Mentioned by La Jolla Mom
100 FREE Things to Do in San Diego, CA: Fun Museums, Attractions, Tours & More
"Afterwards, take yourself to the south east corner of the Gaslamp area and locate Petco Park (it’s kind of hard to miss). This giant baseball stadium is home to the San Diego Padres and, baseball fan or not (I’m not), is a pretty spectacular sight. If you’re in San Diego during the baseball season, tickets are affordable and make for a great night out. Otherwise, you can take a stadium tour, or just climb up onto the grassy bank opposite and have a nosey from there."
"Right in downtown San Diego, the state-of-the-art Petco Park is lauded as one of Major League Baseball’s best stadiums. In the stands you’ll get incredible vistas of the Sand Diego skyline and San Diego Bay at one of 81 regular season games (more if the Padres have a successful season). Petco Park opened in 2004, before which the San Diego Padres had to share the Jack Murphy Stadium with NFL’s Chargers."
"First, it’s close to Petco Park, and second, it’s rooftop bar, Altitudes, is a great spot for a sunset cocktail!. There are several Marriotts in the Gaslamp quarter, so make sure to double-check the name when you make your reservation!"
"Trek through the history of California’s birthplace at Old Town, San Diego’s first downtown. There is a distinct feeling of Old Mexico within this 6-block, 12-acre park, with historical sites covering shops, restaurants, museums, preserved adobe buildings and more. It’s easily one of the most authentic free things to do in San Diego."
"There are numerous historic buildings located in this area, dating back to the early 1800s. It was the first European settlement in California. One notable building is Whaley House which Travel Channel named as the most haunted house in America."
"San Diego State Historic Park marks the founding of the first European settlement in California and encompasses many of San Diego’s original buildings. Museums, shops, theater and restaurants can be found in this six-block area."
"This park was once part of the original 2,538 acre working ranch and vacation retreat of Leo Carrillo (who acted in almost 100 films from 1927 to 1950 and co-starred in the TV series The Cisco Kid). Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park's 27 acres opened to the public in 2003. You can take a guided or self-guided tour of historic ranch structures including the hacienda, reflecting pool, cabana, cantina, carriage house tack shed, stable, barn and foundry, equipment shed and hand-crafted adobe buildings."
"The Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park was built originally as a weekend retreat for a famous actor. Today, it’s a 27-acre park that’s listed on the US National Register of Historic Places."
"San Diego's monument to sports and fitness, this 4,600-acre aquatic park has 27 miles of shoreline including 19 miles of sandy beaches."
"San Diego has its own version of Central Park: The Waterfront Park, located along the Embarcadero in Little Italy. Opened in 2014, it's become a family-favorite destination for locals. The 12-acre park is just a stone's throw from the bay and is decked out with tons of innovative ways to entertain kids including a splash pad and slide––but it's the giant fountain, with its many jets, that is the park's main attraction."
"Located in downtown San Diego along the bay near Little Italy San Diego, Waterfront Park is perhaps best known for its interactive splash fountains and its extensive, family-friendly open spaces. Outdoor movies in the park and other free events are held here in summer. (Location: Downtown San Diego)"
"If you can’t make it across the bridge to Coronado, you can walk along Harbor Bay to get a photo as well. The angle is a bit different and it’s a good deal harder to park but it can be done."
"The 2,400-bench-seat pavilion, dedicated in 1915 by sugar magnates John D. and Adolph B. Spreckels, holds the 4,518-pipe Spreckels Organ,…"
"Mavericks Beach Club, along Garnet Avenue, is set to reopen the doors on Thursday, January 28th and has an excellent lineup of daily specials to get excited about!. Monday through Friday, from 2PM – 6PM, Happy Hour will consist of $4 beers, wines, and well cocktails, $6 margaritas and Mai Tais, and $2 off all snacks. And if you missed brunch as much as we did, you can now enjoy Mavericks’ Weekend Brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 10AM– 1PM with $15 bottles of champagne and rose, $7 Absolut Bloody Mary’s, $7 Bloody beers, and $20 Bubble Slushie Buckets."
"If you and your sweetie love a gourmet meal in a slightly refined atmosphere, Island Prime is the place to visit when you’re in San Diego. Start your meal with the seafood platter that includes oysters, crab, and shrimp, or try the crab cakes with lemon aioli. You can enjoy entrees like prime rib and mashed potatoes, salmon roulade with a basil potato puree, or fire-roasted cauliflower with Japanese eggplant."
"Location: 880 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92101Phone: (619)- 298-6802Website. Resting on stilts atop San Diego Bay on Harbor Island, overlooking Coronado and the city skyline, Island Prime has one of the best views in all of San Diego. It’s totally relaxing, chilled-out experience."
"The food is still very good, and like everywhere else, prices here have risen, but additionally days of operation have been reduced, so it requires more ..."
"1555 Camino Del Mar Del Mar, CA 92014 858-847-2284 32 Stores Monday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Major Retailers: Specialty shops, Il Fornaio, Pacifica Del Mar, gourmet market"
"Horton Plaza Shopping Center, a multi-story, open-air mall, is known for its eclectic architecture, people-watching opportunities and more than 100 stores and shops. Make a purchase here and you'll get three free hours of parking—ample time for shopping and exploring the surrounding Gaslamp Quarter."