Gainesville Georgia Accommodations

When to Visit Gainesville, GA

The best time to visit Gainesville is in spring, when the weather is nice and not too hot. You can enjoy beautiful flowers and relax at Lake Lanier. However, hotel rates tend to be higher at this time of year, so you should make reservations early to get the best deal. The city has several fun annual events in spring.

The popular Spring Chicken Festival celebrates Gainesville's history in poultry farming, and it's near the end of April in Downtown Gainesville Square. It has a 5K Chicken Run and a Spring Chicken Parade with chicken-themed floats and vintage cars. You can shop at the Re-Hatched Market for art and crafts made from recycled or repurposed materials and try delicious samples at the Spring Chicken Cook-Off.

The Jaemor Farms Strawberry Festival is just a week later in May at Jaemor Farms. You can enjoy live music, pick your own strawberries, go on a hayride, shop for arts and crafts from local vendors, and sample dishes from the strawberry cook-off. There's also skeeball and a petting zoo for kids.

Hotels are usually least expensive in winter, because the weather isn't warm enough for most lake activities. Visit Gainesville in summer or fall for great weather and hotel prices that are still low. You can find fun events, as well. The Georgia Belle Peach Festival near the beginning of August at Jaemor Farms has all the same fun activities as the Strawberry Festival, including strawberry picking. In October, Jaemor Farms hosts a corn maze and a pumpkin patch where you can pick your own pumpkins.

The Historic Downtown Gainesville Market On The Square is a traditional farmers' market that's open every Friday from the end of May to September. It offers fresh fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers, homemade bread, jams, and jellies, and handmade jewelry, soaps, and clothing.

Best Discounts in Gainesville, GA

If you pick the right place to stay, you can take advantage of great discounts during your Gainesville trip. Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville, for instance, is near Wilshire Trails Park and Smithgall Arts Center. If you stay at least three nights, you can get the Family Fun Package with free breakfast for up to two adults and two kids under 12 and premium internet service. AAA members also get 5 percent off. If you don't get the Family Fun Package and you're a AAA member, you can save up to 5 percent on weekdays and 10 percent on weekends. AARP members and seniors 65 and older can save up to 10 percent. Active members of the military, veterans, and their families can also get a great discount. Groups save up to 25 percent.

The rooms at Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville have refrigerators, microwaves, free wired and wireless internet access, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, desks, coffee makers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. There's also an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, a 24-hour front desk, dry cleaning and laundry services, a fireplace in the lobby, a bar, a restaurant, a deli, and more than 1,500 square feet of event facilities.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Gainesville is also near Wilshire Trails Park and Smithgall Arts Center. AAA members, government employees, active members of the military, and employees of some businesses can get special discounted rates. Seniors 62 and older can also save at least 15 percent. The rooms feature microwaves, refrigerators, cable LCD TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, coffee makers, and sofa beds. You can also enjoy an indoor pool, a fitness center, and a deli.

Best Value Options in Gainesville, GA

Gainesville has several mid-range hotels that can give you great value for your money. For instance, Holiday Inn Gainesville-Lanier Centre is a few minutes away from Smithgall Arts Center and Quinlan Visual Arts Center. The rooms have cable LCD TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, and desks. There's an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a fireplace and free newspapers in the lobby, a picnic area, a restaurant, a bar, a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour front desk with multilingual staff, and more than 1,800 square feet of meeting rooms and conference space. An airport shuttle is available for a fee, breakfast is free, and kids can stay and eat for free.

The Guest Lodge Gainesville is near the Smithgall Arts Center and Interactive Neighborhood for Kids. The clean rooms have modern decor, and they offer refrigerators, microwaves, free wireless internet access, satellite TV, desks, and complimentary toiletries. Amenities include an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a picnic area, a free breakfast buffet, a business center, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, dry cleaning and laundry services, and 1700 square feet of event space.

Great Gainesville, GA, Attractions

In Gainesville, you'll be near great attractions no matter where you decide to stay. The Quinlan Visual Arts Center offers art education for people of all ages, along with a variety of changing exhibits. On Saturdays you can enjoy a guided tour and create your own piece of art. Take a walking tour of Historic Green Street downtown to learn more about what the city was like in the late 1800s. A guide can make sure you don't miss any of the beautiful homes.

For family fun, visit the Frances Meadows Aquatic Center next door to Gainesville Middle School. It has an outdoor water park, two indoor pools, and a fitness center. The Elachee Nature Science Center is inside the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve. It has an interactive museum with live animal exhibits and hiking trails.

If you stay a little farther away from the city, you'll be closer to fishing, boating, canoeing, swimming, and more on Lake Lanier. Whether you're looking for a luxury resort or a good bargain, you can find a great place to stay in Gainesville.