There are many reasons to love Southern California, including the amount of activities at your fingertips. Sometimes, you might be looking for an activity to do by yourself or with others that won’t break the bank. To help you find something to do in your spare time, we’ve compiled our six favorite free activities in San Diego.
1) Enjoy Live Music at Seaport Village
Source: Instagram (@seaport_village)
Location: 849 West Harbor Dr., Sa Diego, CA 92101
While your first thought of Seaport Village might involve shopping or dining, there are a variety of places to catch some live music. From authentic Greek music to weekend performances on the gazebo, there’s something for everyone.
2) View Seals at the Children’s Pool
Source: Instagram (@packedperfectly)
Location: 811 Coast Blvd. (across from the Casa de Manaña retirement community), La Jolla, CA 92037
You don’t even need to go to SeaWorld to see some marine life. Hundreds of seals and sea lions can been seen on this part of the La Jolla coastline. Nearby beaches are also great spots for scuba divers.
3) Tour the Ballast Point Brewery
Location: 9045 Carroll Way, San Diego, CA 92121
For those over the age of 21, the Ballast Point Brewery in Miramar offers free tours seven days a week. The Miramar location opened up recently and offers tours every day at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. You can reserve a spot through OpenTable.
4) Hike or Bike at Balboa Park
Source: Instagram (@balboapark)
Location: 1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Balboa Park offers 19 trails of various terrain, length, and difficulty for hikers and bikers. The park has a nice balance between picturesque tree-lined paved trails, along with more strenuous hikes and mountain biking trails. There are five gateways from the park to access trails: Golden Hill, Marston Point, Morley Field, Park Boulevard, and Sixth and Upas. There are also three different dog parks for you and your furry friend.
5) Learn About San Diego’s Past at Old Town
Source: Instagram (@oldtownsandiego)
Location: Park at 4015 Twiggs Street, San Diego, CA 92110
Just southeast of Interstates 5 & 8 is Old Town, which features many buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Explore history by visiting the Wells Fargo Museum, the Mason Street Schoolhouse, and La Casa de Machado y Stewart (an adobe-style house built in the 1800s, which became a California Historic Landmark in 1932.) Around Halloween, Old Town holds many different ghost tours, along with a sprawling Dia de los Muertos ceremony.
While many attractions do charge patrons to visit, it’s always a great place to admire adobe architecture and go for a stroll on a nice day.
6) Enjoy a Beach Bonfire
Many beaches around the San Diego area do allow fire pits. La Jolla Shores offers six rings at a first come first serve basis, and plenty of free parking on surrounding streets. Closer to downtown San Diego, Mission Bay Park allows bonfires on the bayside beaches.
Want to learn more about San Diego? View our neighborhood guide to find out about the best shops, restaurants, and more things to do in San Diego. Whether you live in the Towers at Costa Verde or the Pacific Bay Club, you’ll find that adventure awaits just outside your door!