Why spend money when you don’t have to? San Diego County is fortunate to have the mountains, desert, coast, and city all do-able within a day. Your free ticket to paradise, fun, and frolic starts here, with Free Things to Do and enjoy in San Diego.

Balboa Park. Stroll the lush grounds and marvel at the historic architecture of some of San Diego’s oldest buildings. Watch the pigeons and people, or hitch a ride on the free tram to museums and exhibits. The Botanical building with a variety of exotic plants is always free. The vast expanse of the Koi pond is serene. Dragonflies alight on platter-sized water lily leaves. The sparkling water ruffles in San Diego’s gentle temperate breeze.  Balboa Park’s ticketed exhibits offer tourist deals, while residents enjoy free admission to specific museums on rotating free Tuesdays.

Historic Old Town San Diego. The center of this general area is a state historic park complete with original structures including a one-room school and various buildings once occupied by San Diego’s earliest inhabitants. Exhibits transport visitors back to an earlier way of life. Native plants, fully-costumed docents, and a music-filled festival plaza add color to the adobe buildings and dirt streets. Within a few easily walked steps are Victorian homes, a historic church, lots of restaurants, and shopping.

See seals in La Jolla at Casa Beach (aka Children’s Pool).  Since the 1990s, an undercurrent of controversy has existed around this area where harbor seals hang out and have their young. Some want the beaches solely for humans’ enjoyment, and believe the seals should go.  Others want them protected. While you can, take advantage of their presence. You can get a fairly close look at these cute sea mammals as they lounge on La Jolla’s white sand. Take a walk along the paved sidewalk sprinkled with embedded seashells above the shore. La Jolla has many shops and restaurants and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. The kids will enjoy the long descent into Sunny Jim’s Cave through the Cave Store (for a small fee – watch your step!).

Beaches. San Diego is known for its beaches, but there’s plenty more to enjoy than walking its sandy shores or setting out a blanket for a seaside picnic. San Diego’s tide pools full of scuttling hermit crabs, flowery urchins, and plump sea cucumbers are fun to explore, and easy to get to. Check out the list of individual San Diego tide pool locations The San Diego Natural History Museum offers. Love your dog? Then you’ll want to look at these doggone cute pictures taken at canine-friendly Dog Beach then take your special buddy for a free jaunt. Also, consider a stroll on the piers at Ocean Beach or Imperial Beach, which don’t cost a dime.

Other waterside jaunts include Seaport Village where shopping and restaurants back up to grassy knolls where kite fliers often play. The entire San Diego Embarcadero area offers a long stretch of wheelchair accessible waterfront cement on which to enjoy the sights (as well as maritime museums, harbor excursion offerings, street vendors, and restaurants). Or walk the long paved stretch at Shelter Island (also wheelchair friendly) where a cool expanse of lawn dotted with trees and picnic tables is a pleasant respite for a busy afternoon. There, huge Navy vessels dwarf tiny sailboats. Sleek yachts cut through the water as moored boats bob in their wake. Explore around the backside of the hotels for a closer look at some of the private boats of all shapes and sizes.

Watch for more free San Diego Activities posts in the future. As usual, your comments are welcome and appreciated. What/where are your favorite free things to do and see in San Diego?

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