Any free things to do in San Diego?

[kettlepot]

Cabrillo National Monument (Lighthouse)

It isn't free, but according to the website, the current fee is $5 per car not person, so it would be very inexpensive for a family. It offers a great view of the city skyline, and the harbor. You can see small pleasure boats to US Naval vessels from submarines to aircraft carriers, depending on which ships are in port. It's particularly nice if one of the large ships is entering or exiting the harbor. You may also have an opportunity to watch navy aircraft taking off from Coronado Naval Air Station.

It's a great location for a picnic. Seriously, make a picnic of it. Bring a big towel and windbreakers. If it's windy it can be chilly.

Visit the National Park website for directions, and more detail on what is available in the way of tours, trails, and activities.

Cabrillo National Monument - Fees // US-Parks.com

Beaches: Besides the regular beaches visit the Dog Beaches in Coronado and Ocean Beach. The dogs are always having a good time which is fun to watch. It would be more fun if you had your own dog, but maybe you could ask someone if your kids could toss the stick or the frisbee for his dog. I even saw a cat on a leash one time.

[tonyinsd]

I second the Cabrillo suggestion. It's something a lot of tourists don't go to because they just don't know about it. They go to the Zoo, to Sea World, Balboa Park, go to some chain restaurant and buy a t-shirt that says "Generic Chain Restaurant San Diego" and think they've experienced the city.

No, you haven't. You haven't even scratched the surface.

[bigdaddy5]

You can cross the Coronado Bridge (free), park on the street in front of the Hotel Del (free), go inside the Hotel Del (free), sit on the patio facing the ocean view behind the hotel (free). You can do the same at most oceanfront resorts in SD.

Food and drinks are extra.

[asitshouldbe]

Great ideas everyone, thanks, we're planning to fit in as many free things as we can, not including gas of course. I'm actually relieved that we're skipping all the big attractions this year, it was always a rush to fit everything in on those cards anyway. This will be a more free style, laid back vacation, can't wait, we're leaving here on 8/16, almost here.

[asitshouldbe]

We're going to check out the Marilyn sculpture too.

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...palm-springs/1

[NewtoSD?]

Originally Posted by oddstray

It's a bit of a drive, and it will be uber-hot in the desert, but this is awesome to see (lots of huge outdoor sculpture): Welcome To Galleta Meadows Estate
And if you go out that far, don't miss the Anza Borrego Desert State Park visitor center.
Hiking.
Picnics.
A drive to the top of Mt. Soledad provides a splendid view.
Mission Bay Park is a nice place to spend some hours.
A drive across the Coronado bridge is a short scenic tour, and it's (I think) free ... or is there still a small toll?
Is the tour of the Hotel Del free - I'm not sure
Walking around Old Town.
Rancho Penasquitos Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary - likely to be livelier in the evenings.
The Tijuana Slough Wildlife Refuge, and they have a nice small visitor center.
Watching the parasail pilots at the Torrey Pines Gliderport.
Mission Beach.
The piers (Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Oceanside).
Mission Trails Park, which also has a nice visitor center.

Good suggestions! All free. I would add the Farmer's market in Little Italy. You could spend anywhere from $2 for coffee to $10 for produce, but just to look around and hang out in that atmosphere is cool. GF and I loved it and you have nice views.

[tonyinsd]

It's not free, but it's cheap and it will be a lot of fun. Rent some bikes and take the ferry to Coronado. Spend the day riding up and down the Silver Strand. If you're feeling really ambitious, you can do a complete loop.

It's a lot of fun.

San Diego Bay Bike Route

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by NewtoSD?

Good suggestions! All free. I would add the Farmer's market in Little Italy. You could spend anywhere from $2 for coffee to $10 for produce, but just to look around and hang out in that atmosphere is cool. GF and I loved it and you have nice views.

Little Italy Farmer's Market is my favorite. It used to be Hillcrest, but you can't be LI's setting. Is it me, or are there just as many dogs as there are people sometimes?

[Valley Native]

Walking around Seaport Village is free. A person could spend an entire afternoon there window shopping or enjoying the beautiful coastal weather San Diego has to offer. Of course, the many shops & restaurants will entice you to spend money, but merely walking around and taking in the scenery won't do any damage to the wallet.

Another place I like to frequent is Imperial Beach, especially driving the route from San Diego over the bridge through Coronado, then down highway 75. I find Imperial Beach to be much less crowded than Ocean Beach or Mission Beach ... so that alone makes it more enjoyable. There's a certain quaintness about Imperial Beach too. It's nothing upscale or fancy, but the town is pretty charming.