This is an amazing place!!…read more Plenty of parking and port-a-potties We came for unicorn day!! It was amazing! All the horses had beautiful horns and painted hair (like pastel chalk that does not hurt them). All animals are under the most wonderful care and we are given instructions on how to approach them and observe them. Amongst many things we saw a baby chick being hatched, baby bunnies, adult bunnies, donkeys, sheep's, horses, pigs, pony's, goats, doves, chickens, roosters, chicks and of course UNICORNS! Staff was out of this world helpful!! So sweet and kind. It was a hot day and they let my little nephew play in the clean water they had to cool off! We even got a tractor ride! They have a beautiful tree swing and so many cute picture spots! Pack a picnic (but be careful not to throw any food on the ground the animals each have specific diets and we wouldn't want them to eat anything that could hurt their stomachs). Also there is hand sanitizer but I would suggest bringing some soap and water if you want to wash your hands. Just ask for the best place to do that! They have a pretty Montessori style here. You're given help in approaching the animals and donkeys sheep and goats are sitting all around and you can walk around and pet them. There are brushes set aside for you to brush them too!! The more attention specific animals like the bigger bunnies were handled with the wonderful caregivers! Allowing people to hold the more socialized animals even! Also the unicorns were beautiful with flower leis and gorgeous horns! Absolutely a must to do for any birthday, field trip, or just a way to get kids used to animals in a wonderfully comfortable setting.

The Art Barn is farmtastic! Came here for my nephew's birthday party. The staff was amazing! They…read morewere very friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and attentive. They were great with the kids and did a fantastic job entertaining and educating the kids on the farm animals. Speaking of farm animals, they had a variety! They had horses, donkeys, bunnies (including big ones), goats, pigs, chickens, and so much more. The party was about two hours and the team at The Art Barn kept everyone busy. The activities were interactive. We got to pet and brush the farm animals, ride a horse, paint, go on a hayride and explore the farm. The party area is under a big tree, so it's cool and shaded. There were 6 picnic tables which was more than enough for our party. Two Porta Potties are available and they were cleaned prior to the start of the party. They were the cleanest porta potties I have ever used! They also had a hand cleaning station equipped with wipes and hand sanitizer. The Art Barn is a great place for parties, field trips, etc! I highly recommend checking it out.

The Art Center is truly a hidden gem for creativity and learning in our community. Whether you're a…read morechild exploring art for the first time or an adult looking to refine your skills, there's something here for everyone. I originally stopped by in search of pottery classes--and was delighted to find not only that they offer them, but also that a new session begins on October 13th. In addition, there's a Fall Break Art Camp for grades 2-5, where children will experiment with a range of media including watercolor, acrylics, and collage. As I walked through the space, I was able to watch artists at work and enjoy the current gallery exhibits on display. The atmosphere was inspiring and welcoming. Adult fall classes--running October 6th through December 13th--are also available, covering both visual and ceramic arts. Each class is taught by individual instructors, making it approachable for students of all levels. Best of all, online registration makes it simple to sign up. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that such a wonderful resource has been right in my neighborhood all along. It was a great experience, and I've already registered for pottery classes--something I'm really excited about! If you're looking for a place to explore your creative side, I highly recommend checking out the Art Center. Great value for 8 weeks art class at $280

Excellent place with caring and talented instructors. This was the first time my 12 year old son…read moreattended camp. He chose the pottery wheel class and had so much fun all week long. Many of the students are planning to go back for the same week next summer. He learned how to make his own pieces and glaze them. I highly suggest checking this place out.

This is the best imaginable venue for your active school aged kids birthday…read more We went for an 8-year old boys birthday this past weekend, and it was a blast. The family run small business ran without missing a beat, kept the kids engaged and corralled, parents were able to mingle (except during the kids vs adults dodgeball game), and all the kids left nicely tired and with smiles on their face. The assortment of sports and games was great. Equipment in good condition. Plenty of space in the first floor of the mall. Easily able to get things in and out if you park back on the lower level and cart whatever in. Nice sized area to bring pizza and cake and drinks for the kids. No booze allowed, adults! The family set things up and cleaned up. The family could not have been nicer, chill, and attentive.

Hosted our twin 9 year olds birthday party at Hi Five yesterday and it was a great time!! The owner…read moreruns the party and keeps the kids engaged; they played dodgeball (even had a round of dads vs kids), and flag football. Coach engages with all kids and keeps them going. For parties they say to bring the kids and disposables and they take care of the rest. Great staff, very clean. Definitely recommend and will do again!

Horrible, just horrible. They had no idea my child was hurt , several times not just once .. they…read morewould say , we will review the tape .. ok great so it's a free-for-all and if your kid gets hurt no one notices and when you ask about it they will look at the tape. Then then they will clam your child walks into walls and door by themselves (only at school). Too we pulled her for her own safety

20/20 is hindsight here... this is lengthy…read more In mid-July of 2019, a foster child was placed in my home. You can imagine my anxiety and stress at the time, but when I got a call from Cynthia saying that I can enroll my kiddo in their GA Pre-K program, it was such a relief. Paperwork completed, court docs submitted to the school, hastey orientation/open house provided... the school year was rocky, but with a lot of patience and support from Ms. Lisa and Binal, we made it through to March 2020... COVID 19. Honestly, Ms. Lisa and Binal are why I am giving two stars instead of just one. Bright from the Start categorizes our students based upon their socio economic status and needs. This is done behind the scene's and is the provider's responsibility to request adequate documentation and properly categorize the kids when reporting to the state. Needless to say, my foster child was miscategorized. I was charged monthly for meals which the state/federal gov would have provided at no expense to me, if this clerical error did not occur. I found this out when applying for much needed aid during this pandemic. Again, due to this error, my Child did not qualify. I spoke with the DOE along with the Department of Human Services, and because the reports were submitted in error, there is no way to correct my student's record. After finding all of this out, I requested a full refund and the value of the aid lost. I emailed Tiffany, Brittney, Cynthia and their Bright from the Start Rep. I followed up, requesting a corporate contact... no response. I contacted the corporate office's generic number and recruiter and left messages. After a month of no response, I emailed the CEO and CFO of Spring Education, whose name I pulled from the secretary of state's website, along with the school administrators. I FINALLY received a response. This response was from corporate's counsel & yes, all blame is being put on me. I didn't provide the documents needed to properly categorize my Child, and apparently, I was asked "repeatedly" for it. A blatant lie. If you are thinking of enrolling in the GA Pre-K Program here and your Child has an IEP or is on MediCaid, do not. The administrators of the school are not familiar with the services available and are clueless when it comes to Public Education Programs.

This nature center is one of my favorite local spots to visit. I recently went for my nieces third…read morebirthday, but this visit they only let us stay in a few minutes because they had a camp coming. No notice until we got to the butterfly house, and truthfully it would have been nice to have been told that when we paid so we could have planned out our day better. They told us ten minutes, but their talk they do at the beginning took half of that so we felt pretty rushed. Other animal exhibits include a couple of owls, a beaver, and some vultures. Indoor exhibits were also limited, but at least it was air conditioned. I would not recommend visiting in summer months. Trail is fairly shady, but still brutally hot already. Overall, the exhibit is great and perfect for kiddos.

This is a hidden gem !! Wonderful place for an easy walk/hike. The kids were very entertained by…read moreboth the indoor discovery area and the walking trails as well as the play areas. Plenty of parking just by the nature center - instagrammable views and very zen ! Will definitely not be our last time there

The long-awaited Arts Center in downtown Alpharetta is open now in the building formerly occupied…read moreby the Alpharetta Library. A new library was built three years ago at 10 Park Plaza. The new Arts Center has already had two exhibits of art - a Community of Artists show at the end of 2018 and recently a show by JOEKINGATL otherwise known as Joe Dreher. They have been offering a good assortment of classes in painting and drawing and ceramics. More classes will be coming soon. Summer Camps will also be offered.

Absolutely terrible gym ! My daughter is 10 and was so excited she could accompany me upstairs to…read morethe "big girl" area. I was showing her a machine and Ryoka approached us aggressively and asked " how old is she ?" Then she proceeded to tell me we couldn't be so close to the weight area. I told her we were not near weight and she got loud and embarrassing- I will never return to this gym. My daughter was so excited going in today, she even took pics to commemorate her first day at the gym.

I could write a novel as to why my family loves this particular YMCA. The staff is beyond kind,…read morehelpful and caring. They deliver exceptional customer service and provide above average service. The childcare is top notch. My kids feel safe and enjoy going which they never did at our previous gym. The activities are engaging and and the environment is rich with love. I feel completely safe leaving my son who has multiple allergies. My oldest son, 8, enjoys his time in Spark. Any time there are renovations or closures of particular areas due to remodeling the members are given advance notice via email and signs posted in the facility. We have NEVER experienced any concerns with billing. There are monthly date nights and the cost is minimal. The activities planned are engaging and keep the little hands busy. The swimming area is clean and there are family changing areas. By far our favorite gym and we have been members at several.

As an adult I have been riding at The Equestrian Reserve since 2017. I cannot say enough good…read morethings about them. Donna, Hannah and all of the instructors have been incredible. I learn from them every day. Not just about riding, but about what it takes to own a horse. I learn from when the vet comes, and the farrier. I am a much more confident horse person. I have even been in their show team for 5 years. Showing at Wills Park and at GQHA shows. They run a tight ship, jeeping safety at the forefront. Plus one of the cleanest barns around! I am grateful for every moment I am there!

I absolutely love coming to ride here ! Its a great riding school for adults! The staff ,…read moreinstructors and horses are all great!

Such an amazing experience so far. Our little one has been there for a month and we've been so…read moreimpressed by the facility and the teacher. Our LO's teacher is Ms. Richa and she has been so patient, understanding, and supportive of his needs. We've noticed him speaking up more and making friends already. He loves his school! The front office director and their service has also been excellent, specifically, being extremely responsive. While childcare costs are generally pricey, we appreciate the level of care (including the cameras) and communication from this site. I would 100% recommend and all the kudos, specifically, for Ms. Richa

I am very disappointed with my experience regarding my child's time in Miss. Abi and Miss. P's…read morePre-K class. Unfortunately, we have faced issues with unfair accusations that have caused unnecessary stress for our family. My son's teacher approached me with concerns regarding my son and as she's telling me these concerns i pulled my son out of class to question him about these accusations. He did Admit to Miss. Abi and myself that he in fact did pull his pants down on the playground. So as I'm disciplining my child based on this accusation, his teacher is there just watching. Later on that night my son's father and i are questioning him again about this accusation as he's never done this before and now hes admitting he didnt do it. The next day I requested video footage of this incident that apparently happened on the playground because when I questioned the teachers, whether or not they seen this incident happened, they both denied seeing this accusation take place. (So why are you telling me this happened when there is NO PROOF) Finally, I got the footage and my son in fact did NOT pull his pants down. He was trying to pull his friends legs down the slide and accidentally pulled his friends pants down a little bit in the process which the principal stated looked purely innocent and non-intentional. No apology has been made to my son nor i for this accusation being made. It truly shows their lack of professionalism. Rather than approaching concerns with open communication and understanding, the teachers made assumptions without fully investigating the situation or considering our child's perspective. This has created an uncomfortable environment where we feel unheard. As parents, we expect educators to foster a nurturing and supportive atmosphere, but instead, we have encountered miscommunication and a lack of professionalism in handling concerns. I would not recommend this classroom to other parents unless significant changes are made to ensure fairness, proper communication, and a more compassionate approach towards students and their families.

I went to this school as a student back in 2010-15 and I loved every year of it! Staff were very…read morefriendly, My peers were nice and I was in the after school program while waiting for my parents! Sadly nearly every staff member has left since I left but nice to see the place still thriving. For the parents reading this, I went out thinking I would forget or never see anyone BUT some kids went to the same Middle/High School as me! It was awesome to catch up with them after not seeing them for years!! Anyways, I loved this place and would 100% recommend this place to anyone.

This is a long and detailed review however please take the time to read it before enrolling your…read morechild in this school. This is also the very first review I have ever written on an online forum in my more than 40-year life, so please know this situation was a very impactful one to my son and our family as a whole. Our journey with Alpharetta International Academy (AIA) was mixed. My son attended for two and a half years, and the first two years were positive. The staff seemed attentive, and my son thrived in a supportive environment. During the third year, things changed. Because he was not fully potty-trained, AIA didn't promote him to the 3-year-old class, even though developmentally and academically he was capable of tasks well-suited to a preschool environment. Instead, he was placed in a class with toddlers as young as 18 months, which seemed overcrowded, leaving his teacher (what was perceived to be) overwhelmed. Her teaching style changed, as did her overall demeanor and patience level. As a result, our son became bored and unchallenged, which impacted his behavior. We began receiving calls to pick him up due to what we believe stemmed from the teacher's frustration. These calls came on two separate occasions, one for the teacher's inability to redirect him during circle time and once when he picked up a Montessori-sized chair and when he put it down, it came down on the teacher's foot. Mind you, these two times were the only time in now almost three years that we were called for these things or that there was any type of misbehavior communicated to us on behalf of the school. Both times we picked him up, we were assured by the head of school that his teacher would follow up with us about his behavior, but this never happened. We twice asked the teacher to move him into a developmentally appropriate class. Just two weeks prior to his withdrawal I urged her to move him into the developmentally appropriate class temporarily as a "trial". All of these suggestions and requests were refused. It was disappointing for the teacher to be so unresponsive to our requests to address this clear mismatch in placement. This was the same teacher who had worked wonderfully with him for two years and who had previously shown genuine care and understanding, so we were left confused as to her actions, or lack thereof. As a Licensed Professional Counselor with experience working with children, as well as the daughter of two Doctorate Level public school teachers, I understand that children are at their best when they're engaged in age-appropriate, stimulating settings. It was disheartening to see that the AIA staff now seemed unable to understand the impact a poorly suited classroom environment could have on our son's behavior and learning. To add to our distress and disappointment, the head of school sent a disingenuous response to my email with my intent to withdraw my son from her school due to a lack of a suitable and appropriate classroom environment. She did express regret at our decision, saying she loved our son and was committed to working with him. Her email response was a conflicting message, combining both overly kind and positive statements with underlying hurtful remarks. She informed us that we would still be responsible for paying a sizable early withdrawal fee, totaling thousands of dollars. Although we were aware of this fee in the enrollment agreement, my husband responded to explain that, given the circumstances leading to the change, we felt it was unfair to be held financially responsible for their choices and when we were already having to spent thousands to place him in a different learning environment. He also mentioned we would be leaving an honest review of our experience to better inform other families considering AIA. In response, the head of school reiterated the fee due and informed that we should "please understand that any communication perceived as a threat has been formally documented and will be addressed through the proper channels if necessary". This statement was unnecessary and upsetting to us, as we were simply expressing our intent to share our experience honestly. Ultimately, while we value the initial positive experience our son had at AIA, the handling of this final chapter left us with reservations regarding AIA's ability to make decisions that are best for the children they serve and questions regarding their authenticity in their mission statement. I hope this review helps AIA consider ways to better support students' needs and communicate open and in real time with parents. Lastly, I hope this review enables other parents considering AIA to make the most informed decision that leads to the most positive outcome for their child and family as a whole.