Home budget travel Old Town San Diego with Kids

Old Town San Diego with Kids

by Shelly Rivoli
This post is part of my Cheap and Free San Diego Series

Another visit to Old Town San Diego was a great reminder of how much fun is to be had in San Diego, even on a budget. I’m partial to Old Town, I’ll admit, as I had a serious Little House on the Prairie obsession as a kid and for some reason it reminds me of this. Plus, my Grandmother lived in the Cosmo Hotel building (currently undergoing restoration) when she worked as a riveter during World War II. Not to mention, I find the modest courtyard of the Estudillo House (above) to be one of my favorite spots in California–especially when it’s filled with the strains of classical guitar music by a local musician as it was on this particular afternoon. If you get to San Diego, don’t miss it–or any of these other great opportunities at Old Town.

1. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Unlike the outrageous gondolas of Venice or carriages of Central Park, buggy rides in Old Town San Diego are a mere $3!
2. See the blacksmith shop in action on Wednesdays and Saturdays—free.
3. Eat ice cream. A few bucks depending; child sizes available.
4. Play in a covered wagon. Free.
5. Eat great Mexican food. Prices vary greatly; can splurge or go with $2 Taco Tuesday options at various restaurants.
6. Get a family-size fresh-squeezed lemonade. $2.
7. Visit the Estudillo House, a furnished National Historic Landmark where you can glimpse the rooms of an early mansion and explore at your leisure—free.
8. Take the historic Old Town tour with a guide—free.
9. Shop for souvenirs—from a few bucks to a few hundred. These faux silk parasols were a splurge at $6 each, but are still proving to be worth every penny (to the girls, anyway).
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This post is part of the Photo Friday fun at DeliciousBaby.com.

Safe journey,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning guidebook Travels with Baby
The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children
Visit https://travelswithbaby.com/ for more tips and family travel resources

Kid Friendly Travel Blog on Raveable

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