore. Two local favorites are a converted passenger train trail named the Silver Comet Trail and the paved, hilly trail through Arabia Mountain Path.

Hiking is one of the best ways to explore breathtaking mountaintop views, forest trails, rolling rivers, historical sites, and cascading waterfalls. There are a couple of hiking trails, including the paths at Sweetwater Creek. But most hiking paths are nestled in the surrounding areas of Atlanta. Catching views of Arabia Lake after hiking up Arabia Mountain makes an ideal spring day. Another popular trail, nestled in one of the most popular parks in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, is Sope Creek Trail at Sope Creek Park.

Spring is the perfect opportunity to take your exercise routine out of the gym and get some sunshine. Connecting 45 city Intown neighborhoods, the Atlanta BeltLine sees hundreds of joggers and walkers every weekend. The urban trailway boasts creative graffiti street art, art installations, dining options, and coffee shops to indulge in, after your outdoor workout.

Atlanta is home to many outdoor festivals and the festival season revs up in the spring. In April, Atlanta pays homage to its native dogwood trees with the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. Held at Piedmont Park, the free festival brings out thousands to enjoy crafts, music, art, and of course, the dogwood bloom. In May, locals celebrate one of their favorite microbrews at the Sweetwater 420 Festival. Atlanta’s southern history is highlighted with the largest free festival in the southeast, Sweet Auburn Festival. Offering a mix of live music, food, crafts, vendors, and history of the Sweet Auburn District, the festival attracts tens of thousands of people.

Spring is the blooming season. What better way to enjoy spring than to visit and learn about Georgia’s botanical grounds? Atlanta and its surrounding neighborhoods happen to be a hotspot for botanical gardens. Locals first check out the 30-acre garden next to Piedmont Park, Atlanta Botanical Gardens. But you can’t miss the 20,000 gorgeous azaleas at Callaway Gardens.