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Gainesville is a city of about 45,000 people in Hall County, in the foothills of northeast Georgia, about 55 miles northeast of Atlanta. It sits on the shores of Lake Lanier, one of the most visited lakes in the country, and calls itself the Poultry Capital of the World for the chicken industry that grew here after the 1930s.
The historic downtown square centers on the Hall County courthouse and a Confederate monument, with local restaurants, shops and the restored Featherbone Communiversity nearby. The Brenau University campus, with its Victorian buildings, sits just off the square, and the Quinlan Visual Arts Center and the Northeast Georgia History Center tell the region's story. Rock Creek Park and the Midtown Greenway give space for walking, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden has a branch here, the Gainesville Gardens, with woodland trails, a children's garden and seasonal light shows.
Lake Lanier, created in the 1950s by Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee, has more than 690 miles of shoreline. The Lake Lanier Olympic Park hosted canoe and rowing events in the 1996 Olympics and still hosts races, and marinas, beaches and parks line the shore. The North Georgia mountains, wineries around Dahlonega and Helen's Alpine village are within an hour's drive.
Lake Lanier is a huge reservoir on the Chattahoochee River with hundreds of miles of shoreline, popular for boating, swimming, fishing and lakeside parks. Gainesville sits on its northern shore with many marinas and access points. Rent a boat or pontoon for the day, and always wear life jackets on the water.
Elachee Nature Science Center sits inside Chicopee Woods, a large protected forest near Gainesville, with a nature museum, live animal exhibits and miles of hiking trails. It runs nature programs for children and families. Pick up a trail map at the center and choose one of the shaded woodland loops.
Lake Lanier Olympic Park hosted the rowing and canoe sprint events of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and still holds major regattas. Visitors can watch races from the shore, see the Olympic tower and stroll along the water. Check the event schedule, and bring a chair for watching races in summer.
The historic downtown square in Gainesville is ringed by restaurants, shops and offices around a central green, with the courthouse and Hall County government buildings nearby. It hosts concerts, markets and holiday events. Park in a nearby deck and enjoy dinner on one of the patios around the square.
Brenau University is a historic private university founded in 1878, with Victorian buildings and a leafy campus near downtown Gainesville. Its Pearce Auditorium is a restored historic hall used for concerts and plays. Walk the front campus for its architecture, and check its galleries for exhibitions.
The Gainesville branch of the Atlanta Botanical Garden features woodland trails, a children's garden, model train displays, a Japanese garden and colorful seasonal displays. It also runs a winter light show. It is quieter than the Atlanta garden, and a timed ticket is wise for popular evening events.
The Midtown Greenway is a paved trail through central Gainesville connecting downtown with nearby parks and neighborhoods. It is used for walking, jogging and biking, with benches and landscaped sections along the way. Combine it with a visit to the downtown square for an easy morning out.
The Northeast Georgia History Center tells the story of the region through exhibits on the Cherokee, early settlers, the poultry industry and local life, plus a historic log cabin. It also honors notable people from the area. Allow about an hour, and check for special exhibits and lecture events.
The Quinlan Visual Arts Center is a nonprofit gallery in Gainesville showing changing exhibitions by regional and national artists, along with art classes and a gift shop of local works. Admission is free. Check current exhibitions online, and look for opening receptions where you can meet the artists.
Gainesville Theatre Alliance is a nationally recognized theater partnership between local colleges and the community, staging musicals, classics and new plays each season. Performances are held at venues including Brenau's Hosch Theatre. Tickets are affordable; book early for musicals, which often sell out.
Interactive Neighborhood for Kids, known as INK, is a children's museum in Gainesville built as a small town where kids play at being shopkeepers, firefighters, doctors and more. It is aimed at young children up to around age ten. Plan an hour or two, and check hours, as they vary by season.
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