This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Alabama chapter.
Looking for a summer thrill that doesn’t break the bank (and isn’t another Saturday night on the Strip)? Check out this list of eight cheap activities to keep you entertained in T-town!
- First Fridays – The first Friday of every month, downtown Tuscaloosa lights up for cheap! There are free gallery openings, food trucks, and entertainment, all for little to no cost. It’s the perfect setting for a quirky first date or a laid back night out with the girls. The first time I went, there were two free gallery openings, and we had out tarot cards read in the back of an antique shop for just a few dollars.
- College Night at Bama Lanes – Every Thursday, Bama Lanes has college night for just $7. It includes all you can bowl, and shoe rental. The perfect way to get out of the house and blow off some steam mid-week (especially if you have an early class Friday).
- Lake Tuscaloosa – Twenty minutes away and totally free, heading to the lake kills a Saturday in the sun. Go for a swim, chill in a hammock, or lay out on the rocks. Just be sure to bring sunscreen as the days keep heating up.
- The Arboreum – Going to go out of your mind laying around by the lake all day? Check out the Arboreum! It’s university run, and there are plenty of trails to wander if you prefer something more active when you’re outside. There’s a greenhouse and a pond that you can rest by. And it’s totally free.
- Tuscaloosa River Market – Hit up the farmer’s market for fresh, local pics. Open from 7am to noon on Saturday and Tuesday mornings. It’s the perfect way to find your new favorite food (chard, kumbacha, watermelon radishes) as well as old favorites. Everything is reasonably priced. For a fun summer date, go pick up ingredients together, then head home to whip up a fun, farm-fresh lunch!
- South Sandy Shooting Range – We’re in the Deep South, so it’s inevitable that some of us Southern ladies grew up shooting. South Sandy is an outdoor shooting range only fifteen minutes from Tuscaloosa, and for only $3 per car, it’s the best way to get in some practice on the range. Just be sure to always follow firearm laws, park regulations, and common sense safety tips when on the range.
- Picnic at the Riverwalk – Another way to spend a date or a lazy afternoon is to grab a blanket and some homemade food, and head out to the Riverwalk. It’s serene, but well-populared and near campus, so it’s safe enough for a first date. If you’re not feeling cooking, grab your favorite takeout and hit the banks of the Black Warrior River.
- Picture Perfect – Grab a couple of disposable cameras and head out into Tuscaloosa with some girlfriends. Take turns snapping pics of each other, or turn it into a scavenger hunt. Downtown lights up at night for bright scenery, or the parks are picture perfect during the day. The nostaliga of disposable cameras keeps you all off your phones, and at the end of it, you get the prints developed as a souvenir that exist somewhere other than Instagram.