I have, on multiple occasions, said that Atlanta is one of the greatest cities in the world. And I stand by that statement 100%. But while Atlanta’s neighborhoods are filled with incredible food, artwork, culture and more, Atlanta’s neighboring cities also add to its greatness. Perfect example? Alpharetta.

A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I drove up to Alpharetta so that I could explore Alpharetta for an @awesomealpharetta Instagram takeover! Missed it on Instagram? Keep on reading to learn more about how we spent our time in Alpharetta.

The first thing we did when we got to Alpharetta was check into the hotel, The Holiday Inn Express & Suites. The room was awesome, prices right and location incredible. Just a few minutes from all of the shops and restaurants we wanted to check out! I definitely recommend the hotel for any out-of-towners or staycationers!

Then we made our way to MADE Kitchen & Cocktails for a late dinner. I’m an incredibly indecisive eater (I just like to try everything!!) so small plate dining is my favorite. To start, we ordered a round of drinks and the cheese and charcuterie board. If you can’t tell, along with small plates, I have a slight obsession with cheese boards. And MADE’s spread did not disappoint. We also ordered a tomato, mozzarella and eggplant salad, scallops and the lamb lollipops. Everything was so good! And just as good as the food was the ambiance. The bar was gorgeous and in this beautiful fall weather, I’d recommend dining al fresco! MADE’s patio was great.

After sleeping my food coma away, we got in my car and drove over to DaVinci’s Donuts! I had been to the Sandy Springs location several times, but I loved seeing where the magic all began. And word on the street is that DaVinci’s is opening another location in Dunwoody soon! Some of my favorite flavors are the salted caramel and strawberry shortcake. And did you know you can also create your own donut at DaVinci’s? You can choose your icing, toppings and drizzle! Something I particularly love about DaVinci’s is the donut size. They are smaller than normal donuts, so I don’t feel guilty when I eat a whole one! (Or two or three…)

And as if donuts weren’t enough for breakfast, our next stop was Oak Steakhouse at Avalon! Oak’s Sunday brunch is a must when visiting Alpharetta. It has all of the brunch classics, like eggs benedict and frittatas, but also has really fun menu items that brought me back to my childhood years, like a giant cinnamon bun, homemade pop tart and a cocktail called “Milk & Cereal.” And if you’re more of a savory person at brunch, go ahead and order the burger. It’s ah-mazing. Which isn’t too surprising since Oak is a steakhouse!

It was so nice walking around Avalon after my morning of food. We met up with Cody at The Concierge (he’s awesome by the way!) and he gave us a little history of Avalon. Did you know there are squirrel statues placed all around the plaza? And that a “phase 2” is currently being built?! If it’s anything like phase 1 it is going to be so so cool. Avalon is filled with so many incredible restaurants and shops, and the landscaping is perfect. There is something so peaceful about walking around Avalon on a beautiful day.

Once our food had digested a bit, we stopped by Cru Wine Bar for a wine tasting. The whole space was great but the upstairs patio is a must! It hands down has the best views at Avalon. So order some wine and take it upstairs! You won’t be disappointed.

And there’s nothing like tipsy shopping to help you make the best purchase decisions! (haha) So after our wine flights we ran around Avalon checking out all of the shops. I could have done this for hours, but unfortunately – or fortunately for my bank account – my boyfriend wanted to catch some football so we headed to a bar to watch.

But football was also short lived because we had an early dinner at South Main Kitchen. Whether you make a whole day out of Alpharetta or not, you must drive up there for a meal at South Main Kitchen soon! The restaurant had a “rustic chic” feel to it. And I want to buy a million of their cups! (Which I later found out are available to purchase…YES.) I could seriously eat at South Main Kitchen every day. The Strawberry Smash quickly became one of my all-time favorite drinks and each bite of food was better than the next. Some menu musts are the brussel sprouts, chicken sausage ravioli and red snapper. But you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Now I’m just dying to come back for brunch!

And to close out this incredible day in Alpharetta, we drove over to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre to see Darius Rucker live in concert! He (along with Michael Ray and Dan + Shay) were beyond talented. There’s nothing quite like a great concert at an amphitheatre when the temperature is just right. A perfect ending to a perfect Alpharetta day!

So if you sadly have not yet been to Alpharetta (or if you haven’t been in some time!) you need to add a few of these spots to your bucket lists! I promise you’ll be happy you did!

This post was written in collaboration with the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau but all thoughts and opinions remain my own. A special thank you to the ACVB for all of your planning!