A Local's Guide to an Affordable Day in Sandy Springs

Look, times are tough. Money can be tight right now, and just buying a dozen eggs costs an entire paycheck.

It might feel like there's no room in the budget for a vacation, or even just a fun day out. That might be true in some places, but not Sandy Springs! We've put together a small itinerary for you to have a full day of fun on a budget!

Morning
Midday
Nighttime

Before we get started, to truly make the most out of an affordable day in Sandy Springs, plan it around one of the many free events happening in the city like the City Green Live Concert Series, Mutate at Five, or the Concert by the Springs Series!

Morning

You've got to start your morning off right with a delicious breakfast made for champions. Lucky for you, there are many spots around Sandy Springs that can supply that!

Feeling coffee and a bagel? Head over to City Bagel for some divine oven-fresh bagels topped with cream cheese for only $3.50 a pop. Add a coffee to that for an extra $1.75.

How about coffee and a croissant? Cubanos ATL offers an unreal Ham and Cheese Crossiant plus coffee deal for only $7.50!

For a slightly more expensive option, we recommend the local favorite Sandy Springs Diner. They've got a robust menu with more than fair prices, and simply delicious food to match! We'd recommend the Philly Omelette or the Western Sandwich with home-style fries.

After you've decided what you want to eat, take your breakfast to-go, and enjoy it on the City Green at City Springs! They have tables to eat on or you can bring a blanket to have a picnic-style lunch. Bring along a friend and toss a frisbee around, or read your favorite book while soaking in the sun.

Next, you’ll want to head down the road to the Abernathy Greenway to enjoy some seriously awesome sculptures and playable art! It’s home to the famous Spider Walk, a climbable sculpture designed for kids to play on. Spend some time to appreciate art while getting your steps in.

Midday

It's probably getting close to lunchtime at this point, and we've got a few recommendations for lunch under $10.

Samad Grill offers multiple different types of wraps for only $7, including chicken shawarma, kafta, fish,and more!

Keeping the theme international, Canton Cooks is a super-affordable Chinese restaurant that has some fantastic lunch menu combinations that will only cost you $7.95.

McDaniels Qn2 has some of the best BBQ in Sandy Springs, and thier lunch menu boasts a chicken on the bone meal with 2 sides and a piece of garlic toast or cornbread for only $9.99.

Kid Cashew has a wide selection of small plates for under $10, as well as some great vegan options for cheap. They also have a weekday lunch pick-two option for $11.95 deal that's a great bang for your buck.

You can choose to eat in at any of these fine restaurants, but why not go enjoy your meal at Morgan Falls Overlook Park? It offers a pavilion with dedicated first-come, first-serve picnic tables you can use, or you can sit on a bench swing and take in the awesome view of Bull Sluice Lake.

After you're done eating, there are a few short trails at Morgan Falls where you could hike to burn off the meal you just at. Or if you happen to have a furry friend with you, there's a dog park right down the road!

Next, are a few more activity options for you:

Option 1: Head just down the road from Morgan Falls to Big Trees Forest Preserve for any easy hike and learn a little bit along the way. Big Trees is a beautiful and unique 30-acre tree, plant and wildlife sanctuary. It has a network of easily-walkable trails that just about anyone can handle.
Option 2:

If you want to beat the heat, make your way to Center Ice Arena! They offer $10 public skating sessions for ages 6 and up, along with a $5 skate rental fee.

Option 3: Try out Steel Canyon Golf Club's TopTracer driving range! It has 11 bays with built in monitors that will track your ball, and even let you play virtual courses! You will need to bring your own clubs, but you can find some cheap ones at local thrift stores.

Nighttime

There are a ton of great choices for dinner in Sandy Springs, but we've picked out a few that are a great value for a tasty meal.

Clay's Sports Cafe is a popular local spot, where you can score a variety of sandwiches for $9.99! If you feel like treating yourself, definitely try their famous wings. You can get five for $8 or 10 for $15. They'll stretch the budget a bit, but they are certainly worth it!

Hearth Pizza Tavern serves 8in and 12in pizzas for only $7 and $10 respectively, and you can add proteins for a few dollars extra.

Local Expedition Wood-Fired Grill offers a filling and healthy plate with one side deal for $13, which comes with your choice of protein, rice or salad, pita & sauces.

For a post-meal activity, we'd again recommend planning your day around a free event offered, such as a concert series, but if not, here are a few options:

Option 1: If you’re a gamer of any kind, Battle and Brew is for you! They offer unlimited board games for only $7 a night, PC gaming stations for $7 an hour if you’re solo, $15 if you’re playing co-op, and for groups of 3 or more, they offer couch gaming for $30/hr. Not to mention, their food is absolutely delicious!

Option 2: If it happens to be a Tuesday, Springs Cinema & Taphouse offers $12 movie tickets. Even if it’s not Tuesday, the Springs Cinema viewing experience is well-worth the price of admission. With their heated and reclinable seats, you’ll happily be sitting comfortably all the way through the credits.

Option 3: Check out Act3 Productions. Act3 is an intimate, state-of-the-art black box theatre offering a full season of musicals, dramas, and original productions. It has been the recipient of numerous awards, including 39 Metropolitan Atlanta Theater Awards and three acting awards at the Junior Theater Festival. You can see what's currently playing here, with ticket prices coming in at around $24.

There are also a also many things to do and see that are only a short drive from Sandy Spring. Examples include a visit to Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park or the High Museum of Art (Offers free admission the second Sunday of every month)! You can see full list of those attractions here.

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