728x90

10 Cities on a Shoestring

full star full star full star empty star empty star Rated by 13 members

#10 of 10:  San Diego, California

San Diego

When good weather is as plentiful as it is in San Diego, you don't need much else to enjoy the laid-back, SoCal vibe and miles of welcoming coastline. There is much more to see here than just the famous and fabulous, though somewhat pricey, San Diego Zoo and Sea World, (though we won't deny it – those are worth the trip). Here are some alternative, equally awesome places to kick back and enjoy some quality family time in the sun for next to nothing:

  • Balboa Park
    Free.

    This 1,500-acre park is a favorite for visitors and locals alike, with wide open spaces, funky flora, miles of walking trails, a train ride, and 15 museums on the premises. Each of these attractions charges its own admission fee, some as little as $2 for kids; others can be pricey.

  • La Jolla Shores
    Free.

    What more do you need than a sandy spot on a great, family-friendly beach in a simply fantastic San Diego neighborhood? Consider stoking up some barbeque in one of the beach's several, also-free fire pits, but you might need to save your spot somewhat early in the day.

    And for more ideas from the locals, visit our California Travelers Group.

  • Old Town State Historic Park
    Free.

    Get into the groove of pre-1950 San Diego with this charming state park, which features costumed performers (and donkeys!) on Wednesday mornings between 10 and noon.

More Great Budget Travel Ideas

Member Comments On...

10 Cities on a Shoestring

AbigailPeony
AbigailPeony says:
1 week ago

I love San Fransisco so much!! I have great memory in SF, the seafood, the pier, and all of them are cheap!!

http://cruisedisne-y.com/disney-cruise-lines

0  | 
I found this helpful Thank You! Your vote will be tallied soon!
Not Acceptable?
oldsrocket88
oldsrocket88 says:
May 27, 2009

I went to MS&I in chicago a few years ago on a free day and it was a mad house. I would suggest paying admission it is a lot less bussy and worth the admission to avoid the crowds.

1  | 
I found this helpful Thank You! Your vote will be tallied soon!
Not Acceptable?
ellorybisk
ellorybisk says:
February 10, 2009

Hi Gang, Ellory from Chicago here. It's true that Chicago is a great place to visit. Here's another tip. Check out the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry Calendars before you go. They too have free days! This does not include special events or special exibits. But hey...free is free! And there's alot to see without the special stuff!

8  | 
I found this helpful Thank You! Your vote will be tallied soon!
Not Acceptable?
300x250
300x250
Please log in ...
Close
You must be logged in to use this feature.

Thank You!

Thank you for helping us maintain a friendly, high quality community at Family.com. This comment will be reviewed by a community moderator.

Flag as Not Acceptable?

We review flagged content and enforce our Terms of Use, in which content must never be:

See full Terms of Use.