The admission cost of museums or other points of attraction can get pricey. Luckily each city has hidden historical treasures that can be attended for a small price or even free. In my post I offer 5 historical places in San Diego where a visitor doesn’t need to spend even a dollar.
By visiting one of these places, anyone can get a historical glimpse of the city.
- Mission San Diego de Alcala
- A stroll along San Diego river
- Junípero Serra Museum
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
- Balboa Park
Mission San Diego de Alcala
The very first place I suggest to see is Old Town park. Centrally located this place offers plenty of interests for any taste. The Wild West theme reminds us of the days when San Diego really grew as a city. Countless stores abundant with gifts and trinkets, restaurants cater mostly Mexican cuisine, and the local market will surprise you with colorful souvenirs. The park hosts entrance free as well as paid museum. A visitor can find small buildings with plaques as well as visit the Whaley House. I’d suggest booking a tour.
Junípero Serra Museum
A short walk up the hill from the Old Town is the museum of famous Franciscan fray who laid the foundation of the city. Back in 2015, Pope Francis canonized the California’s Founding Father amidst strong protests from indigenous communities. It is a known fact that the USA was founded on forceful and insidious removal of Native Americans, so all glorification (read canonization) of “European business” indeed raises eyebrows. The Guardian posted a very good article about this topic. The Junipero Serra Museum offers a splendid view of the city, perfect picnic opportunity in the shades of the trees and of course succinct history of Alta California’s colonization. The entrance is free and donation based.
Balboa Park
The place is truly the jewel of the city. If I were to pick only one place in the city to visit that would be Balboa park. This park has a history comparable to Central Park of New York and deserves its own article. The place is not only a house of world famous Zoo, but hosts a plethora of entertainment. Home to 18 world class museums, Balboa park boasts with open air theater, international cottages, multiple gardens, artsy Spanish Village, a Botanical Garden, organ pavilion to name a few. Visitors don’t need to spend a single dollar to enjoy the amenities this park has to offer. The whole park is entrance free museum.
Mission San Diego de Alcala
Back in time of the first Spanish settlers when San Diego river was unpredictable and tended to inundate the area, Junipero Serra decided to move the location of the mission to a safer place. The first of a chain of 21 missions that stretch northward along the coast of California, Mission San Diego became known as the Mother of the Missions. Interestingly the name of the city was given not by Juan Rodrigo Cabrillo – the first European explorer on the Californian coast, but by Captain Sebastian Viscaino – a Spanish merchant-adventurer. He chose this name because he was anchored there on November 12, the feast day of St. Didacus of Alcalá. The mission has entrance free as well as paid admission museum and offers an overview of first European settler’s life.
San Diego river walk
Not far from the San Diego Mission a traveler can enjoy a brisk stroll. The river trail although sometimes invaded by homeless people offers a nice shaded trail along the river. The path is perfect for a bike or scooter ride as well. There are informational plaques along the trail that explain the historical significance and the animal habitat of the place.
I hope you, my dear reader enjoyed learning something new about San Diego. Even though California history isn’t ancient as in Europe, it still has tremendous history just a hike away.