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...

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.

As a desperation to get out, we decided to learn a new hobby - fishing. We specifically went to Van…read morePugh North Park. Park is nearby a couple of bait shops if needed and had plenty of boat ramps for use. No fees till October due to COVID. We've been fishing at various spots prior to Van Pugh. Finally lucked out when we were able to catch a couple of catfish and bass as big as my forearms. Tables and grill placements were spaced far away from each other as well. There is a beach area that's closed off, but the right side is open. Groups were respectful and kept their distance. Restroom were clean and park overall was well-kept. Great spot for fishing, camping, and playing in the water.

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.

This review is for the dog park. I live in Gainsville, while there is a dog park at Laurel Park, we…read morehave been there twice and both times we were the only ones there. I took the initiative and dis further research, and found that this is the next closest dog park. We were here at 6:10ish and there were around 3 or 4 dogs there at the time. As the night progressed, there were over 10 dogs at the park. The people are decently friendly and they are also accepting for the little dogs to join the big dogs, even though there are two sections. Let's be honest, what's the point of dog park if there is no dog to socialize with? No water source here so you have to bring your own. There are a few benches and chairs to sit on. The part that I don't like is it gets super buggy in the summer. Put on some serious bug spray and make sure you wear long pants. There is a bathroom in the hall office and a playground for kids at this park.

Mulberry Creek Park is primarily a community center housing two popular basketball courts, indoor…read morerunning/ walking track, dance/ art rooms and a small gym (with weight machines & cardio equipment) that can be accessed by paying a small fee. The outside amenities consist of a playground and two enclosed dog play areas (large and small dogs respectively). Access to outside areas is free and available for use from dawn to dusk. I primarily use the dog parks and I wish more people would allow their pooches to play here. The best time to find playmates for fido is on weekdays between 4:30-6:30 pm. I mostly see large dogs here. Access to the building is fee based and staffed by park employees during the following hours: M-Th 7am- 9pm Sat 10 am- 5 pm hours. CLOSED on Sunday Safe for the whole family.