San Diego is an awesome place to live, not only because of the great weather and proximity to beaches, mountains and deserts, but there are so many fun activities just waiting to be discovered! Yes, we live in a vacation destination with plenty of big-ticket attractions and venues, but what if you just want to spend the day with your kids without breaking the bank? Instead of hitting up the same ‘ole playground at the neighborhood park, why not try something a little different? Here is a list of my favorite free or cheap things to do in San Diego with kids.
The Beach
From Oceanside to Imperial Beach, there are so many options to choose from! Pack a beach bag, a cooler, and extra sunscreen and get ready to enjoy the sand and surf!
Mission Bay Park
Mission Bay is a great place to take the kids because it has a little bit of everything. There are lots of grassy areas for running, playing or having a picnic. There are several playgrounds throughout with some particularly cool play structures at the south playground nearest Fiesta Island. Or, you can enjoy a stroll or ride along the biking & walking path that winds its way throughout the park. All with a beautiful bay view!
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is one of those gems that make San Diego so special and unique. I absolutely love coming here because it feels like you are walking through an old, cultured European city. You could easily spend an afternoon here just strolling the grounds, enjoying the architecture and nature, browsing the fine art at the Timken museum (admission is always free), walking through the botanical garden, browsing the shops in Spanish Village, or stopping to catch a performance by the various musicians and street performers that are busking throughout the day. But they also have Resident Free days where you can take advantage of free admission to various museums on rotating Tuesdays throughout the month. When my kids were toddlers, we came to Balboa Park quite frequently on Tuesdays to take advantage of free admission to the Air & Space Museum, Natural History Museum, Fleet Science Center, Model Railroad Museum, Museum of Man and the Japanese Friendship gardens. As far as paid attractions go, the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre is also a fun and affordable way to treat the littles to live entertainment with adorable puppet performances, and on weekends, the Balboa Park Carousel and Miniature Train (which you can get to by walking through Spanish Village are $3/ride. Parking at Balboa Park is also free.
Mission Trails
I actually came here for the first time with my son’s school field trip a year ago (right before Covid) and soon realized that we had been missing out by not visiting sooner! There are several great hiking trails all throughout San Diego, but Mission Trails was particularly awesome because it offers easy parking, has a fun and interactive visitors center, and offers a variety of trail lengths and types for all levels.
Seaport Village
I love an afternoon at Seaport Village! My kids and I like to come here to check out all the fun stores and go for a ride on the historic carousel, only $3/ride. There is a walking path that winds along the harbor where you can watch the sailboats and ships passing by, a duck pond and fountains that always seem to entertain the younger set, and usually live music of some sort in the plaza near the carousel. There are also a variety of restaurants and eateries to grab lunch, a snack, or tasty treats! Parking is free with validation.
Old Town
Sometimes it’s just plain fun to be a tourist in your own city. Old Town has so many fun and cheap activities to do that will keep you and the kiddos entertained for hours. Explore the historic houses, buildings and museums like the Steely Stables, Casa de Estudillo, an old schoolhouse, courthouse/jail, and Wells Fargo building. Have fun browsing through all the shops and markets, pan for minerals at the Miner’s Gems and Minerals store, make your own candle at Toby’s Candle & Soap Shop, learn some cool tricks at the Old Town Magic Shop, or enjoy delicious Mexican cuisine at one of the many nearby restaurants. (Kids 10 and under eat free at Barra Barra Saloon and the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant – one free kids meal per one paying adult!)
Lake Murray
We came here with friends in the Spring of this year and had a great time. Lake Murray is located within Mission Trails Regional Park and is just south of the main park and visitor center. We brought lunch and some duck food and had a enjoyable little afternoon picnicking and feeding the ducks. Lake Murray is also a popular spot for walking, biking, fishing and boating. You can rent boats or kayaks, get a fishing license, buy bait and purchase yummy treats at the concessions store.
NTC Park Liberty Station
Liberty Station is another San Diego gem that offers so much in the way of culture, art and history. There are several great spots throughout the park where kids can run around, play on playgrounds or go for a bike ride. You can pack a lunch and have a picnic with a view of the bay or grab something yummy from the Liberty Public Market which houses food vendors of all varieties and cuisines from all over the globe. Other kid friendly dining options include Corvette Diner, Panera, Five Guys, Luna Grill, Oggi’s Pizza, Subway, and Coldstone Creamery. Or if you’d prefer to picnic but forgot to pack a lunch, you can also hit up Vons and Trader Joes for some on-the-go bites. There are fun things to see and explore like the various art installations, historical sites, museums, studios, plazas and fountains. And if you’re feeling crafty, you can also visit the Hot Spot for pottery painting and candle making.
Honorable Mention
The Library
My kids always love a trip to the library. This obviously isn’t a full day activity, but it’s a great way to spend an hour or two doing something different and picking up some new reading material to bring home. Also, most libraries offer fun activities and events for kids throughout the week like story time, science experiments and art classes.
The Mall
If you need to do some shopping, or are just looking for a way to get out of the house for a couple hours and grab a bite or a treat, the UTC mall in particular is pretty kid-friendly. There is a playground, multiple lounging areas with fountains and outdoor entertainment, and a wide variety of food options. We usually always hit up the Lego store, Geppetto’s Toy Store, and then maybe lunch or an ice cream cone from Hanna’s Creamery & Cafe.
The San Diego Zoo
So I know the zoo is certainly not free or cheap, BUT, if you are a San Diego resident and you plan on going to the zoo more than twice, a membership pays for itself several times over. If you already have a membership, it is an awesome place to spend the day with kids and can easily be done on the cheap as long as you are prepared by packing your own lunches and snacks. And the best part is, there is no pressure to see everything in one day. You can go for just a couple of hours if you’d like and then come back another time to explore a different area of the park. Also, did I mention that they now serve craft beer, cocktails and margaritas? Just sayin’.
I hope you find this list to be useful and that at the very least, it helps spark some creativity when looking for something to do with the kids. These are my go-to activities, but let me know if you have any additional ideas to share. The more ideas the better!
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.
Aww, thank you so much!