Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Poway

"One of San Diego’s gems, Balboa Park, is teeming with free things to do in San Diego. There are over 65 miles of walking trails at Balboa Park, the largest urban cultural park in America. In addition, there are gorgeous gardens, botanical gardens and spectacular Spanish Colonial Revival architecture to see."

"A post shared by Daniel Deming (@grubyoface619) on May 10, 2016 at 9:44pm PDT. Wander through the attractions in Balboa Park before you make your way to The Prado. This full-service restaurant is perfect for a relaxing dinner where you can spend quality time together."

"Balboa Park is incredibly overdone, unless you are going to venture out some little bit. You will love spending your time walking around it's less popular locations. There are attractive gardens and lawns surrounding the park."

"Just a step inside the Old Town Market and you’ll get a sense of what life was like several centuries ago when the city of San Diego was brand new. The market offers visitors a chance to see and hear tales of Old Town, the original inhabitants and how they lived, worked and survived in the early 1800’s. Visit the free museum, watch working artisans, pick up a souvenir or two at one of the shops or enjoy a meal—Old Town Market of San Diego is a charming, nostalgic landmark and attraction that is brimming with history and entertainment."

"The Harney Street Market offers a variety of artisan goods, including jewelry, paintings, photography, hand-blown glass, woodwork, clothing, and accessories. It takes place in Old Town San Diego on Harney Street every Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m."

"Join us for free, historic storytelling, shows and entertainment every day of the week. Shop in our 40 unique gift stores, watch working artisans, or enjoy a bite to eat. Learn about the rich history of Old Town San Diego in our free museum."

"You can take a break here on a layover or if staying at one of the San Diego Airport hotels because this fun area is across the street from the airport. You’ll find a small sandy beach (the only along the bay), picnic tables, public art, a play structure, and panoramic views. (Location: Downtown)"

"Spanish Landing Park is a long narrow park along busy North Harbor Drive in San Diego. This park is near San Diego International Airport and the Harbor Island Marina."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Visitor7 used under CC BY-SA 3.0. San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park is a memorial that honors the soldiers who fought in California’s bloodiest battle during the Mexican-American War. This well-maintained park has plenty of information about both the war and the 1846 Battle of San Pasqual, including a visitor center that shows a movie."

"Just east of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park you’ll find San Pasqual Battle State Historic Park. It honors the soldiers who fought on December 6, 1846, one of the only military encounters in California during the Mexican-American War. The park normally hosts living history activities and you can also walk its Nature Trail."

"The San Pasqual battlefield state historical Park is a park that is set on the spot where the American Mexican battle took place in 1846. The park is spread over an area of 50 acres and has a special centre. The Centre is a place where you can get all the details about this significant battle and the location."

"Baking from her heart into yours is the newest cookie shop to sweep you off your feet. These decadent cookies will fill your taste buds with delight and make you reach for another bite!. Choose from their signature flavors like choc chip, peanut butter and sugar cookie; or mix it up with some mud pie, raspberry and cinnamon flavors."

"Sugar and Scribe is a bakery and restaurant in one, the brainchild of chef-owner Maeve Rochford, winner of the Food Network's “Holiday Baking Championship.” The restaurant has an a..."

"It comes complete with cupcakes, frosting, sprinkles, spatulas and decorations for you to decorate your own unique cupcake treats at home."

"San Diego's monument to sports and fitness, this 4,600-acre aquatic park has 27 miles of shoreline including 19 miles of sandy beaches."

"This two-mile strip of secluded beach below the cliffs of the Torrey Pines Gliderport (adjacent to the UC San Diego campus immediately south of Torrey Pines State Beach) is known for two things: (i) nude beach, and (ii) surfing. The beach is named for the Black family, who formerly owned a farm on the cliffs above. They later sold the farm, and it was developed into the expensive residential homes of La Jolla Farms."

"A beautiful section of beach south of Torrey Pines and located in the northern part of La Jolla, this beach is known as a de facto nude beach. Popular with nudists and naturalists, this beach is one of the last nude beaches in the state. Do not venture to the south side of the beach unless you are prepared to see more than just marine life in its natural state."

"Moonlight State Beach in the seaside town of Encinitas is one of the most visited beaches in North County because of its spacious sandy area and fun amenities like fire pits, sand volleyball courts, and a snack bar. There's also a large section of the beach that is reserved exclusively for swimmers, so you can hang out in the water and not worry about colliding with a surfboard (if you want to surf, nearby Swami's Beach is known as the surfing mecca in Encinitas). There is a paid parking lot near the beach as well as free street parking around the entrance."

"Moonlight Beach is a treasure trove of one-stop-shop beachiness with fairly easy parking, picnic areas, fire pits, a play area, volleyball courts, a snack shop, and showers for after swimming. This is one seriously family-friendly beach. Get there early enough and you’ll almost certainly see dolphins frolicking in the surf."

"After breakfast, you can continue north through the cute coastal towns of Solana Beach and Cardiff , until you get up to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. READ MORE: The Best San Diego Beachfront Hotels"

"Many people recommended we take in one of the famous San Diego sunsets from Sunset Cliffs, which is just a couple of miles south of the Ocean Beach pier. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is a 68-acre City of San Diego regional park which extends 1½ miles along the Point Loma peninsula’s western shoreline. You get expansive ocean views, dramatic cliff formations and caves, an intertidal area, and in some spaces plenty of space and rocks for the kids to run over way back from the edge."

"On the west flank of Point Loma is a glorious 68-acre park protecting rough-hewn ocean bluffs, caves, natural arches and tidepools. There’s no mystery to the name, as you may not find a better spot within easy reach of downtown San Diego to watch the sunset. And as with many high vantage points on the Southern Californian coast, there’s a good chance of spotting gray whales between December and April."

"Sunset Cliffs Natural Park has been offering visitors gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and the western edge of Point Loma since 1983, making it a staple in lists featuring the most famous things to see in San Diego."