Gainesville

Gainesville, in Northeast Georgia, is a place that some 34,000 people call home.

Atlanta, the state capital, is situated about 50 miles (80 kilometers) to the southwest of Gainesville, while LaGrange is 110 miles (177 kilometers) to the southwest.

If you like to grab a bargain while you are in this area, browse some of its busy shopping centers or markets. Check out Mall of Georgia, North Georgia Premium Outlet Mall or College Square Shopping Center.

Leave the adult world behind for a few hours and take the kids into a realm of imagination and fun at Kangaroo Conservation Center and Chattahoochee Rapids Beach and WaterPark at Lake Lanier Islands. Pack your camera and your sense of wonder and get ready for a day full of treasured memories.

Strap yourself in for some high speed action at the Lanier Motor Speedway, the number one destination for speed freaks in the Gainesville region. Time your visit with a race day and roar along with the crowds as drivers and riders race to be first past the chequered flag.

One of the best ways to experience the true flavours of Gainesville is to take a tour of Chateau Elan Winery, one of the region’s most popular vineyards. Tour the vineyards, wine presses and barrel rooms, sample some expertly crafted wines, and, if there's something that appeals, purchase a bottle or two as a souvenir of this fabulous region.

One of the most popular local performance venues around Gainesville is the Smithgall Arts Center. This city’s citizens have created a lively arts culture, so be sure to check out what’s on during your vacation.

Nature lovers will be pleased to discover that the area also has some larger nature reserves with picturesque surrounds and local local wildlife. To explore one of the major local natural preserves, visit Amicalola Falls State Park.

Young Einsteins should check out the Elachee Nature Science Center, an educational science and technology center. Not many museums here are as fun as this one, so set aside an afternoon to play and learn with examples of science history and technology on show here.

One of the most-visited golf venues around Gainesville is Chicopee Woods Golf Course. Rent a set of clubs from the pro shop, see if you can hit a hole in one, then enjoy sharing stories with fellow golfers in the clubhouse.