Get ready to have summer fun in San Diego without breaking the bank! Lots of things to see and enjoy in San Diego are absolutely free — and with 70 miles of beautiful beaches, near-perfect weather and a variety of summer street fairs, concerts, and arts and cultural events, San Diego offers a fun and inexpensive summer getaway.
Beaches and Aquatic Adventures
BEACH BLISS
Head to San Diego's many beautiful beaches, which are consistently ranked among the best in the nation. The beaches are all free and open to the public for swimming, body surfing or hanging 10. Build a sandcastle, relax with a good book or just bask in the sun – you won't be disappointed.
SUBLIME SNORKELING
Go snorkeling off San Diego's shores and 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 reserves, where you might glide above schools of stunning (but harmless) leopard sharks or spot the bright-orange glint of the garibaldi, California's state marine fish.
YAY FOR MISSION BAY
Spend a day relaxing and playing in the recreational and aquatic wonderland that is Mission Bay Park, whose 4,600 acres take in sandy beaches, playgrounds, grassy lawns for picnicking and sports, a 12-mile path for biking and hiking and much more. Tecolote Shores along the park's eastern edge is the place to go for kite-flying, while families and their animals will love the new, interactive Tecolote Shores Park North as well as Fiesta Island, whose entire expanse is dog- and horse-friendly. Mission Bay's western beaches are also just a few blocks from the Pacific.
DOGS BY THE WATER
Watch tail-waggin', Frisbee-catchin' and stick-fetchin' dogs splash in the surf at select San Diego beaches. Pooches are permitted to roam leash-free at all hours of the day on designated dog beaches in Ocean Beach, Coronado and Del Mar.
Concerts
BALBOA PARK TWILIGHT CONCERTS
When: June 18 - Aug. 29, 2024
Beginning in June, Twilight Concerts concerts are held at 7 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday summer evenings in Balboa Park.
INTERNATIONAL SUMMER ORGAN FESTIVAL
When: June 17 - Sept. 2, 2024
Delight in beautiful music from Balboa Park's historic outdoor organ on Monday evenings during the International Summer Organ Festival at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
FREE SUNDAY ORGAN CONCERTS
And there's more at the Organ Pavilion! Check out the free organ concerts at 2 p.m. Sundays. The pavilion houses one of world's largest outdoor pipe organs, a San Diego landmark since 1914; organists play traditional favorites, waltzes and show tunes on enormous 32-foot pipes.