With that in mind, we put our heads together to come up with this list of our Top Five Free Excursions.

1. Balboa Park - There’s tons to do at Balboa Park that doesn’t cost money. (Parking and shuttles are free, too!) Our favorite thing to do, beyond the zoo, is to walk around the promenade, let the kids run in the massive fountain, and enjoy a picnic at the massive Pepper Grove playground. If its a Sunday, our kids adore exploring the cottages representing the various nations. On top of that there are tons of hiking trails to explore.
2. Beach day – There are tons of beaches along our coast, most of them are 100% free. Our favorite free beaches are Coronado, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla Shores. In Winter, we still go to the beach pretty regularly! Our favorite for long walks on cool days is Pacific Beach. There are plenty of shops and things to explore that won’t cost you a dime!
3. Torrey Pines Gliderport – While it will set you back some cash to actually going hang-gliding, watching them take off and fly around is nearly as cool and completely free. The cliffs also provide an amazing place to take pictures. Fair warning: This isn’t designed for tourists. So don’t expect to see a lot of services or even seating. But did we mention the panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean? (And a healthy amount of trying to see down to Blacks Beach below. (Nude beach)
4. Mission Trails – Hike, mountain bike, and explore to your hearts content. Located just 15 minutes from downtown San Diego, Mission Trails regional park is 5800 acres of mostly undeveloped wilderness. And its all free and open to the public.
5. Old Town - We love both the state historic park and the little neighborhood to the south. Wander around the park to learn San Diego’s rich history and experience the joy of tons of little shops, restaurants, and galleries that make Old Town unique. And, of course, you can have a great time without spending any money at all.

Postscript: While it isn’t free, one of our favorite ways to save money while exploring San Diego is to take the trolley. An all-day pass is just $5. And on weekends, two children under 12 years old are free with a paying adult. Our kids still get a kick out of riding the trolley downtown!

This is way, way off the beaten path. Located in the heart of El Cajon’s Bostonia neighborhood, Rodeos Market is a gem in a gem-field of great places to eat along Broadway.

Inside you’ll find all the normal stuff you’d expect in a Mexican meat market. Lots of meat, lots of vegetables, lots of fruits, and a few grocery items you don’t typically find in communities which don’t border Mexico.

But Rodeo’s also has an excellent taco counter. Don’t be shy, step up to the counter and ask the lovely staff what they have cooking. On a normal day you’ll find carne asada, carnitas, and pollo asada. But on some days you’ll find several other options, including my favorite guilty pleasure… lengua. (Beef tongue) This perfectly cooked meat is tender and full of flavor. It’s similar in texture to pot roast but with even more flavor.

I typically order three street tacos (pretty small) and then walk to the back of the shop to score a Jarritos. (They also sell Coca-Cola made with real sugar!) Then I head to the produce area and grab a fresh avacado. After I pick up my little bundle of taste from the counter, I head to the cash register and take my pick of wonderful Mexican candies. My favorite candy at Rodeos is the coconut bars colored like the Mexican flag.

After paying, head outside and grab a stool by the counter. You can enjoy a little taste of East County culture while you indulge in the best street tacos in East County.

Here’s a quick, fun, cheap, family activity we did today. Even though San Diego has something like 300 days of sunshine, sometimes the grey sets in and you get a little stir crazy.

Here’s the challenge:

• Head down to the Little Italy Mercato. (Every Saturday)
• Give each family member $10.
• Let each member of the family buy their own lunch with their $10. (all change goes back to dad)
• Have a picnic at Balboa Park.

I can’t speak for all the vendors, but the ones we talked to who asked what we were doing– they loved it! Our kids certainly loved discovering what they could get for $10 at a Farmers Market.

And even though it wasn’t super sunny at the park our kids had a blast!

On top of that, us parents were pleased that the kids found something they each liked, everything they picked out was locally grown or produced, and they got to blow off some steam at a great San Diego gem.

With the Pacific Ocean as it’s backdrop, the Little Italy Mercato is a picture perfect representation of the 40 plus certified farmers markets operating in San Diego County. This is one of the many free gems which make San Diego such a wonderful place to live and visit.

On a recent Saturday morning our family of four piled into the car for a downtown culinary adventure. My husband and I were on a mission to buy farm fresh ingredients for dinner. The kids grudgingly accepted the task. You’d think we were taking them to the dentist.

The Little Italy Mercato is hard to miss because it runs across three blocks. We had no problem locating free street parking right around the corner. I also noticed paid parking for $7. The atmosphere was festive as we approached to market – live music and the mingled scent of food, flowers, and herbs filled the air.

Not just a food market, the Mercato offers something for everyone. I was initially side-tracked by a display of locally made jewelry. With a little help from my family I refocused and let my nose guide me to the heart of the market, the food. Never able to turn a blind eye to food, our kids loosened up when offered samples of juicy softball-sized peaches. It should be noted that the Little Italy Mercato is a great location for selecting locally caught seafood, as well. One unusual sample my husband could not resist was live sea urchin. He’s still alive after trying this spiny wonder! He said it was tasty with the texture of an overripe peach with a hint of brine flavor.

About an hour later our mission was accomplished. We walked away with dinner and several new experiences.

The Little Italy Mercato offers a feel-good feast for the senses. Next time I’ll brave the long line for crepes made on the spot from Le Creperie. My mouth is already watering.

After arriving at Cabrillo and paying your entry fee, you are faced with two main choices.

#1 Tide Pools: In our house, when we say “Cabrillo” the kids scream “TIDE POOLS!” If you have kids, this has got to be on your list of places to visit. Time your visit for for low tide [click here to check tide schedule] and make your way down the monster hill to the tide pools. Once you climb down to the beach you’ll find yourself on a rocky beach peppered with dozens of tide pools. We have found the safest way to go is get the kids down by the water and have them ditch their shoes. Even if the water is cold, you’ll fall a whole lot less with no shoes on than worrying about keeping your shoes or sandal dry. From there we just follow the kids as they explore. Sometimes there is a park volunteer to help you get started and at other times there isn’t. Either way you’ll be sure to see hermit crabs, starfish, sea anemone, little fish, and even the occasional octopus. As a parent, the tide pools just amaze me as my kids hop all over the place and show me what they have discovered. We’ve been a number of times and I always come back with a full camera.

#2 The top of the hill. I’m sure there is a technical name for the rest of the park, but we just call it “the stuff up there.” (Since we always start at the tide pools.) If you are looking for a place to take the perfect vacation picture, the top of the hill is where it is at. At the very top you’ll find the lighthouse. At times you can climb to the top of the lighthouse and get the million dollar 360 degree view. On a clear day we tell the kids they can see China. As much as they squint, all they see is the horizon but we tell them that China is way, way out there. Next to the lighthouse is a museum where you can learn all about the lighthouse and how it has been used. Leaving the lighthouse, walk around the paths to the end of the point. There you will find some whale watching stations as well as a few stellar vista points for pictures. From there, head back to the parking lot and spend some time learning all about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and the history of San Diego bay.

We’ve found that Cabrillo is a great place to start a day. Make sure you check the tide schedule before determining what time to come. If there is no marine layer, we’ve found that it’s best to come around 9 and plan on staying until lunch before the crowds build too much. It’s just enough outdoor activity to kick off a day. For a perfect (and cheap) day we like to go here before lunch, grab a bite in Point Loma, than head down to a beach to spend the afternoon.

If you don’t have kids or you’re just looking for a romantic place to watch the sunset than I’d highly suggest coming an hour or so before sunset.

Looking for a fun activity which won’t cost a dime? How about a leisurely stroll down the longest concrete pier on the West Coast.  Ocean Beach Pier is located at the south end of Ocean Beach.  Primarily for fishing, the 43 year old pier – which extends 1,971 feet from end to end, is an excellent people watching spot as well.  As with all public piers in California, fishing is free and attracts all kinds of sportsmen, young and old.  No fishing gear?  No problem.  You can rent fishing supplies at the bait shop right on the pier (adjacent to the Ocean Beach Pier Cafe).

There is always something happening along the pier – that is, if you aren’t too busy taking in the gorgeous panoramic view of the ocean and coastline.  In one single visit I witnessed a wedding, watched on as a fisherman caught (and released) a ray, made eye contact with a hungry pelican and marveled at the skill of the surfers in the waters below.