We are continuing our series on how to have fun in Anderson County without breaking the bank. Here are some ways a family or group of friends can spend $50 or less in a day and still have a great time in Anderson County, Tennessee.

Hit the water on a kayak or pontoon peddleboat. This is the perfect adventure for a family, day date or a day spent with friends. Adventures Outdoors and Norris Paddling Adventures offer rentals on both Melton Hill Lake and Norris Lake. Rent a tandem double kayak or Perception Rambler two person kayak for $25 for the first hour or $34 for two hours. If kayaking is not for you, the pontoon peddleboat (holds 4 people) rents for $29 for the first hour or $49 for two hours. Pack a picnic lunch and hit the nearby trails at either Haw Ridge Park or Norris Dam State Park and enjoy the beauty of East Tennessee for the day.

Watch a new release on the big screen. And yes, a family can do this for under $50.Tickets are only $6 each at the Historic Downtown Ritz Theater in Clinton with new releases showing at 7pm. The Ritz has the BEST popcorn, so at that price make sure to get some! Before the movie, you can browse around the antique shops in Downtown Clinton or stop in the Green McAdoo Cultural Center and learn about the Clinton Twelve and how they changed a nation by desegregating Clinton High School. The Cinemark Tinseltown in Oak Ridge offers discount Tuesday’s with ticket prices only $5.50 each. Tinseltown has the most comfortable loungers, so pick a good movie or you might fall asleep. After the movie, hit Razzleberry’s for some ice cream. Make a day out of it and visit the K25 History Museum (admission is free) or spend some time at A.K. Bissell Park. The park has a 1.25 mile loop, picnic shelter and is home to the International Friendship Bell.

Spend a day in Oak Ridge with a morning visit to a museum and an afternoon at the Oak Ridge Municipal Pool. A few museums we recommend are the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge : adult tickets are $8, kids are $6 making it affordable for an entire family. If you have a science lover in your group, the American Museum of Science and Energy is a great place to visit and tickets are only $5-$8 per person. For history lovers, we recommend the Oak Ridge History Museum. With tickets prices at only $5 per person, it’s an affordable place to learn the history of Oak Ridge and how people lived during the Manhattan Project. The Oak Ridge pool is a must do during the hot summer months. The pool is spring fed and considered one of the largest in the nation, so there is plenty of space to spread out and enjoy an afternoon cooling off.

Enjoy an afternoon or an entire day exploring the Museum of Appalachia. This living history museum lends voice to the people of Southern Appalachia through artifacts and stories they left behind. There are 65 acres to roam including 35 log cabins, thousands of artifacts, barns, farm animals, churches, gardens and more. The museum offers a family rate for 2 adults and children ages 5-18 that will cost about $42 and it’s worth every penny! You can pack a lunch and have a picnic at the museum or you can order a delicious meal right there at the Museum restaurant.

The Little Ponderosa Zoo rescues animals from across the US and provides them with a forever home. From the jungle to the barnyard, they’ve got just about everything plus a few surprises. You are even able to pet and feed many of the animals. The zoo offers a family pack for $50 for a family of 4. You can pack a picnic lunch and eat at the zoo in one of their picnic areas or enjoy lunch at an area park to complete your day of fun.

A couple of other fun things to do in Anderson County without breaking the bank are the Oak Ridge Bowling Center. Specials are offered each day making it very affordable for an entire family to bowl. 5th and 9 Axe Lounge is a fun place to try your hand at axe throwing and Windrock Park Shooting Range offers targets and ranges for different experience levels and they also have rental firearms.

Share some pictures with us and let us know what you do for fun in Anderson County!

For other fun and FREE things to do in Anderson County, click here.