1. Chula Vista Nature Center.

http://www.chulavistaca.gov/City_Services/Community_Services/Nature_Center/default.asp

Catch it before budget cuts force it out of business. The aquariums are fantastic. The wetlands trails are a nice walk out to the bay. And the lines are nothing like SeaWorld. And the free parking and shuttle bus are all part of the experience.

2. The Beach -- Duh!

http://www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches

With nearly 70 miles of beaches, San Diego offers a bit of sun, surf and sand for nearly everyone. Parking can be difficult to find at the most popular beaches and some may charge a fee for the closest parking spaces. A good rule is to get there early and stay late, thereby maximizing the cheapness of the visit! For the ultra cheap, there’s always Black’s Beach, which offers the use of free skin-suits (oddly enough, they look exactly like birthday suits!) and lots of free parking. Free Gawking is discouraged.

• Border Field State Park 

• Imperial Beach 

• Silver Strand State Beach
• Coronado Shores Beach 

• Corondao City Beach 

• Ocean Beach City Beach
• Ocean Beach Park 

• Mission Beach 

• Pacific Beach 

• 
Tourmaline Surfing Park 
• La Jolla Strand Park 

• Windansea Beach 

• Marine Street Beach 

• Children's Pool Beach 

• La Jolla Cove 

• La Jolla Shores Beach 

• Black's Beach 
(nude beach...so, uh...think of the savings in swimsuits?)
• Torrey Pines State Beach 

• Del Mar City Beach 

• Seascape Shores 

• Fletcher Cove Park 

• Tide Beach Park 

• Cardiff State Beach 

• San Elijo State Beach 

• Swami's 

• Boneyard Beach 

• D Street Viewpoint 

• Moonlight Beach 

• Stone Steps Beach 

• Encinitas Beach 

• Beacon's Beach 

• Ponto Beach
• South Carlsbad State Beach 

• Carlsbad State Beach 

• Carlsbad City Beach 

• South Oceanside Beach

• Oceanside City Beach
• Harbor Beach 

• San Onofre State Beach

6. Olympic Training Center

http://www.chulavistaca.gov/Attraction/olympics.asp

One of the best kept secrets of free stuff to do in San Diego. Watch Olympic athletes train as you take a guided tour of the facilities. This is the training ground for nine Olympic sports: archery, rowing, canoe/kayak, soccer, softball, field hockey, tennis, track and field, and cycling.

7. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=638

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting San Diego in the spring (especially after a wet winter); you can see the desert come alive with color! Blooming wildflowers don’t last long so check the website for the updated wildflower report. The rest of the year enjoy nearly 500 miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and miles of hiking trails. Be sure to carry lots of water because the desert is hot!

8. San Diego Old Town

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=663.

Learn about San Diego history during the period 1821-1872. Five original adobe buildings are part of the State Historical Park. The Mormon Battalion Museum (http://www.lds.org/placestovisit/location/0,10634,1790-1-1-1,00.html) and the San Diego County Sheriffs Department Museum (http://www.sheriffmuseum.org/) are among places to visit in Old Town. When you’re tired and hungry, there is no shortage of places to eat or relax over a favorite beverage.

9. San Diego historic Gaslamp Quarter.

While most people think of Dodge City, Kansas or Tombstone, Arizona when they think of Wyatt Earp; Wyatt spent four years in the Gaslamp area running gambling houses and speculating in real estate. Originally intend to be the main business district, over the years it deteriorated into seediness and disrepute. Redevelopment of the area beginning in the mid-1970s has resulted in the preservation of historical buildings as well as revitalizing the Gaslamp district as a favorite dining and entertainment destination. The historical area map (http://www.gaslampquarter.org/history/map.php) provides for a free, do-it-yourself walking tour of historical points of interest.

10. 59-mile San Diego Scenic Drive

http://www.sandiego.org/article_set/Visitors/11/338

Granted, maybe the rental car and the gas aren’t free, but the self-guided tour is! And if you really like your tour guide, be sure to leave them a big tip! The view from atop Soledad Mountain on a clear day is fantastic!

11. Balboa Park

Balboa's one of the largest urban parks in the United States. In addition to the traditional blanket, book and picnic lunch under a shady tree away from the maddening crowd; Balboa Park has several attractions that are always free: The Botanical Building and Lily Pond, House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, and the Timken Museum of Art .

• There are free tours of the park available, leaving from in front of the visitor center. http://www.balboapark.org/info/tours.php
• The Sprekels Organ Society offers free Sunday afternoon organ concerts year-round at 2 p.m., and a series of free summer evening concerts Monday through Thursday
• A local best-kept secret, the San Diego Zoo is free to all on the first Monday of October (Founders Day), and children under 12 enter free every day during October.
• House of Pacific Relations http://www.sdhpr.org I keep wanting to call this the International House of the Pacific, but it confuses people with IHOP the pancake place. These little houses are open on Sundays and offer a glimpse of many cultures and often a taste of their food!
• Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater http://www.balboaparkpuppets.com Kids love it and Dad’s love the price! Check the website to confirm showtimes, generally on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
• Balboa Park Museums http://www.balboapark.org/calendar/detail.php?EventID=370 Tuesdays are free admission at some of the best free museums you can hope for. Check the website for which museum is free on which Tuesday, but you can save a bundle.
• The San Diego Veterans Museum and Memorial http://www.sdvmc.org/ is located in the former San Diego Naval Hospital Chapel at Inspiration Point in Balboa Park. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

12. Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP)

http://www.mtrp.org/

MTRP has more than 40 miles of trails for novice and practiced hikers to enjoy. Walk along the Old Mission Dam, which once supplied the water to the San Diego Mission. Kids and adults alike love the thrill of climbing on the dam. If walking isn’t your thing; enjoy boating on Lake Murray or camping at Kumeyaay Lake. The state-of-the-art Visitor & Interpretive Center is open daily to provide information and education about the parks history, natural plant and animal communities, and the various activities and destinations available within the park.

BONUS Cheap Things to Do:

1. Dine at one of the All-You-Can-Eat Buffets at the local Indian casinos. Gamble responsibly or it won’t be cheap! Prices change, as do marketing ploys, so its best to do some homework first if you’re just visiting for the chow.

2. Pier Fishing. Many of the ocean piers offer free fishing. These piers include the Ocean Beach Pier, Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, the Coronado Ferry Landing Pier, the Oceanside Pier and the Shelter Island Pier. (http://sandiego.about.com/od/outdoorrecreatio1/tp/fishing_piers.htm) Always check local fishing regulations for licensing requirements and catch limits. One good source on pier fishing is at http://www.pierfishing.com/features/pf-faq.html.