San Diego: 25 free things to do this winter, Part 1

October 9, 12:44 PMSF Honeymoon Travel ExaminerSuzie Rodriguez

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Cabrillo National Monument  (Credit: CalTour/Robert Holmes)

Winter in San Diego offers a bounty of fun and free things to do ranging from traditional holiday parades and festivals to migrataing California gray whales along the Pacific coast---along with brilliant sunshine and easy-to-take temperatures.

If your romantic flights of fancy or honeymoon plans will bring you to San Diego this winter, here are the first 15 of 25 free activities and events you might enjoy:

1. Join the festivities during Balboa Park December Nights, a two-day holiday celebration of food, entertainment and fun on December 4-5. The sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season fill the air, as the museums and cultural institutions in Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park, open their doors free of charge. Festivities include carolers, live music, light displays, theater and dance performances and delicious foods from around the world. www.balboapark.org/decembernights

2. Witness a tradition that began as a gift to the children of San Diego in 1947 – the Annual Mother Goose Parade on November 22 in the East County city of El Cajon. One of the biggest parades of its kind in the country and the largest single-day event in San Diego County, the parade features floats, clowns, Santa Claus, marching bands, equestrian teams and celebrity appearances. www.mothergooseparade.org

3. Whale watch from the shores and cliffs of Point Loma, as California gray whales migrate south to the warm water breeding grounds off the coast of Baja, California. A spectacular show awaits you from December through March when these majestic mammals pass through the waters off San Diego’s coastline. www.nps.gov/cabr/whales

4. Listen to live blues, rock and R&B music during the Blue Christmas in the Gaslamp Quarter on December 10 in downtown San Diego’s historic neighborhood. Live musical performances take place at 10 venues in Gaslamp Quarter, and admission is free. www.gaslamp.org

5. Enjoy free organ concerts at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park beginning at 2 p.m. each Sunday. The Organ Pavilion features the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ, a San Diego landmark for over 90 years, where organists resound holiday favorites, waltzes and show tunes from the organ’s monstrous 32-foot lead alloy pipes. www.sosorgan.com

Old Town (Credit: CalTour/Robert Holmes)

6. See Old Town State Park decked out for the holidays during Fiesta Navidad on December 12 –15. Guests can learn how residents celebrated the holidays in the 1800s while enjoying candlelight tours, holiday singers, live performances and complimentary refreshments. www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com/events

7. Take a walk around Balboa Park and discover its beautiful architecture. Take advantage of the park’s variety of free offerings, including free admission to select museums on Tuesdays and tours of the park and its spectacular gardens. Don't miss the “Whoville” decorations in the plaza outside The Old Globe theatre, on display November 21 through December 27 to coincide with the theatre’s annual holiday production of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” www.balboapark.org

8. Head over to Seaport Village for the festive Surfing Santa at Seaport Village event on November 28. Hang-ten with Santa and enjoy a lively parade along the Seaport Village boardwalk, live music, stilt walkers, crafts and photo opportunities for surfing with Santa. www.seaportvillage.com/holidays

9. Spread some holiday cheer at the La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival on December 6 in downtown La Jolla. The event includes marching bands, floats, equestrian units, vintage automobiles and an appearance by Santa Claus. http://ljparade.com

10. Drive to the mountain town of Julian for a warm mug of hot apple cider and a delicious piece of Julian’s legendary homemade apple pie. On Saturdays, stroll through the quaint neighborhood streets and enjoy the sounds of wandering Christmas carolers and a living nativity scene. www.julianca.com

11. Explore the tide pools in Point Loma when the tide is low to see some of the magnificent creatures of the sea. Point Loma tide pools are located just south of the tip of Cabrillo Point. www.nps.gov/cabr

12. Take a walk along one of San Diego’s 70 miles of beaches, all free and open to the public. Collect seashells for decorating special holiday gifts or just enjoy the magnificent Pacific Ocean. www.sandiego.org/beachguide

At the Parade of Lights

13. Watch the season sail by at the Oceanside Parade of Lights on December 12. The popular parade circles the harbor and features a wide variety of boats, brightly decorated for the holiday season. www.visitoceanside.org

14. Enjoy the Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade on December 13 in downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter. Owners and their dressed-up pets march down the decorated streets of the neighborhood, ending at a Pet Expo featuring an award-ceremony for best-dressed pups. www.gaslamp.org

15. Enjoy the twinkling waters of San Diego Bay and more than 100 private boats decorated with holiday lights for the 38th Annual Port of San Diego Parade of Lights on December 13 and 20. Great views are available on dry land from Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Marina Park and Coronado’s Ferry Landing. www.sdparadeoflights.org