san diego family vacation on a budget

Introduction

San Diego is known for being a pricey destination, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take the family on a budget. Believe it or not, there are plenty of cheap San Diego attractions and fun things to do in San Diego that won’t bust your budget. And if you’re careful about how you travel, you can save even more money by finding free activities for kids and adults alike. So don’t hesitate – pack your bags and get ready to enjoy one of California’s best destinations!

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Your family can take a trip to San Diego without breaking the bank.

San Diego is a great place to visit no matter what time of year you go. The weather is always pleasant, and the city offers plenty of attractions for all ages. There are so many things to do in San Diego that you can easily spend a week there without running out of things to do. If you’re looking for some cheap hotels in San Diego, Expedia has some great options. You’ll find hotels starting at around $30/night or less! There are also plenty of free activities in San Diego that won’t cost you anything but your time!

If you want an even more budget-friendly trip, consider visiting during one of the off-peak seasons like winter or fall instead of summer or spring break (when prices are higher). This way, not only will it be cheaper on accommodation costs but also on transportation because fewer people travel then as well (and traffic will probably be lighter).

Stay at one of San Diego’s budget motels.

Here are the top places to stay in San Diego:

• The airport. Because you’re going to be flying out of there, right?
• A shopping mall. Shopping is fun, and it’s nice to have a place where you can find bargains during your vacation.
• A park or beach. Sure, these things may seem like obvious choices for good places to stay in San Diego—but they’re not!

Find out about package deals for families.

Package deals are also a great way to save money. They’re usually offered in the form of a package that may include tickets or meal vouchers, or both. The concept is similar to what you’d find at grocery stores—a family can purchase everything they need from one place, rather than having to shop around for each item individually.

Package deals can be an especially good value if you plan on visiting multiple museums or theme parks in your trip, since these venues often have exclusive offers that require patrons to purchase tickets from them directly (and not from third parties). Offers like these allow you to save on admission fees by purchasing several days’ worth of passes at once instead of paying for each visit separately each day.

If you’re staying near Mission Beach or Pacific Beach, rent a bike and ride along the boardwalk.

If you’re staying near Mission Beach or Pacific Beach, rent a bike and ride along the boardwalk. The boardwalk is a great place to look at all of the shops and restaurants that line it, but if you don’t have time to stop and shop, bicycling down the boardwalk can be just as fun.

The best part about renting bikes is that most rental shops will let you rent for either one day or one week at a time—and some even offer discounts if you rent for more than one day! This makes it easy for families who are on vacation in Southern California to enjoy themselves without breaking their bank accounts. You’ll find plenty of places offering discounted rates on bike rentals throughout San Diego County.

You can also make your way on foot or by car to La Jolla Cove and Black’s Beach, which is famous for its surfing.

La Jolla Cove is a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling, while Black’s Beach is well-known for its surfing. If you’re feeling more adventurous, nearby trails such as Torrey Pines State Reserve offer gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and a chance to see wildlife such as migrating whales and sea lions. There are plenty of places to eat in this area, including the famous In-N-Out Burger (about 20 minutes away). You can rent kayaks or paddle boards at various locations around La Jolla Cove.

Learn to surf at Pacific Beach.

When you’re ready to take your surfing skills to the next level, sign up for private lessons with a highly-experienced instructor. Pacific Beach is one of the most popular spots in San Diego to learn how to become a surfer, so you can be sure that they will have excellent instructors available.

The best part about learning surfing in San Diego is that it’s never too late or too early! There are beginner classes available for all levels, from those just getting their feet wet in the ocean water up through experienced surfers looking for new challenges. You don’t even need any previous experience – these lessons are tailored specifically for each individual student based on their skill level and ability (and sometimes even age!). Because of this exceptional flexibility, there’s no reason why anyone should hesitate when considering taking up this activity while they visit this beautiful part of California.

Go ice skating indoors at UTC Ice Sports Center in University City.

UTC Ice Sports Center is located on the University of San Diego campus, and it’s a great place to go for family-friendly skating fun.

• Two rinks: The center has two ice rinks: one is used for hockey games and the other features public skating sessions. You can rent skates at the rink, or bring your own. Skate rentals are available from $3 per person during public skate times, or from $4 per person during private or group lessons (including skate rental).
• Lessons for all levels: The center offers lessons for all levels—from beginners to experts—so you can find an instructor who fits your needs. Group classes are also available if you’d like to learn with friends or family!

At Sorrento Valley Skatepark, your kids can practice their skateboarding, scootering, and biking skills.

• How to get there: The skatepark is located off of Sorrento Valley Rd. and Walnut Ave. in the San Diego suburb of Sorrento Valley.
• What to bring: A bike, scooter, or skateboard (if you have them), water bottle, and helmet if you’re riding a bike or skateboard. You can also rent helmets at the park if needed!
• What to wear: Wear something comfortable that won’t fall off when skating or biking around the park like shorts and sneakers; it’s also important not to wear loose straps on your clothing so they don’t get caught on anything while you’re using your equipment!
• What kind of equipment should I bring? If possible we would recommend bringing your own equipment but there are rentals available for $6 per hour (cash only). If renting isn’t feasible for whatever reason though then don’t worry because this isn’t an expensive activity after all so even if renting isn’t an option it shouldn’t put too much strain on your budget!

Take a tour of Balboa Park.

Balboa Park is a large urban park in San Diego that has it all: museums, gardens, and parks for you to explore. There is also a ton of food options within the park—you can even find live music performances when you’re done exploring. The best part? It’s free to enter!

If you don’t know what to do with your kids at Balboa Park, here are some ideas:

• Take them on one of the many guided tours offered by the park.
• Visit the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park (it’s located right next door) or SeaWorld San Diego (it’s also nearby). You can purchase tickets online ahead of time so they’re ready when you arrive at these attractions.

It has 17 museums ranging from art to aerospace!

Balboa Park is home to 17 museums, ranging from art and architecture to history, science and aviation. Here are a few of our favorite exhibits:

• Natural History Museum (San Diego Museum of Natural History): This museum has an exhibit that explores the evolution of humans, and has two halls full of live animals—one with reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates and another with birds.
• San Diego Air & Space Museum (Museum of Flying) : This museum has planes from World War II through today’s fighters on display as well as an interactive flight simulator where you can experience what it feels like to fly in a variety of aircrafts.
• San Diego Art Institute (formerly known as The Museum of Contemporary Art): The building itself is modern looking but inside there are some great paintings by famous artists like Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock. You can spend hours looking at all the paintings here!

Get yourself behind the wheel of a racing car at K1 Speed, where you can also test your skills on go-karts.

There are few things more thrilling for kids than driving a go-kart, and K1 Speed is the place to do it. It’s one of the most popular go kart facilities in San Diego and can be found at 4115 Taylor St., Unit D. The facility offers both indoor and outdoor tracks, with the latter available for group or solo racing—or you can even rent out the track all to yourself!

The fun begins as soon as you step through the doors of this state-of-the-art facility. At first glance, it seems like there’s nothing on offer here besides a bunch of electric cars lined up against walls painted hot pink (which happen to be color coded by speed). But don’t let appearances fool you: Behind each set of doors is an entirely different experience waiting just around the corner.

For more outdoor activities, head over to Mission Trails Regional Park and its 3,000 acres of wilderness with mountain biking trails and hiking paths.

If you’re looking for outdoor activities, Mission Trails Regional Park has it all. It’s a great place to explore on foot or by bike. The park offers 3,000 acres of wilderness that include mountain biking trails and hiking paths through the chaparral and oak woodland communities. You can also visit their nature center to learn about the natural history of San Diego County, including the native plants, animals and geology of this region.

Mission Trails also has a golf course and campground area with tent sites and cabins available for rent during summer months (May 1-October 31). The park also has picnic areas with barbecue grills where you can cook up your catch from one of many lakes within Mission Trails’ boundaries!

If you’d like restrooms while visiting Mission Trails Regional Park: there will be portable toilets at Stenner Creek Campground near kiosks selling firewood; however these are not always present so plan ahead if necessary!

A trip to San Diego doesn’t have to be expensive – there are plenty of activities for families on a budget!

Did you know that the best way to visit San Diego is by staying at one of its budget motels? Budget motels are a great alternative to expensive hotels, and they’re a good choice for families because they offer amenities like kitchens and laundry facilities. They also make it easy for parents to keep an eye on their children while still being able to have some privacy themselves!

Packages are another way to save money when visiting San Diego as a family. If you know ahead of time which attractions your family will be visiting, look into the different package deals available for each one. For example, SeaWorld might have a deal with Legoland so that if you buy tickets for both attractions at once it’s cheaper than buying them separately. Or maybe Mission Valley Center has special pricing on visits after 5pm; it’s always worth checking out what kind of specials they’re running before making plans!

Conclusion

Remember: You can do a lot in San Diego without spending a lot. A trip to San Diego doesn’t have to break the bank, and with these tips, you can enjoy your time here anyway!