By the Explorer
Are you looking to stay on a budget but still want to enjoy your visit or stay in San Diego? Then here are some free things to do around San Diego.
- Balboa Park – On various Tuesdays each month, some museums of Balboa Park will have free admission for residents. Each Tuesday’s offering changes, so always check the calendar for what museums are free on which Tuesdays. In addition to the Resident Free Tuesdays, there are free trails and a botanical garden to explore at Balboa. Even when you are budget-conscious, you can enjoy Balboa Park.
- Sea lions and seals – There are seals and sea lions everywhere, and people love to watch them play, talk, and swim. One place to go is the La Jolla Children’s Pool, where many people love to sit on the benches and watch them, sometimes for hours.
- Leopard sharks – There is a second popular animal at La Jolla that is surprisingly harmless, leopard sharks. It is the most extensive annual aggregation of these sharks in the world. They come to the shallow and warm waters to incubate from mid-summer to early fall. It is the most extensive annual aggregation of these sharks in the world. They are so harmless you can snorkel with them or walk knee-deep in the water and let them swim around you. It can be surprisingly peaceful.
- Seaport Village – Seaport Village is free to go and walk around in. There are also free special events, including the “Leprechauns and live music,” where you bring your green and dance it off! Performers will often appear along the waterfront as well. Another event is Ben & Jerry’s free cone day on April 3rd, 2023. It’s an excellent place to walk around, enjoy watching the boats coming and going, and people-watch.
- Torrey Pines State Reserve – From 9:30 am – 5:00 pm, the Torrey Pines SNR will be open for hiking with eight easy and challenging trails. This place has trails from 52 to 439 feet. Get your heart pumping and soak in vitamin D on the Torrey Pines Trail. There is a warning of snakes and many restrictions, so keep a trail guide handy.
- Mission Bay: Mission Bay has 27 miles of shoreline, and 19 beaches, which 15 million people visit happily yearly. You can enjoy the various playgrounds and bike paths around the bay or run on the beach, maybe while flying a kite. This popular place is excellent for a summer day for everyone.
- Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial – The Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial is considered one of the most unique veterans memorials in the US because it honors veterans living and deceased from the Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror. It is emotional and sad, but a visit is a great way to honor them. We should be eternally grateful that these people have served to save our country, the USA.
- San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and Nature Center – From 9 am to 5 pm, you can enjoy the 7 miles of trails and the Nature Center. There are TRACK trails for the kids to enjoy, which are nature-themed scavenger hunts with prizes you can earn through an app. Enjoying nature is something everyone can do. After hiking a trail, you can take a break and relish the interactive exhibits of the Nature Center. Keep exploring!
- The Museum of Contemporary Art – From 10 am to 4 pm, you can explore the biggest museum in all of San Diego, the Museum of Contemporary Art. With locations in Downtown San Diego and La Jolla, you can see the changing communities and lives through Art. “Creativity takes courage,” said Henry Matisse, and now you can see the courage in the Art here at 700 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037.
- Spreckels Park – In Coronado, CA, Spreckels Park holds Art in the Park twice monthly. On the first and third Sundays, you can find oil paintings, photography, and handcrafted jewelry. These magnificent creations are beautiful to look at, and even when you’re not doing Art in the Park, Spreckels is a great place to be. You can enjoy a book while the kids play on the playground. The gazebo is perfect for a small romantic gesture like dancing in the moonlight. The Spreckels Center offers free classes and programs for you to enjoy while there. Check the website for the latest ones. The Spreckels Center classes are for 50+.
Enjoy these ten things to do for free in San Diego! Have a good day, and explore!
