Best Free Things to Do in San Diego, Part II, San Diego, California

San Diego is one of the top 25 destination cities in the United States. Think that makes it an expensive place to visit? It certainly doesn’t have to be. I’ve lived here over 25 years, and although I’ve done my share of the big-ticket tourist sites, I’ve found a lot more activities that don’t cost anything at all. Let me show you some of the best free things to do…

Not just any scenic drive. THE San Diego Scenic Drive. The route is marked with special seagull signs and leads you to over 20 of San Diego’s best attractions within a 59-mile loop. Some of my favorites include downtown San Diego, Harbor and Shelter Islands, Pt. Loma and the Cabrillo National Monument with tidepools, Soledad Mountain, La Jolla Cove, Old Town, Presidio Park, Balboa Park, Seaport Village, and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. For printed maps, go to the International Visitor Information Center at 1140 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, across from the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal. The Information Center is open 9 am to 4 pm, October through May and 9 am to 5 pm, June through April, 7 days a week. Plan to spend at least 3+ hours to complete the drive, as you will certainly want to spend some time at many of the locations along the way. For more detailed information about the scenic drive, click on this link. Once you’ve made the drive, you’ll have a much better idea what you want to explore, where you want to return for a picnic or where you’d like to take more photos! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).