San Diego is a city of excitement, great weather and a lot of cool things to do.!
Running low on cash? Looking for a bit of fun? Does every place in San Diego is out of your price range? Well, think again.
For those struggling college students, or people who are trying to pinch pennies, San Diego doesn’t have to be expensive. There is a multitude of things that can be done without breaking the bank. It helps if you know where to look.
Here is a list of a few great things to do that are zero to little cost.
This city is home to many different beaches to enjoy the sun and surf. The great thing about going to the beach is that it is 100% free and requires little effort, just show up and find a spot!
The only question is; Which beach to choose?
If you’re looking for a nice, calm surf with waves that can be mellow and inviting, check out La Jolla Shores. It’s down on Camino Del Oro in La Jolla and it’s about a mile long so it wouldn’t be hard to miss. La Jolla Shores is named after the area of La Jolla and was named ‘one of the best beaches in the area’ by the Orange County Register.
Another great beach to explore is Coronado Beach on Ocean Blvd. on the island of Coronado. It’s a beautiful beach with great surfing, sunbathing, fire rings and a great spot for dogs.
Another popular beach to go to is Mission Beach. Mission gets its popularity due to Belmont Park being located right near the beach. The beach itself is a great place to go to have fun and make a bonfire, but if you’re looking for even more fun Belmont is a small amusement park with places to eat, a cool arcade and a handful of rides.
Now speaking of parks, San Diego is also home to places to just relax and enjoy nature. If anybody ever needs some fresh air or wants to go for a great walk, Mission Bay Park is a great place to do so. There is a playground for kids and a great place to bring a dog. The park is located south of Pacific Beach near Sea World.
Torrey Pines State Park includes great hiking trails and a view of the Torrey Pines Glider Port where you can see people hang glide off into the distance. Another reason that this park is checked out is to view the great sandstone cliffs that rise 300 feet above the Pacific Ocean.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, right under Torrey Pines Glider Port is Black’s Beach, which is one of the few nudist beaches in the United States.
Located downtown at 849 West Harbor Dr. is Seaport Village. Seaport Village was built on landfill over Punta de los Muertos (Spanish for Point of the Dead), where the Spanish expedition of 1782 buried those who had died of scurvy. According to www.seaportvillage.com , Seaport village was built on a landfill over Punta de los Muertos (Point of the Dead) where people who died of scurvy on the Spanish expedition of 1782. .Admission is completely free and if spending money isn’t a problem; there are places to shop as well.
Seaport includes several eateries, fun attractions, live music and a fantastic view. If you have kids, it is a great place for them. There is a carousel and sometimes face painters or balloon artists.
And finally, the infamous Balboa Park, located at 1549 El Prado.
Not only is Balboa Park a place of beauty, but it is a place of art and culture. Around the area there are gardens full of beautiful flowers. Street performers and street artists can be found in random places ready to entertain for no exact cost.
A great way to see all of this by taking Balboa Park’s tram. It’s just a little trolley type car that will give visitors a great look around the park. The tram operates almost the entire day with extended hours during the summer.
The most popular tourist attractions at Balboa would hands down be the museums. Sure, going to a museum sounds expensive, but here it isn’t. Every Tuesday, Balboa Park allows free admission for a select few museums for San Diego residents. It’s different every week, so there are multiple opportunities to have a great time.
It may seem hard sometimes to find a place to have fun especially on a low budget, but San Diego is an incredibly large place. There is always something to do. Don’t just sit around. Go explore!
