Birmingham sits in a sweet spot. It’s close enough to several state lines that a road trip to somewhere new never requires much convincing. And while I love discovering what’s in my backyard, I also love peeking in on our neighbors from time to time. So recently, I hopped over to Sandy Springs, Georgia, to see what it’s all about.
Here’s the thing about how I travel: I’m not interested in the highlight reel. I want to know how the locals live: what they eat, where they spend their Saturdays, and what makes their city feel like home.
If you’re the same way, keep reading. I’m about to walk you through how I spent a weekend in Sandy Springs.
Cherith Glover Fluker
Cherith Glover Fluker
I arrived on a Friday evening and settled into the Aloft hotel before heading to McDaniel’s QN2 for dinner. The name tells you exactly what you’re in for: a meat and two sides, which sounds simple until you’re standing in front of the sides and realize the choice is anything but. The moment I walked through the door, I felt warmth and ease, and a sense that everyone in the room already knew each other. It was Grandma’s kitchen energy, and I was here for it.
That same night, I walked into the Byers Theatre at City Springs for a production of Come From Away, performed by the City Springs Theatre Company. The theatre seats over a thousand people across three levels, with a full orchestra pit and acoustics that make the music feel like it’s coming from inside you. The show was about the small Canadian town that took in stranded airline passengers after 9/11. From the opening number, I was hooked. And by the last curtain, I was completely full.
Cherith Glover Fluker
John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest
Saturday morning belonged to me and nature. I set out to explore John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest on Roswell Road. This massive nature preserve in the middle of the city is 30 acres of white oaks that have been growing for somewhere between a century and two. A mile and a half of trails wind through the preserve, but you don’t have to hike to feel the weight of the place. I stood still for a while and enjoyed the peacefulness. For a minute, I forgot I was literally steps away from the city.
Cherith Glover Fluker
Saturday evening introduced me to what locals call Restaurant Row — a ten-mile stretch of Roswell Road with more than 150 eateries. I landed at Cubanos, a Cuban spot with enough flavor to make you reconsider every meal you’ve ever eaten. Then I walked next door to The Sipping Plant for a succulent terrarium class, a bottle of wine, and a slow evening that brought plenty of laughs. The perfect recipe for some me time, a girls night out, or a date.
Sandy Springs is only minutes from downtown Atlanta, but it carries a different energy. Whatever kind of trip you’re looking for, this city has a way of meeting you right where you are.
For more information and to plan your visit to Sandy Springs, visit visitsandysprings.org.