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March is coming in like a lion and we hope it goes out like a lamb. With Easter around the corner and sunny boating days ahead, we are dreaming of all the things we love about springtime at Georgia's Lake Lanier. We've compiled this list on a rainy and cold day as we sip our coffee and think about all the things we are going to do when winter fades to spring.
Each spring the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Gainesville has a plant sale! The sale features rare, unusual and hard to find woodland perennials, as well as many for the sunny border. Woody shrubs and trees including big leaf Magnolia, Oakleaf Hydrangeas and the hard to find evergreen Dogwood are also available. So, if you have a green thumb, this is a great way to stock up your garden with some of the best plants on the planet.
Over a thousand winged beauties take flight during the 22nd Annual Butterfly Release sponsored by The Friends of Gainesville Parks. The event held at Wilshire Trails Park is filled with warm spring day fun including face painting, paper sailboat races and nature exhibits.
After a day of lake fun we are thirsty. That's when we head over to Left Nut Brewing to sample their latest craft beers and ciders. Springtime will usher in new batches of delicious libations full of the zest of spring. Events at the LNB include fitness classes, game nights, food trucks and of course, lots of tasty beers.
Before the weather gets too hot and the lake is crowded with party goers, spring offers prime opportunity for boat cruises with family and friends. With rental boat rates at seasonal low prices, you can also save a few bucks and who knows...maybe a rental will turn into owning your own sweet floating palace! Paradise Boat Rental at Port Royale Marina offers the widest variety of rental vessels from wave runners to houseboats and everything in between.
Road Atlanta's spring season gets off with the whirring engines of motorcycles during their annual MotoAmerica Suzuki Championship in April. This year's event will be even more exciting as MotoAmerica expands to include enhanced VIP experiences, a new track-side experience with a grandstand stage, live commentary and music, and a special early evening concert on Saturday following the last race.
Whoooo doesn't love an event at Elachee Nature Science Center? Raptor Fest is a seasonal public nature program with live bird and animal encounters giving children, families and nature lovers the chance to learn more about wild birds of prey. Admission is $10 Per Person (ages 2 and older)
Elachee Members $5 Per Person Parking is free. Exhibitors include: Amicalola Falls Bird of Prey Program, Nature’s Echo Live Bird Program, Oconee Rivers Audubon Society Bird Artifacts Display
Raptor Educator Beth Thomson/Thomson Raptors Live Bird Program
The Rubber Duck Derby at Lake Lanier Olympic Park makes a splash every spring with thousands of the timeless bath toy making a dash for the finish line and hopefully awarding some lucky ticket holder with a cash prize up to $10,000!
Jaemor Farms rings in the annual harvest season of our favorite berry with their Annual Strawberry Festival where you can pick your own, buy them by the basketful or enjoy prepared foods like jams, breads, pies and homemade ice cream featuring this sweet treat. Area farmers markets in Flowery Branch and Gainesville will also have fresh picked strawberries available beginning in May.
Warmer weather and sunny days bring a multitude of festivals. We love heading out on a Saturday morning to browse the vendors and nosh on delicious street foods during our fave fests of Spring including the Spring Chicken Festival in Gainesville and the Flowery Branch Spring Festival. For a complete list of annual events, visit our online calendar.
On Wednesday evenings, the sailboats take to the waters at Lake Lanier for weekly regattas. This is a fun event to participate in or watch from the comfort of a blanket or picnic table at one of the shoreline parks. Want to charter your own private sunset cruise on a sailboat? Call Captain Dave at Windsong Sailing Academy, he'll be your skipper.
With 12 new miles of equestrian trails opening at Don Carter State Park on Lake Lanier this spring, we are ready to saddle up. The Stables at Lanier Islands offer some of the most picturesque views of Lake Lanier on horseback and they also offer a summer horse camp for kids.
If you like to feel the cool spring breeze - there's no better way than on a zip line at Lake Lanier Canopy Tours. This treetop adventure is a network of zip lines, suspension bridges and canopy platforms, offering guests a wide range of unique challenges all while capturing stunning views of Georgia's Great Lake!
