Arts

With gas prices on the rise, the search is on for an inexpensive way to keep yourself entertained. The $10 per person limit doesn't cover the cost of gas, but all of these activities are within a 40-mile drive of Anniston, so prices at the pump won't increase the cost too much.

1. Get cultured

Just in time for football season is "The Art of Competition," the latest exhibit at the Hardin Center for Cultural Arts in downtown Gadsden. The exhibit focuses on college sports, and all of the 18 NCAA member colleges in the state are represented in this exhibit. In the Memorabilia Room, you can learn the history of Auburn football, see a giant Bear Bryant stamp and trophies from colleges across the state.

On Tuesday nights, the Press Room screens highlights of classic Alabama and Auburn football games. Keep the kids entertained with the Imagination Place, located adjacent to the Hardin Center. Children can learn how a city works through interactive play in the KidsTown USA exhibits and learn about nature in the new tree house. The cost for all of it is $5 for adults and $4 for children.

2. Get in touch with your wild side

A visit to the Anniston Museum of Natural History costs less than $5 a person ($4.50 for adults and $3.50 for children). The museum has hundreds of animals of every sort (some of them are even alive), 2,000-year-old mummies, a children's discovery room, nature trails and more. When you're finished, pop on over to the Berman Museum, which features more than 8,000 artifacts from paintings to jade sculptures to photographs, and a large collection of weapons of modern and ancient times. Admission to Berman is $3.50 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2.50 for children.

3. Get the ball rolling

The Anniston Bowling Center on Blue Mountain Road can help you practice for your perfect game without going broke. From 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, games are $2.15 per person, plus the $2.75 shoe rental.

If you can't make it for that deal, gather a group and head down on Friday or Saturday nights for cosmic bowling (midnight-2 a.m.). It costs $30 per lane (plus shoe rental) and you can have up to six bowlers per lane.

4. Just putt around

At Putt Putt Golf on McClellan Boulevard, a round of mini-golf for one adult is $5. For children under 11, the games are $2.50, and for children under 5, it's $1.

You can also get 10 games for $20 (up to 10 people), 12 games for $22 (up to 12 people) and 20 games for $30 (up to 20 people).

When you're tired of the green, you can head over to the batting cages. The tokens for the cages are $1.60 each, or $6 for 5. Each token gets you 15 pitches.

5. Catch a show

While a movie in the theater still costs less than $10, you get more bang for your buck at the Star-Lite Drive-In on Alabama Highway 202. At $5 for adults and $2 for children, you can afford to bring a whole carload. Plus, you can bring your own snacks and save even more. The drive-in is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Call 741-1411 for showtimes.

6. Taste the finer things in life

Head up to White Oak Vineyard in Choccolocco Valley for a wine tasting on Fridays and Saturdays. The wines are regionally made (many of them right there on the farm) and include dry reds and whites, fruit wines and, of course, muscadine wines. While the wine itself goes above the $10 limit (prices range from $11-$13.50), there are many jams, jellies and candles that fall well under the mark. The peach wine (made with delicious Chilton County peaches) is a perfect relief for any sweltering summer.

7. Just skate by

Any day of skating at either Skate Country in Saks or Sunshine Skating Rink in Oxford will cost you less than $10. The real steals are Monday nights, where a child gets in free with every adult admission ($5.50) and Tuesday nights, when the rinks have $1 admission if you bring your own skates, $2 admission to rent regular skates, and $3 admission to rent speed skates. If you're a little wary about wearing wheels, just remember, roller skating is great exercise — in fact, www.rollerskating.org says skating "is equivalent to jogging in terms of health benefits-caloric consumption."

8. Noc yourself out

Noccalula Falls in Gadsden offers many activities — all for $6 or less. You can take a one-mile train ride around the park, see wildlife (including a lion, lynx and deer) in the animal habitat, and even get a little hands-on experience at the petting zoo.

The park also has a botanical garden and pioneer village that includes a blacksmith, covered bridge, school house and cook house. A war memorial and mini-golf course (which costs extra) are also on the park grounds.

Adult admission is $6, senior admission is $4, children (4-12) admission is $3 and children under 3 get in free.

9. Head to the beach

The beach at Cheaha Lake, that is. For $5, you can rent a paddleboat (four-person capacity) for 30 minutes. For $10, you can rent a jon boat (three-person capacity) for four hours. The lake also has a play area and diving platform. If you're not in the mood for swimming, bring your rod and reel and cast off a couple of hours. A valid Alabama fishing license is required. In addition to the rentals, a day-use admission of $1 per person is charged.

10. Go fishing

This weekend, Jacksonville State University and DeSoto State will be hosting a fly fishing weekend. Join JSU biologist Dr. Chris Murdoch on Friday night to learn the basics of fly fishing, and then put those skills into action with a fly fishing expedition on Little River on Saturday morning. Meet with Dr. Murdoch again on Saturday night for tales of what's swimming in the river. Friday and Saturday night are both free, but the fishing trip on Saturday costs $5 per person. Call Renee Morrison at 782-5697 for more information and registration.