10 Fun and Free Things to Do on a Family Vacation in San Diego

San Diego is an excellent place for a family vacation, with its' miles of beautiful beaches, warm climate and easily accessible outdoor recreation venues. Not only is it home to world-famous attractions, it's also a great area to enjoy even on a limited budget. Here are just a few of the free offerings available:

1. From March to September, you and your family can join the throngs of San Diego locals and visitors that enjoy the Grunion Run - a natural phenomenon caused by thousands of small grunion fish coming ashore to mate and bury their eggs under the full moon during high tide. The California Department of Fish & Game posts the annual expected grunion schedule on their website. You can also try to catch grunion (many use their bare hands and small buckets), but if you're over 16 you'll need to get a fishing license before you do.

2. Take your camera and head to La Jolla Cove to watch the harbor seals and sea lions play, and catch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

3. Stroll through the Gaslamp Quarter, a 16-block section of downtown San Diego that highlights turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture, and features dozens of quaint stores and restaurants.

4. Take the family on a hike in the Torrey Pines State Reserve. There are more than 200 acres of hiking trails, rare Torrey pine trees and a lagoon that is home to hundreds of migrating birds.

5. If you've brought the family dog with you on vacation, be sure to check out the dog-friendly section of Ocean Beach. Both your two-legged and four-legged kids can enjoy catching Frisbees or frolicking in the surf at this popular leash-free venue.

6. Take the family to Balboa Park for an afternoon or early evening outing. Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in the United States, and features ranger-led walking tours and free admission to select museums on Tuesdays.

7. Inspire the youngsters with a trip to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. The year-round training facility offers free tours Tuesday through Saturday.

8. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art, which offers free admission for those who are 25 years old or younger. There are actually two locations: La Jolla and Downtown San Diego.

9. Visit the quaint historic mining town of Julian, located in East San Diego County. Julian was the second largest urban community center during the Southern California gold rush in 1869. There are plenty of country-style restaurants, antique and craft shops, tree lined country roads and roadside fruit stands to enjoy.

10. Lastly, spend a day (or two) enjoying the miles of beautiful beaches that San Diego has to offer. You can wrap up the day with a bonfire at many of the County beaches, including Mission Beach, Coronado and Ocean Beach.