25 Fun and Affordable Things to Do This Fall

 

Are skyrocketing gas and food prices taking a big bite out of this your budget? Fear not if you live within easy driving distance of San Diego, because the region’s largest cultural and recreational destination, Balboa Park, offers numerous activities that you can do for free, or for a relatively small fee during the cool fall months.

 

In no particular order, here are the top 25 fun and affordable things to do in Balboa Park this fall:

 

1.     Visit 13 museums for one low price with a Passport to Balboa Park ($39).

2.     Explore the Park’s historic grounds with a Walking Audio Tour ($5).

3.     Get to the root of the Park’s flora on an Offshoot Tour (free).

4.     Pack a picnic basket and dine al fresco (free).

5.     Treat your dog to some off-leash fun at Nate’s Point Dog Park (free).

6.     Take a guided tour of the Park’s architectural wonders (free).

7.     Visit a cluster of your favorite museums each Tuesday for free. (see Web site for details)

8.  Let your children run wild in our playground areas (free).

9.  Watch family-friendly fare at the Puppet Theatre and Junior Theatre (prices vary).

10.   Take in a cultural festival at the International Cottages (free).

11.  Explore miles of well-maintained nature trails (free).

12.  Be a kid again and ride the Balboa Park Carousel and Miniature Railroad (prices vary – open weekends and school holidays).

13.  Make some new friends at a Balboa Park Senior Lounge activity (free).

14.  Take a plunge in a historic pool at the Morley Field Sports Complex ($5).

15.  Visit finely manicured gardens in full bloom (free).

16.  See stellar performances before they head to Broadway at The Old Globe (prices vary).

17.  Examine the Botanical Building’s exotic plants (free).

18.  Tour the Park’s botanical and historic treasures with a ranger (free)

19.  Take up lawn bowling, archery, or bocci ball (free).

20.  Window shop at the Spanish Village art studios or at the vast assortment of museum shops in the Park (free).

21. Take in a Sunday Organ Concert at Spreckels Organ Pavilion (free)

22. View the creepy plants at the Carnivorous Plant Bog in the Botanical Building (free)

23. Enjoy the Doggie Day celebration including puppet shows, animal adoptions, doggie fashion show, ask the trainer, the Animal Grossology exhibition, and more! November 16 at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (free with gallery admission).

24. Learn more about the issues faced by refugees and internally displaced persons at Doctors Without Borders: A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City Nov. 6 through 9^. At Park Blvd. and President’s Way (free).

25. Cool Globes, a public art project that educates people about potential solutions to global warming, visits Balboa Park and the Natural History Museum October 15 through November 30 (free).

 

Visitors can save even more by taking the bus or trolley to Balboa Park, which is just minutes away from downtown trolley and Coaster stops. Visit our Directions page to plan your trip and look for a valuable coupon book at the MTS Transit Store and on bus routes #7 and #30.