Things to Do in Sandy Springs, GA: A Local’s Guide

I was born in Sandy Springs and, other than college, have lived here my entire life. So when someone asks me what there is to do in Sandy Springs, I’m not going to give them a list of 25 tourist attractions and pretend we are somewhere we’re not. Sandy Springs isn’t a tourist town, and that’s actually part of its appeal.

What we do have is the Chattahoochee River, some surprisingly great places to get outside, a growing restaurant scene, City Springs, live music and community events, and a location that makes it easy to enjoy the rest of Atlanta too. If you were new to Sandy Springs and asked me what was actually worth doing, this is where I would send you.

1. Get on the Chattahoochee

The Chattahoochee is one of the best things about Sandy Springs, and I don’t think we talk about it enough. You can kayak, paddleboard, fish, hike beside the river or simply find somewhere to sit and enjoy it. Island Ford is one of my favorite places if you want more of a wooded trail experience, while Morgan Falls Overlook Park is much easier for a casual afternoon.

In the warmer months, you can rent a kayak or paddleboard near Morgan Falls and get directly onto the water. Sandy Springs has more than 20 miles of Chattahoochee River shoreline, which is pretty remarkable when you consider how close we are to Buckhead, Perimeter and some of Metro Atlanta’s largest employment centers.

If you’re relocating from somewhere else, this is one of those things that’s difficult to appreciate from a map. You can live surprisingly close to the city and still be able to get on the river without making a day trip out of it.

2. Walk the New Springway to Morgan Falls

This is something I would absolutely put on the list because it’s new and shows where Sandy Springs is headed. The first completed section of the Springway connects Roswell Road at Cimarron Parkway to Morgan Falls Overlook Park. The approximately 1.9-mile trail includes a boardwalk across Orkin Lake, pedestrian bridges and a paved multi-use trail.

For a city that has historically been very car dependent, I think the Springway is a big deal. The long-term plan is for a much larger network of trails and connections throughout Sandy Springs. If I had friends visiting on a pretty morning, walking the Springway and ending at Morgan Falls is something I would genuinely suggest.

3. Escape Roswell Road at Big Trees

Big Trees Forest Preserve has been one of my favorite Sandy Springs places since I was in high school. Part of what makes it so interesting is where it is. You’re right off busy Roswell Road, and then suddenly you’re walking through a forest where it feels like you’ve gone much farther away.

There aren’t restaurants, playgrounds or activities here. That’s the point. Go for a walk, take the trails and enjoy how surprisingly quiet it is. For someone considering living in Sandy Springs, I also think Big Trees tells you something about the city that you don’t necessarily understand driving down Roswell Road. There are pockets of nature hidden all over the place.

4. Spend a Saturday Morning at City Springs

City Springs has changed the way people actually use Sandy Springs. If it’s Saturday morning during farmers market season, I would start at the Sandy Springs Farmers Market. Walk around City Green, grab coffee or stay for lunch nearby.

This is also where I would check the calendar before visiting because there’s often something happening. City Green hosts concerts, festivals and seasonal events, while the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center brings theater, comedy, music and touring performers into the city.

City Springs didn’t exist when I was growing up here. Sandy Springs never really had a downtown or central gathering place. Now we do, and while it’s still evolving, it has made a meaningful difference.

5. Go to a Concert on City Green

This is probably one of the most fun changes in Sandy Springs. City Green Live brings concerts to the lawn at City Springs, and there are other events and programming throughout the year that make the area feel much more active.

Bring a chair, meet friends, get something to eat and hang out outside. It’s easy. That’s much more representative of what Sandy Springs does well than trying to create a list of conventional tourist attractions.

6. Eat Somewhere You Haven’t Tried Before

I wouldn’t say Sandy Springs’ dining scene “rivals the city,” as the original article did. Atlanta has one of the best restaurant scenes in the Southeast, and we don’t need to make that comparison. But Sandy Springs has become much more interesting for food.

There are well-known restaurants like Rumi’s Kitchen, The Select, Casi Cielo and il Giallo, but I also think one of the more interesting things about eating here is the variety along Roswell Road. There are locally owned restaurants serving food from all over the world, and some of the best places aren’t necessarily the ones with the fanciest storefronts.

And if you want a very Sandy Springs experience, Ray’s on the River is still hard to beat for the setting. Eating outside beside the Chattahoochee is something you simply can’t replicate in most parts of Metro Atlanta.

7. See a Show at Byers Theatre

This is another thing Sandy Springs didn’t have when I was growing up. The Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center at City Springs brings touring performers, theater, comedy, orchestras and other programming into the center of the city.

I don’t think most Sandy Springs residents are going to the theater every week, and that’s fine. What I like is having the option. You can have dinner nearby, see a show and be home ten minutes later. That’s very different from planning an entire evening around driving downtown, parking and driving home.

8. Experience One of the Events That Actually Feels Like Sandy Springs

Some events come and go, so I wouldn’t build an evergreen article around a long calendar that will quickly become outdated. But there are a few recurring traditions worth knowing.

The Sandy Springs Lantern Parade is one of the more distinctive. People create illuminated lanterns and parade toward Morgan Falls and the Chattahoochee, where the event ends by the water. City Green concerts, the Fourth of July celebration and the Sandy Springs Farmers Market are other recurring favorites.

I would always check the current city calendar before planning around a particular event because dates and programming change from year to year.

9. Explore the Quieter Side of Sandy Springs

Not everything worth doing needs to involve an event. Lost Corner Preserve is one of those places many people drive past for years without realizing what’s there. Island Ford gives you a completely different Chattahoochee experience from Morgan Falls. Abernathy Greenway has the Playable Art Park if you have younger children.

You can also simply explore the neighborhoods. Drive along Riverside Drive toward the river. Go through Heards Ferry and Mountaire. Head toward the Chastain side of Sandy Springs and notice how quickly the feel changes. Then drive north toward Morgan Falls or the panhandle and it feels different again.

If you’re considering moving here rather than simply visiting, I think doing that is actually more useful than checking off attractions.

10. And Sometimes the Best Thing About Sandy Springs Is Leaving It

That probably isn’t a sentence most Realtor neighborhood guides would include, but it’s true. One of the reasons I like living here is that we don’t have to pretend the city limits define our lives.

If we want dinner in Buckhead, we go to Buckhead. Chastain is immediately south. Dunwoody and Perimeter are next door. Roswell is north of us. Midtown and Atlanta’s major cultural attractions aren’t far away.

I think that’s a strength, not something we need to hide. You can spend Saturday morning kayaking on the Chattahoochee, have lunch in Sandy Springs, go to Chastain or Buckhead that evening and be back home on a quiet residential street. That’s a much better description of what living here is actually like.

Frequently Asked Questions About Things to Do in Sandy Springs

What are the best things to do in Sandy Springs, GA?

If it’s your first visit, I would start with Morgan Falls Overlook Park and the Chattahoochee, walk the Springway, visit City Springs, eat at a local restaurant and check the calendar for a concert, farmers market or community event.

What can you do outdoors in Sandy Springs?

Sandy Springs has access to the Chattahoochee River for kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing, along with hiking and walking at Island Ford, Big Trees Forest Preserve, Lost Corner Preserve, Morgan Falls and other parks and trails.

Does Sandy Springs have a downtown?

City Springs has become the closest thing Sandy Springs has to a traditional downtown. It includes City Green, the Performing Arts Center, restaurants, residences and community events. It’s also within the larger redevelopment area around downtown Sandy Springs.

What are some good restaurants in Sandy Springs?

Rumi’s Kitchen, The Select, Casi Cielo, il Giallo and Ray’s on the River are some of the better-known choices, but I also recommend exploring the independently owned restaurants along Roswell Road.

Is Sandy Springs close to Atlanta attractions?

Yes. That’s one of the biggest advantages of the location. Sandy Springs sits immediately north of Buckhead with access to GA-400, I-285 and MARTA. Chastain Park, Buckhead, Midtown and other Atlanta destinations are close enough that residents regularly move between Sandy Springs and the city.

Thinking About Moving to Sandy Springs?

I’m Lindsay Levin, J.D., MBA, REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. I was born and raised in Sandy Springs and, other than college, have lived here my entire life.

When I help someone move to Sandy Springs, I don’t just want to know how many bedrooms they need. I want to understand how they actually live. Do they want to be closer to Buckhead and Chastain? Would they use the river and trails? Do they want to be near City Springs? Would they rather have a larger lot farther north? Those differences matter because Sandy Springs doesn’t feel the same from one end to the other.

If you’re considering buying, selling or relocating to Sandy Springs, reach out to the Lindsay Levin Team at ATLREInsider.com. I’d be happy to help you understand not just the real estate, but what it’s actually like to live here.