50 Fun and FREE - Summer Activities in San Diego

Having fun during the summer in San Diego doesn't require a lot of money. In Fact, many things to see and enjoy in San Diego are absolutely free. With 70 miles of beautiful beaches, near-perfect weather and a variety of summer street fairs, concerts, art and cultural events, San Diego offers a fun and inexpensive summer getaway.

1. Put on your bathing suit, grab your towel and head to one of San Diego's 70 miles of beaches, all open to the public and perfect to body surf, play in the sand, collect seashells or just bask in the sun.

2. Summer "Concerts in the Park" abound throughout San Diego County, including the Alpine Summer Concert Series at 6pm on select Sundays at 1834 Alpine Blvd; Annual Coronado Promenade Concerts at 6pm on Sundays at Spreckels Park; Annual Encinitas Sunday Concerts by the Sea from 3-5pm on Sundays at Moonlight Beach; Annual Lemon Grove Concerts in the Park from 630-8pm on Thursdays at Berry St Park; Carlsbad TGIF Jazz-in-the-Park Series at 6pm on Fridays in different park locations throughout Carlsbad; Chula Vista Music in the Park at 4pm on Sundays at the Memorial Bowl Park; Santee Summer Concerts from 630-8pm on Thursdays at Santee Trolley Square Amphitheatre; Summer in the Park Concerts from 6-8pm at Trolley Barn Park on Adams Ave, and Twilight in the Park Summer Concerts from 615-715pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.

3. Visit Seaport Village during the weekends for free entertainment while you window-shop in the Village's stores. Guests can also take a leisurely stroll along the bay-front or sit in the grass and watch passing yachts and ships along San Diego's beautiful Big Bay.

4. Visit the 16.5-block historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego and view the renovated turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture, home to antique stores and art galleries.

5. Fly a kite at the Tecolote Shores of Mission Bay Park, a 4,600-acre aquatic park. Away from trees and overhead wires, friends and family gather to launch colorful kites into the high-flying bayside breezes.

6. Enjoy free organ concerts at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. The Organ Pavilion features the world's largest outdoor pipe organ, a San Diego landmark for 84 years. (2pm on Sundays and 730pm on Mondays)

7. Visit Old Town, full of Mexican lore, to take free flamenco dance lessons or to stroll through the variety of international shops. Wander freely through Old Town's historic buildings, including the blacksmith shop, the Seeley Stables, the Stewart House, the Estudillo House and the oldest schoolhouse in San Diego.

8. Bike or jog along Mission Bay Park's many trails. Joggers and walkers share more than 20 miles of scenic running paths winding through sunlight and shade near the shoreline with workout courses at planned stations along the route.

9. Visit the Arco Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for a free tour of the 150-acre facility, including training fields and tracks, athlete dorms and the Otay Lake Reservoir. Tours are offered daily starting at the Copley Visitor Center.

10. Take free fly-fishing lessons on Sunday mornings from 9am to Noon at Lake Murray, located in La Mesa. If you don't have your own gear, arrive early for a free equipment loan.

11. Stargaze outside the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theatre on the first Wednesday of every month for "Stars in the Park." The San Diego Astronomy Association sets up huge telescopes and offers guests a great view of our magnificent evening sky.

12. Take a scenic, one-hour drive to Mt. Laguna for a hike, bike or picnic while enjoying the fresh mountain air. Stop at Julian on your way back to San Diego to sightsee in this century-old gold mining town.

13. Have a picnic at Torrey Pines State Park and watch the talented hang-gliders do tricks along the coastline.

14. Cross the border into colorful and exciting Tijuana, Mexico where the entrance is free and the varieties of shops offer unique gifts and apparel.

15. Rollerblade, skateboard or bicycle along the Mission Beach Boardwalk, a scenic 3-mile course through Mission and Pacific Beaches.

16. Visit Mission Trails Regional Park to explore the cultural, historical and recreational aspects of San Diego. The Park's state-of-the-art Visitor's Center boasts a 94-seat theatre where guests explore and learn about the wonders of nature and the people who once lived on the land. The park also offers 40 miles of natural and developed hiking and biking trails.

17. Go scuba diving or snorkeling off San Diego's shores to see spectacular creatures of the sea. La Jolla Cove offers some of the clearest waters on the California coast, as well as miles of protected underwater preserves to explore.

18. Don't miss the La Mesa Flag Day Parade, featuring marching bands, floats and drill teams. The parade route begins at University Ave and La Mesa Blvd. May 31st beginning at 10:00am.

19. Cheer on participants of the Rock 'n Roll Marathon 2008 while listening to live bands lined along the 26.2-mile marathon route. The course begins at Balboa Park and ends at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. June 1st beginning at 6:30am.

20. Late at night join San Diegans running with the grunion on warm summer nights when the tide is high and the moon is full. Witness thousands of grunion swimming ashore to mate and bury their eggs in the sand before riding a wave back out to sea.

21. Attend 25th Season of La Jolla Concerts by the Sea on Sundays in the beautiful setting of picturesque Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove. Bring your blankets and picnic baskets and enjoy live musical entertainment, from Pops to Big Band Swing to Dixieland Jazz. June 24th through September 2nd 2008, 2-4pm.

22. While at La Jolla Cove, stay around to see the magnificent sunset on the ocean and watch sea lions play along its shore. La Jolla Cove is one of the most spectacular natural settings in the world.

23. Tour the tidelands of San Diego's Big Bay and see the impressive public art sculptures, tributes and memorials all along the shoreline. These projects celebrate San Diego's international ties, cultural diversity, military significance and unique oceanfront environment.

24. Attend the 29th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-off, featuring more than 200 vendors, works by local artists, food, children's area and entertainment on three stages. Saturday June 28, 2008 from 10am to 8pm.

25. Join the festivities at San Diego's Fourth of July celebrations. Fireworks, festivals and patriotic parades are held in numerous communities throughout the county.

26. Don't miss the Annual U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition in Imperial Beach. Hundreds of sand sculpting artists from around the country gather to create magnificent works of art using only sand and water. The event also features a parade, children's sandcastle contest and fireworks display. July 12-13, 2008 at the Imperial Beach Pier.

27. Watch the 55th Annual World Championship Over-the-Line Tournament, San Diego's most popular beach and softball event on Fiesta Island in Mission Bay. July 12-13 and 19-20, 2008 beginning at 7am.

28. Join the festivities at the Annual San Diego Lesbian and Gay Parade, Rally and Festival, on the most popular events of its kind in the country. Hillcrest on University Ave between Normal St and 6th Ave. July 19, 2008 beginning at 11am.

29. Cheer on national and international youth soccer players at the 28th Annual San Diego Surf Cup Soccer Tournament at the San Diego Polo Club in Del Mar. This nationally-recognized amateur tournament draws players ages 10-18 from 30 states and several countries from around the world. July 26-28 & August 2-4, 2008 beginning at 8:30am.

30. Put on your jeans and cowboy boots and attend the Ramona Country Fair Days, featuring old-fashioned country fun, a parade on Saturday and lots of entertainment. July 31 - August 3, 2008.

31. Go on a bird watching tour at the Torrey Pines State Reserve on Saturday and Sunday mornings, or simply enjoy the spectacular views of the dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific, deep valleys and majestic pine trees in this scenic 1,000-acre wilderness playground.

32. Bird watching is also featured at the Chula Vista Nature Center, located on the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in South Bay. Get an up-close look at burrowing owls, walk through an enclosed shore bird exhibit and observe birds and other wildlife on two bird-watching platforms.

33. Gather your family, friends and firewood and have a cozy beach bonfire at one of the select beaches around San Diego County, including Coronado Beach, La Jolla Shores and Mission Beach.

34. Get up-close and personal with the San Diego Chargers as they train for the 2008 NFL Football season at Chargers Park, 4020 Murphy Canyon Rd, San Diego. Charger players often take time out of training to meet fans and sign autographs. Late July through August 2008.

35. Take a walk around Balboa Park to discover its beautiful architecture. Take advantage of the variety of free offerings, including 15 museums (select museums free on Tuesdays), tours of the park, organ concerts (Sundays and Mondays) and spectacular gardens (seven of the eight are free on a regular basis).

36. Visit other museums around town that offer similar free days. In its La Jolla and downtown facilities, the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego is free on the first Sunday of each month.

37. Celebrate the culture of Latin America at the 26th Annual Latin American Festival at Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town. The event features guest artists, demonstrations, entertainment and food booths. August 1-3, 2008.

38. Don't miss the Annual Hillcrest Cityfest 2008 Street Fair, featuring fine arts, crafts, food booths, live entertainment and a beer garden. August 8, 2008 from 10am to 7pm.

39. If you enjoy authentic blues and southern food, then head on up to the Julian Delta Blues Festival in the historic mountain town of Julian. The festival features old fashioned blues, fried catfish, southern BBQ and unique merchandise, etc. The town of Julian has a rich African American history. In fact, the town was developed after Fred Coleman, an African American, struck gold there in 1869. August 23, 2008 11am to 5:30pm.

40. Watch international and U.S. body surfers, equipped with only a pair of swimming fins, ride and perform on ocean waves during the 32nd Annual World Body Surfing Championships at the Oceanside Pier. August 23-24, 2008 from 7am to 6pm.

41. Join the festivities at the Cabrillo National Monument to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of National Park Service Founder's Day. Enjoy spectacular views of the city skyline from the catwalk on the Old Point Loma Lighthouse tower. This is the only day during the year when entrance into the park is free. August 25, 2008.

42. While in Point Loma, explore the tide pools when the tide is low and the pools are visible to see some of the magnificent creatures of the sea. Point Loma tide pools are located just short of the tip of Cabrillo Point.

43. Don't miss the 38th Barona Pow Wow at the Barona Community Center, located on the Barona Indian Reservation in San Diego's East County. The event features food, Native American dance, arts and crafts. August 29-31, 2008.

44. For more Pow Wow excitement, attend the Traditional Gathering and 19th Annual Pow Wow at the Sycuan Indian Reservation. The Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation's Traditional Gathering features Native American song, dance, arts, crafts and food. September 5-7, 2008 from Noon to Midnight.

45. Cheer on participants or compete yourself in the 2008 La Jolla Rough Water Swim, the largest competition of its kind in the country. In its 78th year, the event takes place at La Jolla Cove, beginning at 9am. September 7, 2008.

46. Go on a self-guided walking tour of The Stuart Collection, a display of contemporary sculptures scattered throughout the campus of the University of California, San Diego.

47. Take a scenic drive to San Diego's North County for a free wine tasting at the Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo. 9am - 5pm daily.

48. Take a drive to the top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla for breathtaking, 360-degree views of San Diego's East County communities.

49. Other spectacular views await guests at the top of Mt. Helix, offering magnificent 360-degree views of San Diego's East County communities.

50. Visit Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and experience the heat and natural beauty of the desert. The 600-acre park is one of the largest state parks in the United States.


Events subject to change. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Not responsible for any errors or omissions or the results obtained from use of such information.