While we love these San Diego savings tips, weāve got more up-to-date budget travel hacks in these articles:
19 Cheapest Family Vacation Destinations for This Summer
18 Travel Tips from an Experienced Flight Attendant
19 Clever Hotel Hacks for Your Next Family Vacation
San Diego is an easy place to visit even if youāre not planning to pay for LEGOLAND or SeaWorld because of the beaches and scenery ā thereās so much to do outside!
Best part? A lot of it is free. So, here are a few canāt-miss free San Diego activities:
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1. Museum of Contemporary Art
Every third Thursday of the month, you can visit the Museum of Contemporary Art for free from 5-7 p.m.
You can even get a free guided tour on these days starting at 5:30 p.m.
Normally located in La Jolla, the Museum of Contemporary Art is currently undergoing a major renovation and wonāt reopen until 2021.
However, the museumās collection is still available to view ā itās just in a different location.
Look for exhibitions at the Jacob and Copley Buildings downtown.
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2. La Jolla Cove
Surrounded by cliffs, La Jolla Cove is home to marine life like sea lions and seals.
In fact, you can walk along the beach and pass right by these animals!
Pay for snorkeling or scuba diving tours if youād like, or just walk along the beach and grab lunch at Harryās Coffee Shop where they serve cheeseburgers all day.
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3. Balboa Park
Balboa Park is a 1,200 acre cultural center with museums, gardens, trails to hike, dog parks, playgrounds and more ā museums may have admission fees.
Check out one of 15 free gardens inside Balboa Park like the fountain and elaborate tile work in the Alcazar Garden or the bronze statue of a WWII Fighter plane inside Veterans Memorial Garden.
Itās easy to spend a day in Balboa Park and not pay for much of anything.
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4. Timken Museum of Art
Always free, Timken Museum of Art is open Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Itās the only museum in Balboa Park that offers free admission.
The museum hosts paintings from all over the world including pieces by Russian, Dutch, French, Italian painters and more.
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RELATED: 19 Free Things to Do with Your Kids This Summer
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5. Cowles Mountain
If you want the best view of San Diego, hike Cowles Mountain.
With an elevation of 1,594 feet, you can climb it at a reasonable pace in about 60 minutes ā a bit more with small children.
Donāt go during the hottest part of the day because thereās not much shade.
On a clear day you can see all the way out to Coronado Island!
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6. Old Town State Historical Park
Want to go back in time? Visit Old Town State Historical Park.
Itās 29 acres of streets and buildings that date back to 1820-1870. Among the buildings is the Whaley House, which is said to be haunted.
Walk the streets and eat in one of many restaurants.
Consider visiting during Cinco de Mayo when there are special booths and street entertainment to enjoy.
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7. Queen Califiaās Magical Circle
A sculpture garden can definitely be magical to children ā especially when itās inspired by mythology.
OK, itās fictional mythology, but kids donāt care! Thereās a statue of Queen Califia on a five-legged eagle, a couple serpents and more ā all mosaics.
The garden isnāt open when itās raining, and it stays closed for up to 48 hours after a rainy day.
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8. Liberty Public Market
Located in Point Lomaās historic Liberty Station, the Liberty Public Market is open seven days a week.
In fact, on Sundays thereās live music!
Stroll through the old Navy building itās housed in and enjoy over 30 vendors selling handmade items, or grab a bite to eat.
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9. Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial
A huge, 43-foot cross sits on top of Mt. Soledad to honor veterans. And not certain veterans ā all veterans from the Revolutionary War to today.
On the walls leading up to the cross, youāll find 3,500 names of veterans from presidents to generals to celebrities who served in wars.
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10. Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
Visit the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum from Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. to view exhibits and items that tell stories about the history of the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation.
The museum is always free and youāll see planes, jets, helicopters and more.
Plus, every other weekend during summer, catch an āOpen Cockpitā day where kids can sit in the pilotās seat, put on a helmet and talk to pilots.
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11. Torrey Pines Natural Reserve
Experience over three miles of wilderness along the coast at Torrey Pines Natural Reserve.
This land has been kept exactly as it was before San Diego was developed, so children can experience what it might have been like for the natives who lived there.
One thing to know is a reserve is different from a park in that itās a protected land, so you canāt bring any food or drinks (except water).
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12. San Diego Botanical Gardens
Free on the first Tuesday of the month, San Diego Botanical Gardens is 37 acres of themed gardens like a Bird & Butterfly Garden, Bamboo Garden, Olive Tree Garden and more.
You can even throw your child a birthday party in the Botanical Gardens!
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13. Dive in Movies at the Pearl
The Pearl Hotel is a Mid-Century Modern boutique hotel that shows outdoor movies in front of their pool on Wednesday nights every week.
While open to the public, youāll need to buy a drink or be a hotel guest in order to actually get into the pool.
Hereās the Dive in Movies lineup for the next few months.
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14. Art Galleries at the University of San Diego
Always free, the Art Galleries at USD host a diverse collection of everything from artifacts from paleolithic tools to Native American culture to contemporary works of art.
The galleries are spread all across the campus, so you can feel free to visit what interests you.
Plan to pay for parking on campus if youāre driving to the galleries.
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15. Historic land and homes
Get outside and learn some history about San Diegoās early settlers at the same time.
Both of these spots have vast amounts of land to explore in addition to old buildings.
- Los Penasquitos Canyon County Preserve: Open from 8 a.m. to sunset, hike up to 12 miles of non-motorized trails, and tour a historic adobe ranch house museum.
- Leo Carillo Ranch: Located inside of a 27-acre canyon, youāll find wandering peacocks and historic ranch buildings.
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16. Summer Concerts
Just bring a blanket or some chairs and enjoy live music!
- Coronado Promenade Summer Concert Series: May-Sept. on Sunday evenings in Spreckles Park.
- Twilight in the Park: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings in Balboa Park.
- Mission Hills Summer Concerts in the Park: June-Aug. on Friday evenings at Mission Hills.
- Bird Park Summer Concerts: July and August on Saturday afternoons.
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17. Almost Free: Old Point Loma Lighthouse & Cabrillo National Monument.
Constructed in 1855 but taken out of commission after only 36 years of use due to heavy fog, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse is now a museum.
The lighthouse is located within the Cabrillo National Monument, which is a National Park.
Walk to the monument itself and enjoy amazing views of the ocean.
Find out how to get discounted or free entrance into National Parks.
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18. Almost Free: South Coast Plaza Carousel
OK, so it costs a dollar.
But itās a quick stop and it will make your kids so happy.
There are two carousels at the South Coast Plaza ā both are on level one. The first is by the Bear Street entrance and the other is by the Bristol Street entrance.
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