Doing San Diego on a budget really helps you get the most of San Diego for your money. When you consider the cost of living as well as a higher sales tax, California can be expensive, but there are ways to save costs if you look out for them. These savings can buy you dinner at a nice restaurant, save more dollars for souvenirs, and even get you to some of the finest sites on the beach. Make your dollar stretch with these tips to explore San Diego on a budget.

Free Museum Tuesdays

Nothing spells cheap quite like free. Tuesdays at the following museums at Balboa Park are completely free. If you happen to be a San Diego city and county resident, or active in the military, you can enjoy these free museums any day of the week, or at least until 2011.

1st Tuesday – check out the Model Railroad Museum, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, the Natural History Museum and the Centro Cultural de la Raza.

2nd Tuesday- Get in free to the Museum of San Diego Arts, the San Diego History Museum, and the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center.

3rd Tuesday- Enjoy the San Diego Art Institute, the Museum of Man, the Museum of Art, Mingei International Museum and the Japanese Friendship Garden all for the price of free.

4th Tuesday- Try out the Hall of Champions, the House of Pacific Relations International College, the Air and Space Museum, and the Automotive Museum without paying a dime.

5th Tuesday- you are on your own as all museums are regular admission.

Check Out a Band with Twilight in the Park

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6:15 to 7:15 features free music programs from military bands, Dixieland jazz bands, great salsa bands and swing bands. Get your ears on with a free music concert in the park, perfect for enjoying the enchantment of San Diego.

See a Movie with Screen on the Green

Every Thursday until the end of August features free movies. It’s perfect for the entire family, whether you are grandpa or still wearing diapers.

Get Some Great Exercise

The Morley Field Sports Complex features beautiful San Diego scenery that’s great for exercise. Try your hand at tennis, archery, swimming, disc golf, velodrome cycling and bocci ball for only $5. It’s an affordable way to get your blood flowing and enjoy an afternoon.

Have a Ball at the Beach

San Diego is all about beaches, and it features some of the best in the world. Enjoy surfing, biking, sailing, swimming and diving for just a taste of all there is to do. The best beaches include Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Shores, Windansea Beach and the Children’s Pool. Kick some sand and enjoy some rays.

Enjoy a Day’s Drive Through Julian

This small town features a string of beautiful shops. You can also check out the Julian Doves & Desperados historic comedy skits, performed on the street every Sunday at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. between the Cabbages & Kings and the Julian Market and Deli. Don’t skip out on a slice of their famous apple pie. If you want some wine to wash the day away, the area features some of the finest wineries in the state.

Kayak San Diego Bay

There’s no better way to truly experience the majesty of the San Diego Bay than by kayak. Allen’s Kayaks, located in Mission Bay, have good rates and are very friendly. Kayaks rent for $10 an hour for a single or $15 for a tandem. It’s the perfect way to experience the bay up close and personal.

Tags: guide to san diego, san diego places to see, san diego travel info

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 11:29 pm and is filed under Activities & Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.