The Best Free Walking Tours of San Diego, Ca

A walking tour is the best way to explore San Diego and get a sense of the city and a feel for its unique neighborhoods. Walkabout International, a nonprofit organization offers some of the best free walking tours. Each month, volunteers lead more than 100 walking tours around the city. Each walk targets a certain destination or neighborhood, varies in time and pace, and allows ample opportunity to socialize. Following are some of their best walking tours around San Diego:

A MORNING STROLL THROUGH BALBOA PARK.

The beautiful grounds of Balboa Park is always inviting to walk no matter what season or time of day. An early morning stroll allows you to capture the sight, sound and smell of the area before it bustles with activities. After the tour, you can hang around to marvel at the architecture of the buildings, visit any one of its diverse museums and theaters, or just wander around to enjoy the fountain and gardens.

MERRY GO-ROUND

This walking tour starts in Balboa Park, and meanders through the neighborhood of Bankers Hill, offering the opportunity to ogle some stately mansions with exquisite gardens. What makes this tour so special is the passage across deep canyons on unique suspension and footbridges. It is very scenic, as is the view of the harbor as you stroll west towards downtown.

WALKABOUT ANNIVERSARY

This is a series of walks held on Mondays around 10:30am. The walks are centered around the downtown area. There is usually a theme to the walk, whether it is to learn about the history of something or someone. It ends around noon, followed by a free mini-concert at the Lyceum theater. You are invited to bring your lunch.

SUNSET CLIFFS AT SUNSET - BUS ROUTE 35

A fabulous place to relax and soak up some Southern California sun is to spend the day at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. Its 68 acres of sharp cliffs, rugged topography and walking paths along the Pacific Ocean offers a breathtaking panoramic view and excellent photo opportunity. If visiting during the winter months, bring a binocular to see migrating gray whales passing through the area.

This moderately-paced, walking tour at Sunset Cliffs, is timed perfectly to coincide with the bus schedule and sunset. A stroll along the cliff edge, to feel the soft ocean breezes, to hear the waves crashing against the rocks, and to watch the sun set, is the perfect end to a day in paradise.

For more detail information on these and other free walking tours, check out their website at http://www.walkabout-int.org/.