7 Things to Do Outdoors in Sandy Springs

It's a great time to head outside and explore nature in Sandy Springs, where you can picnic, hike, paddle, bird watch, fish, and more. Not the most outdoorsy person? That’s okay! We have suggestions for all comfort levels. Check out our list of seven things you can do outdoors this spring & summer.

Picnic in One of Sandy Springs’ Beautiful Parks
Enjoy a Free Outdoor Concert
Go Birding Along The Chattahoochee River
Take a Hike (Or a Leisurely Stroll)
Dine Al Fresco On a Patio at a Delicious Restaurant
Hit The Water
Shop at the Sandy Springs Farmers Market

Picnic in One of Sandy Springs’ Beautiful Parks

We can't think of a better way to appreciate a beautiful sunny day like a picnic in a park! Luckily, Sandy Springs is home to over 20 beautiful parks that are perfect for a relaxing picnic lunch.

Pack a feast and head to Morgan Falls Overlook Park for stunning waterside views and plenty of activities to keep the whole group entertained. Prefer something a little more peaceful? Lost Corner Preserve. offers a quiet, nature-filled escape from the bustle of the city. For a picnic with a side of history, Heritage Sandy Springs is hard to beat. Situated on the site of the original spring that gave Sandy Springs its name, it features a lush garden and quiet walking path.

Enjoy a Free Outdoor Concert

Fresh air and sunshine are great on their own, but you know what makes them even better? Live music. Free live music, to be exact!

The City of Sandy Springs puts on two free outdoor concert series each summer, City Green Live and Concerts by the Springs, and this year's lineups are ones you won't want to miss.

City Green Live

City Green Live brings free outdoor concerts to City Green at City Springs on select Friday evenings, with lawn seating on a first-come, first-served basis.

Location: City Green at City Springs (1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328)

Concerts by the Springs

Concerts by the Springs runs a separate series at Heritage Amphitheatre, also with free admission and first-come, first served lawn seating.

Location: Heritage Amphitheatre (6110 Bluestone Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30328)

Go Birding Along The Chattahoochee River

Sandy Springs has several wildlife sanctuaries and bird-watching opportunities. Much of this is thanks to its three units of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, along with its many city parks. The Chattahoochee River, and the canopy surrounding it, provide habitats for a variety of bird species. Blue Heron, Osprey, and hundreds of other species, can be spotted in and around the area. Take a trip to a CRNRA unit or local park, and see how many types of birds you can spot. Birding enthusiasts can find popular Sandy Springs bird-watching hotspots on the website ebird.org.

The City of Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Department also occasionally host bird-watching field trips that residents and visitors can enjoy. Their next bird walk will take place July 25th, learn more about it by clicking here.

Take a Hike

With over 950 acres of parkland and greenspace, Sandy Springs has no shortage of trails and pathways for nature lovers of all skill levels!

For a scenic and accessible outing, the recently opened Morgan Falls Connector on the Springway Trail Network is a 1.88-mile paved boardwalk that winds along Orkin Lake and past the Morgan Falls Dam. It's relatively flat, making it a great option for strollers, wheelchairs, and anyone who prefers a more leisurely pace. Also worth a visit is the Abernathy Greenway, a paved pathway that doubles as an outdoor art experience, with sculptures and installations you're actually encouraged to touch, climb, and play on.

Those looking for a easy to moderate hike should check out the Powers Island Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA). At 2.6 miles and mostly flat, it's a great introduction to the 'Hooch and tends to be less crowded than other nearby trails.

For something more challenging and truly spectacular, the East Palisades Unit of the CRNRA delivers. One of the most scenic parks in all of metro Atlanta, this 3.4-mile trail hugs the banks of the Chattahoochee and takes you past dramatic river overlooks, the ruins of an old mill, and a lush bamboo forest. It's the kind of hike that makes you forget you're just minutes from the city.

Dine Al Fresco

One of the best things about Georgia is that patio weather can be enjoyed for the majority of the year. Late spring and early summer are particularly pleasant times to dine al fresco in Sandy Springs. Many of the city’s restaurants have patios where you can relax, dine, and soak in some sunshine.

For an elegant riverside meal, look no further than Rays on the River. Situated along the Chattahoochee River, the menu is filled with fresh seafood flown in daily, prime cut steaks, regionally grown vegetables, and an award-winning wine list.

If you're in the mood for something lighter and more laid-back, Flower Child is the spot. With a menu of nourishing bowls, wraps, and salads made from scratch with vibrant, fresh ingredients, it caters to every lifestyle, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and everything in between.

For a view that stops people mid-sentence, Savor Kitchen and Bar located within The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North offers a Southern-inspired farm-to-table menu alongside a lakeside patio and thoughtfully crafted cocktails. All with a front-row seat to the iconic King and Queen Buildings on the skyline.

Hit The Water

For a little adventure to celebrate the warmer weather, the Chattahoochee River is calling your name. Drop a kayak in at Powers Island, paddleboard on Bull Sluice Lake at Morgan Falls Overlook Park, or cast a line at Island Ford.

No gear? No problem! The Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) is the only outfitter operating directly inside the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, with their Powers Island outpost offering tubing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and rafting rentals. Whether you go for a half-day or a full day, you can cover up to eight miles of flatwater and Class I-II whitewater.

For a more relaxed afternoon on the scenic Bull Sluice Lake at Morgan Falls Overlook Park, head to Murph's Surf Paddle Shack at Morgan Falls Overlook Park. They offer kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals for all experience levels, and will be starting stand-up paddleboard yoga classes soon! The Morgan Falls location opens on weekends in April, then runs seven days a week starting in May.

Shop at the Award-Winning Sandy Springs Farmers Market

The Sandy Springs Farmers Market is back in full swing, and it makes for an ideal Saturday morning. A community staple since 2010, the market brings together local farmers, artisans, and small businesses, and has been named Best of Georgia three years running, in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Held every Saturday from April through November, rain or shine, the market runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon at City Springs. Each week you'll find fresh produce, specialty foods, handcrafted goods, clothing, jewelry, and home decor, plus live music to set the mood while you shop. It's the kind of place where you can grab your groceries, discover a new local vendor, and sip on a cup of coffee all at once!

Here’s a pro tip: Head to City Springs bright and early on a Saturday morning, grab a cup of coffee and a pastry from Café Vendome, check out the Art Walk, and then head to the Sandy Springs Farmers Market for the perfect start to your weekend!


Ready for a getaway? Check out all of the hotel offerings we have here in Sandy Springs! Explore 900 acres of parks, trails, river shoreline, the local dining scene, and even popular Atlanta attractions like Zoo Atlanta, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens just a short drive or train ride away. You can find all of this and more when you stay in Sandy Springs!

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