City of Gainesville

Home to about 33,000 people, Gainesville, Georgia is located about 50 miles to the northeast of Atlanta. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the largely wooded city is surrounded by the 38,000-acre Lake Lanier. Traditionally known for its agricultural industries - the city proudly boasts of being “The Poultry Capital of the World.” Gainesville today is one of the largest economic and cultural centers in northeast Georgia, with an especially important role in health care and higher education services.

Hotel Accommodations

There are many lodging options close to Brenau University’s Women’s College. If you need a place to stay while visiting Brenau, the following hotels and inns are all located within three miles of the Gainesville historic campus.

.5 miles/.8 km

.7 miles/1.1 km

2 miles/3.2 km

Attractions

Gainesville, a city rich in both history and the arts, is home to several museums, theaters and performance halls. If you prefer outdoor leisure, the city also offers many recreational services and activities, many which are provided free to the public. Here are a few local resources you can use to find activities and events that interest you:

The Arts Council, Inc.

From the Website: “Originally founded in 1970 to serve as the creator and keeper of the community's arts calendar and newsletter, The Arts Council, Inc. has grown into one of Georgia's leading arts organizations.

We promote over 30 regional arts affiliates, present a broad spectrum of performing, visual and literary arts programs including our Arts Council Pearce Series™, Evenings of Intimate Jazz Series™, Arts in Schools™, Independent Filmmakers Series, and Movies on the Green™, and provide many services that support our mission to educate, enhance and expand public interest in the arts.”

Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Gainesville

From their website : “The Gainesville location is a new destination for connecting with beauty and the natural world. Complete with a visitor center, outdoor gardens, a model train garden and an amphitheater, it is a cultural center for the community hosting exciting exhibitions, events, and educational programs.

The nationally recognized collections expand the horticultural palette of Atlanta Botanical Garden. The Garden has already developed a sophisticated horticultural operation and the largest conservation nursery in the Southeast on the property. Endangered plants are propagated on the site for the conservation program.”

Gainesville City Parks & Recreation

From the website: “It's All About Quality of Life. Gainesville Parks and Recreation is proud of its role in the quality of life our citizens covet. Our Agency operates and maintains eight major facilities, 22 parks and over 454+ acres of park land. We are steadfast in our commitment of building and preserving a parks and recreation system that meets the needs of our community.”

Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University

From the website: “The Mission of the Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University is to preserve and share the history of northeast Georgia.

The Northeast Georgia History Center is a not for profit institution dedicated to promoting and displaying historical artifacts and displays from the northeast Georgia area from the past 150 years.”

Lake Lanier

Lake Lanier is one of the most famous physical features of Gainesville. The human made lake, built in the 1950s to prevent the Chattahoochee River from overflowing and to provide water to Atlanta, covers 94 kilometers of northeast Georgia and creates 1113 kilometers of shoreline. Each year, more than 7.5 million people visit the lake to boat, ski and engage in other water sports and activities. The Lake Lanier Olympic Venue in Gainesville was used for official canoeing and rowing events during the 1996 Summer Olympics and is still frequently used for international competitions, including the 2016 Pan American Championships.

Cafés, Restaurants and Dining

The diverse selection of restaurants, cafés, diners and bistros in Gainesville offer meal options for all diets and eating habits. The following are some of the more popular options near the Gainesville historic campus.

Seafood

Casual Fine Dining

American

Specialty Pizza

Chicken Wings

Gastropub

Specialty Pizza

Salad, Soups and Sandwiches

Classic American Diner

American, Piano Lounge

Rustic

Specialty Hot and Cold Beverages

Fuji Hibachi Express

Japanese Fast Food

Sandwiches/Deli

Gainesville Downtown Square

Shopping

There are many retailers in and around Gainesville for when you need to purchase clothing, electronics, school supplies, groceries or other household goods. Below is a list of the major stores and shops closest to the Women’s College, as well as a few major shopping centers within 40 miles of Brenau’s Gainesville campus.

In Gainesville

Shopping Center

Distance from the historic campus

5-10 minutes walk

2 miles/3.3 km

2 miles/3.3 km

2.1 miles/3.4 km

Village Shoppes At Gainesville

2.2 miles/3.5 km

Nearby

Shopping Center

Distance from the historic campus

21.2 miles/34.1 km

37 miles/59.5 km

17.2 miles/27.7 km

23.7 miles/38.2 km

Health Care

On-Campus Health Care

Students with non-emergency health problems should use the Brenau University Student Health Clinic that is available to them at no cost. The clinic can treat most illnesses and provides first aid services as well. This should be a student’s first choice for health care unless there is an emergency or the clinic is not open.

Services include: nebulizer treatments, blood glucose testing, laceration wound stapling and suturing, dermabond wound closure, urine pregnancy testing, basic first aid, mono, flu, and strep testing, Tuberculosis screening and wellness programs.

If a student is ill after hours they should contact their resident assistant on call who has access to first aid equipment and medication and can help decide the best course of action. Both an urgent care center and hospital are within walking distance of the Gainesville historic campus.

Students who have a health emergency that is life threatening should dial 911 from any phone.

Walk-in Clinics

Walk-in clinics are pharmacies staffed by physicians who can diagnose and prescribe treatments for non-emergency illnesses and provide vaccinations against flu, pneumonia, pertussis and hepatitis. These clinics charge fees for their services.

CVS Minute Clinic is within walking distance (.5 miles/.75km) of Brenau University’s historic campus in Gainesville.

Other nearby pharmacies within walking distance can also provide vaccinations.

Urgent Care Gainesville

The nearest urgent care center is located less than one mile (1.6km) from Brenau and offers prompt treatment of illnesses or injuries that require immediate attention, but are not life-threatening, without an appointment. The clinic is open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., seven days a week. These clinics charge fees for their services.

Conditions the urgent care center can treat include, but are not limited to:

  • Aches and pains
  • Cold and cough
  • Cuts and burns
  • Minor injuries
  • Sore throat
  • Upset stomach
Northeast Georgia Urgent Care Center in Gainesville, Georigia

Northeast Georgia Medical Center

For major illnesses or injury, or when other facilities are not available, Brenau University is located adjacent to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. NGMC Gainesville is rated as Georgia's #1 Hospital (according to CareChex®), the #2 Hospital in the Nation and is among only twenty large community hospitals named to Truven Healthcare’s list of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals. NGMC charges fees for their services.

Northeast Georgia Medical Center