Things to Do for Free While Vacationing in San Diego, California

During these tough economic times going on vacation might not be high on your list of priorities, but a bit of rest and relaxation for you and your family is important. San Diego is well-known for its beautiful weather and miles of picturesque beaches and it's one of the country's top tourist destinations. Whether you're a local who just wants to get out of the house for an afternoon or visiting from out-of-town, enjoying San Diego doesn't have to be expensive. With just a few minutes of research, you can discover a multitude of attractions and family-oriented events that are absolutely free. From cultural attractions to historic towns to desert wildflowers, San Diego has something for every adventurer in the family.

Balboa Park is a popular destination for both residents and visitors alike. Much of the beautiful architecture throughout the park was created in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition. It is the largest urban cultural park in the United States with over 25 museums, a Botanical building, water fountains, koi pond, rose gardens and sculptures. The free Summer International Organ Festival runs from June through the end of August at the Spreckles Organ Pavilion. Free guided tours of the park are offered throughout the week and Resident's Free Tuesday offers free admission to various museums every Tuesday for San Diego County residents and active military personnel. On the first Wednesday of the month telescopes are set up outside the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center so visitors can view the stars.

Visitor's Center
1549 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
619-239-0512
http://www.balboapark.org/

The U.S. Olympic Training Center was built in 1995 and is the only warm-weather year-round Olympic training facility in the United States. Visitors can take a free self-guided tour of the 150-acre complex from 9am to 5pm seven days a week or opt for a free guided tour Tuesday through Saturday at 1:30pm. From an elevated pathway, visitors can watch athletes train in a variety of sports, such as archery, cycling, field hockey, soccer, tennis, kayaking, and track & field. Tours also include a visit to the gift shop. Group and educational tours are available with a reservation. After touring the training center, visit nearby Otay Lakes to watch Olympic athletes train in rowing sports.

2800 Olympic Parkway
Chula Vista, CA 91915
619-656-1500
http://www.usoc.org/content/index/1375

Old Town State Historic Park gives visitors a glimpse of what life was like in early American history from 1821 to 1872. Five original adobe buildings remain in the park, along with other remodeled historic buildings and interpretive sites. The Visitor's Center and museums are free and open daily from 10am to 5pm. Free one-hour guided tours are also offered, along with other living history events, including an 1800s-style July 4^th parade, Stage Coach Days, and Fiesta Navidad. Listen for roving mariachi bands while window shopping at the Bazaar del Mundo and at the end of the day, visit the El Campo Santo Cemetery. Some say it's haunted, but you can decide. The park is also host to the annual San Diego Art Walk event.

4002 Wallace St.
San Diego, CA 92110
619-220-5422
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=663

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California encompassing 600,000 acres. It's a popular weekend destination offering over 500-miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas, camping, and miles upon miles of hiking trails. Anza Borrego is one of the last remaining refuges for the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep. Only 280 of this type of species exist in the United States; 200 of those live within the park's boundaries. While hiking, keep an eye out for Native American pictographs and morteros. Beginning in late February the desert starts to come alive with color when the wild-flowers and cactus begin to bloom. Throughout the winter and spring, Ranger-led tours, lectures and campfires are offered on a daily basis at the Visitor's Center. The main visitor's center is open daily from October through May and features a museum, Native American history displays, and various plant, animal, and geological exhibits. During the summer, when temperatures can reach well over 100-degrees, the center is open only on weekends and holidays.

Visitor's Center
200 Palm Canyon Drive
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
760-767-5311
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638

Julian is a small, historic gold mining town located in the mountains about an hour east of San Diego. If you don't mind the drive, it's definitely worth the visit. There are many historic buildings throughout town, such as the Julian Jail built in 1914, the one-room Spencer Valley School built in 1876, and the 100-year-old Town Hall building. Books, brochures, and maps for a self-guided historic walking tour are available at the Town Hall building. Julian is famous for its apple pie so come celebrate with the town-folk and enjoy crisp fall air during the Apple Days Festival in October. Visit in winter and you just might get to romp in the snow. There are many hiking trails in the area of varying difficulty levels so bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes. Lake Cuyamaca is nearby which offers free fishing classes every Saturday and free guided nature walks along the 3.5 miles trail surrounding the lake.

Julian Chamber of Commerce
2129 Main Street
Julian, CA 92036
760-765-1857
http://www.julianca.com/

Coronado is home to the iconic beachfront Hotel Del Coronado built in 1888. Notable guests include Thomas Edison, Babe Ruth, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy, to name a few. The hotel has been a backdrop for numerous movies over the years, such as Some Like It Hot starring Marilyn Monroe. The luxurious hotel offers free tours of the grounds and during wintertime they build an ice skating rink right on the beach. "Lighting of The Del" in December is a huge event in San Diego when thousands of people gather to watch as over 60,000 bulbs illuminating just about every inch of The Del are lit. Stick around for the Holiday Parade down Orange Avenue. When you're done at The Del, take a walk over to Coronado Beach, named one of America's best beaches by the Travel Channel.

1500 Orange Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118
1-800-468-3533
http://www.hoteldel.com/

These are just some of the fun and FREE things to do in San Diego. Whether you live in San Diego or are here just to play, free is always nice.