Category: Downtown San Diego

San Diego’s Kids Free October promotion

🗓️ Special Free / Discount Days & Programs in October

San Diego’s Kids Free October promotion offers free admission for children 12 and under at over 70 attractions throughout the county during the month of October 2025. This initiative, organized by the San Diego Tourism Authority, aims to provide families with affordable opportunities to explore the region’s diverse cultural and recreational offerings.

🐾 Major Attractions

🎨 Balboa Park Museums

Many museums in Balboa Park participate in the promotion:

  • San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat): Up to two kids (12 & under) per adult. 
  • San Diego Air & Space Museum: Kids free with adult.
  • San Diego Museum of Art: Free general admission on the 2nd Thursday (“Access for All Day”).
  • Museum of Us: Free admission on the 4th Tuesday of the month for residents. 
  • Comic-Con Museum: Free admission on select days.
  • Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum: Free admission on select days. 
  • Timken Museum of Art: Always free admission. 

🧪 Science & Discovery

  • Fleet Science Center: One free child per adult.
  • Birch Aquarium at Scripps: Free admission on select days.
  • Children’s Museum of Discovery (Escondido): Free admission on select days. t

🌿 Gardens & Nature

  • San Diego Botanic Garden: Free admission on select days. 
  • Water Conservation Garden: Free admission on select days. 
  • Japanese Friendship Garden: Free admission on select days. 

🏛️ Cultural & Historical Sites

  • Cabrillo National Monument: Free admission on select days. 
  • Mission San Luis Rey: Free admission on select days. 
  • California Surf Museum: Free admission on select days. 
  • Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum: Free admission on select days. 
  • Children’s Museum of Discovery (Escondido): Free admission on select days. 

Please note that many of these attractions require advance registration or a coupon to redeem the free admission. It’s advisable to check the specific requirements for each location before planning your visit.

These are “free days” or admission discounts that apply on specific days or under certain programs.

Museum / SiteFree / Discount OptionNotes / Conditions
San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, USS Midway, New Children’s Museum, etc.Kids Free October – free admission for children 12 & under with a paid adultOver 60+ museums, attractions participate countywide for the month. San Diego+4San Diego Museum Council+4San Diego+4
Residents Free Days (Balboa Park museums, etc.)Rotating free admission days for San Diego City/County residents (with ID)Many Balboa Park museums participate in this program. San Diego Magazine+5Balboa Park+5Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups+5
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)Free on Residents Free Days(first Tuesday of each month)Films and special exhibits may cost extra. The Nat
The Museum of UsFree admission on the 4th Tuesday of the month for residentsMust show proof of residency. Museum of Us
San Diego Air & Space MuseumFree to San Diego County residents on 2nd Tuesday(Special exhibitions, theater, simulators might still require separate pay) San Diego Air & Space Museum
San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA)Free general admission on the 2nd Thursday (“Access for All Day”)Also free for county residents on the 3rd Tuesday. San Diego Museum of Art+2San Diego Museum of Art+2

The USCGC Eagle Visits San Diego: America’s Tall Ship in Port

A Floating Classroom

The Eagle is unique among U.S. military ships. Originally built in 1936 in Germany and taken by the United States as a World War II war prize, she has been serving as a Coast Guard training vessel ever since. Each summer, cadets from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy set sail aboard the Eagle to learn the fundamentals of seamanship. From handling lines to navigating by the stars, cadets experience the traditions of sailing firsthand while building teamwork and resilience.

The next time the Eagle sails into San Diego, make sure to plan a visit. Whether you’re a maritime history buff, a photographer, or just curious about life at sea, stepping aboard this legendary tall ship is an unforgettable experience.

To learn more about the USCG Eagle visit https://uscga.edu/mission/eagle/eagle-schedule/

The USCGC Eagle Visits San Diego: America’s Tall Ship in Port

Experience San Diego from the Water aboard a Harbor Cruise Vessel

San Diego bay has a long and storied past. Its protected tidal areas offered the Kumeyaay people, who lived along the coast and inland valleys, areas to fish, harvest shellfish, and used plank canoes called tomols to navigate coastal waters. The ocean was central to their diet, trade, and spiritual life. In 1542, Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, sailing under the Spanish flag, became the first European to enter San Diego Bay, naming it San Miguel. In 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno renamed the bay San Diego, in honor of Saint Didacus.

During the Mexican-American War, the U.S. Navy took control of San Diego in 1846. San Diego became a U.S. Navy coaling and resupply station. The harbor remained relatively quiet until the early 20th century, when the Navy dramatically expanded its presence. San Diego became a U.S. Navy coaling and resupply station. The harbor remained relatively quiet until the early 20th century, when the Navy dramatically expanded its presence. Thousands of ships were built, serviced, and deployed from the harbor, making San Diego critical to Pacific warfare operations.

San Diego remained one of the largest naval complexes in the world through the Cold War and beyond. Today, the city hosts the Pacific Fleet, numerous aircraft carriers, and serves as a major center for military research, training, and logistics. Civilian maritime activity also thrives, with cargo shipping, cruise lines, commercial fishing, and recreational boating playing important roles.

I took this series of images during a 2 hour sailing which started off heading south towards the Coronado Bridge and then turning north towards Shelter Island. A thick marine layer was moving in so the trip ended before sunset unfortunately .