Such a lovely walk! Feels really populated and safe but you also get to see some beautiful nature!…read moreAlways a great time!

A lovely place to go to if you reside in the Gainesville area. I lived here a couple years back and…read moreregret I didn't do more research into FREE amenities such as this! IT has incredible views alongside Lake Lanier, a pavilion, public bathrooms, bench swings on the lake, a clearing for the lake where many people like to go feed the ducks/geese.. SUCH a great vibe. Definitely worth a visit.

It's a beautiful spot for photos. We were just there a few years ago and are planning an upcoming…read moreprofessional shoot soon. This photo is a silhouette of my husband and son.

There is a car show today-the boat ramp is blocked, the music is so loud the neighbors have called…read morethe police several times but the city won't stop it and it is anything but a tranquil setting by the lake. You can't even ride through the park.

When searching for a good sunset view of Lake Lanier - we came up empty...or trespassing!?...until…read morewe found Holly Park! This is a FREE park in Gainesville for beautiful, lakeside sunset views! The park includes reservable pavilions, picnic tables and grills, sandy beach and fishing areas, and a small boat launch. Highly recommended for sunset views! Just be careful of the bumpy road with some major potholes here and there.

Great place for celebrating summer! The park has 2 fenced dog parks multiple playgrounds one open…read moreto the sun and one that has canopy sun protection. In the back tree line there are some hammock swings with an amazing view of the lake. With its various shaded picnic tables and the few pavilions with grills available this park is perfect for one of many summer picnic and gatherings.

We had an amazing time here at Laurel park. We celebrated our distress 5 birthday here this passing…read moreSunday. The weather was amazing, we had plenty of space, and the view was beautiful. I highly recommend.

Great park for little ones! The park equipment isn't a lot, but the exercise toys are a great…read moreaddition.

Well, there's no actual river near any side of the park, but I can say it's shady. Not as in…read moresuspicious, but as in trees, to be clear.

The nature center is a nice addition to see and learn a little about animals. My 6 and 11 y.o…read more Enjoyed it. We just walked through before our hike. Lots of trails to enjoy at various levels.

Beautiful place I can only imagine how it would look in the spring Can't wait A nice incline. Wear…read moregood hiking shoes. So glad I made the choice to wear my Hokas. Dirt Trail so be careful when walking a lot of tree roots. Make sure not to go alone. There are people around but still a little bit isolated. I also love that the trees were marked with the colors of the trail this made it easy to follow and not get lost. I'm hoping to go back to do the lake loop.

10/10!!!! GORGEOUS morning hike. Nicely maintained trail. AMAZING views. Well worth the drive.read more

What would you pay to get up close and personal with a concrete and earthen structure, well five…read morebucks per vehicle may seem reasonable, this ticket also gets you toilet privileges, bbq grills, and a picnic pavilion and some other intangibles. Dams are structures built to primarily obstruct the flow of water usually built across a stream or river constructed by man or beavers, yes there are many type of dams and in some cases provide a life-sustaining resource to people although some seem to obstruct the life of some - it's been rumored that salmon hate dams as do those that work to promote to protect the swimming right of fish. I guess one would have to weigh the pros and cons to pick a side being millions of each species are affected since humans eat fish the fish usually lose. Dams are an extremely important part of this nation's infrastructure--equal in importance to bridges, roads, airports, and other major elements of the infrastructure. They can serve several functions at once, including water supply for domestic, agricultural, industrial, and community use; flood control; recreation; and clean, renewable energy through hydropower. It's nice to know this dam has a revenue stream beside my five buck so the return on the investment is shortened. I came here at the right time on the right day - the generating stations were operating so the lower river was filled and the water was racing to its next destination so probably not the best time to float on a tube or kayak. I was somewhat surprised or maybe amused to see signage on the bank of this river that's designates the shoreline as a life-preserver zone, thankfully the government is providing this knowledge or we might have some people from the gene-pool wondering in to this massive deadly volume of rapidly flowing water, it seems the wildlife in the area understands the danger without barriers or communications. I wish I could of gotten closer to the structure so I could see the water boil from beneath the discharge of the generators but I was happy to see they do have a walk bridge a little downstream of the dam that allows you to cross over and experience the power of the release up close without a life preserver and only requires a little common sense sometimes a "danger sign" isn't needed for the obvious threat. I'm a fan of dams and understand I'm screwed if the dam burst during my visit even though I am parked in a designated paved parking lot far below the water level on the other side of this massive structure even though there is no signage inform me of this fact...

We came out this way for day camping, which I didn't know was a thing. The South Park is for day…read moreuse and North is for camping. It was July 3rd and 4th, so busy weekend. We had an issue with my son getting in due to the park rangers and police closing entry. It was full and they turned my son around by accident. However, I don't think he let them know he had a reservation. That's the reason for my star bump but both the police officer and ranger were apologetic, so much appreciated. Day camping is a new thing for me. For $15/day, you can rent a site from 8AM to 8PM. They have running water and electricity. There are also two bathroom facilities with showers. The day use spots are good for two vehicles and have a picnic table and trash bag hanger. Easy access to the water in most spots. They have two grills to cook at the sites. It's very much worth the money. They don't allow alcohol, pets or really loud music. The beaches are nice and water is pretty clear. The coves make it easy for swimming. I do recommend!

What a great place for a day outing or a week long stay on the clear waters of Lake Lanier…read more Facilities are what you expect from a Georgia State Park ..... excellent! Proximity to some of the islands makes it a great place to kayak from without to much worry from boats and jet skis. Although our time spent here is during the week I imagine the lake can be somewhat hazardous on weekends with boats everywhere. Regardless it is a great spot to spend time in the warm waters and just relax. One of our favorite Georgia spots.

I live next to the park. It's a hit or miss. I watch the…read morecity drive by daily but.... I still pick up glass and trash. Last summer i had to go out of my way and buy wasp spray it was that bad. Dont sit just anywhere in the grass. The ants here are vicious. Occasionally homeless sleep here or random cars parked here for days. Play town park in swanee is way better.

FLOWER BRANCH CITY PARK…read more This is an older park located just Southwest of town. It is located near the marina so you have a nice view of the water. There are picnic tables, a large pavilion and a nice play area for the kids. It is very tranquil and a perfect place to just take a walk, read a book or relax. There are numerous trees but it does appear old and a bit neglected so keep this in mind if you are planning events here.

ENGINE. ENGINE NUMBER 9 GOING DOWN THE GEORGIA LINE:…read more Engine 209 sits at the corner of Jesse Jewell Parkway and West Academy Street is which is considered a part of Historic Gainesville. It was originally built for the czar of Russia, but the order was canceled because of the 1917 Russian Revolution, It then became a part of the Midland line in Gainesville. The last steam locomotive ran from Athens to Gainesville on Sept. 19, 1959. Most of the Gainesville Midland locomotives have been preserved in museums or in communities, such as the Engine 209 Park that features the engine, a coal car and a red caboose with benches on West Academy Street. The park is part of the Adopt-A-Park program through the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. It is a cute little park to visit and especially nice for "little train lovers" because you can get up close and take great pictures.