Sometimes you don’t need to hop on a plane or plan a big trip to feel like you’ve escaped. A quick overnight adventure can be just as special, and that’s exactly what PJ and I did when we spent a night at Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia. This sounds silly, but I’ve had my eyes on a barn jacket from J.CREW for a while, and I noticed they had a J.CREW store in Avalon, so part of the reason for this trip was so I could get my hands on this color of the jacket (more on that below).

It’s only a two hour drive for us, which makes it an easy day trip if spending the night wasn’t an option. We fell completely in love with this little community, and could even see us relocating to a place like this decades down the road. It has everything you need in one place and feels kind of magical.

If you’ve never been, Avalon is this picture-perfect community just north of Atlanta that feels like a small town built with everything you love right at your fingertips. Shops, restaurants, a beautiful hotel, even a movie theater—it’s all walkable, charming, and full of energy. Honestly, it’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and savor every moment.

Here’s how we spent our 24 hours, and a few other ideas if you’re planning your own little Avalon escape.

We checked into The Hotel at Avalon, which has a sleek, modern feel but still manages to feel warm and welcoming. There’s a Starbucks right inside, which meant I got to start the next morning with the new Pecan Oatmilk Cortado (highly recommend) in hand before wandering outside. Little luxuries.

There’s also a rooftop pool and a really nice bar which, sadly, we didn’t have time to visit. It’s beautifully designed throughout, and feels grand when you walk in.

For dinner, we slipped into Café Intermezzo, which has that dim, European café vibe where you instantly want to order wine and dessert at the same time. They played jazz music and the atmosphere was cozy and hushed. We instantly fell in love with the maroon color on the walls and all the hanging art.

For an appetizer, we ordered the Italian bruschetta, which was easily the best bruschetta we’ve ever had and was bursting with at least 10 different flavors at once. PJ doesn’t like tomatoes but he completely devoured it. I’m still daydreaming about the balsamic glaze!

For the main course, we shared a grilled chicken caesar salad and the tomato basil pasta. They were both so good we couldn’t decide which one we liked more.

It was so charming, I went back again the next morning for brunch. (No regrets). I got the Eggs Benedict with rosemary potatoes, which was beyond delicious. I sat outside on the patio and people watched while working on the newsletter.

I also stopped at Five Daughters Bakery for donuts, which were flaky, layered, and dangerously good. Exactly the kind of treat you want on a mini getaway. I got the maple glazed filled with buttercream and the apple fritter.

Limited-edition 1983 heritage Barn Jacket

As mentioned above, one of the biggest reasons we came was for the coveted barn jacket from J.CREW. I ordered this same jacket in a midnight color last year because they didn’t have the one I wanted in stock, but the store in Avalon had the Scout Khaki color I had been wanting. This is what I call a successful trip! This jacket is the kind of piece you have for decades, and the goal is to eventually give it to one of our children. We’re starting to invest in heirloom pieces that may cost a little more, but that will last a whole lot longer.

After meals, we popped into other shops like Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Apple, Banana Republic, and it felt a little like playing house in a pretend town where everything is just a few steps away. Avalon is designed to be walkable, and there’s something really comforting about wandering from shop to shop without ever getting back in the car (it stayed parked at the hotel the whole time).

If you’re planning a longer stay, Avalon has plenty to keep you busy:

Catch a movie at their 12-screen theater.
Try another great restaurant like Oak Steakhouse, Colletta (Italian), or South City Kitchen for Southern classics
Sip cocktails on a patio and people-watch (Avalon is very dog-friendly, so you’ll see plenty of pups out and about)
Explore the events calendar—there’s often live music, yoga in the plaza, or seasonal festivals

What I loved most, though, was how Avalon feels like a proper escape without the stress of travel. For us, it was the perfect little date-night adventure. We left refreshed, full, and already talking about when we’d come back—maybe next time with the kids in tow.

Have you ever done a one-night getaway? Where do you love to sneak off to for a quick escape?

A Little Getaway: 24 Hours in Avalon, Alpharetta