5 Fun Things to Do in San Diego Under $100
San Diego is 100% one of those cities where you can accidentally spend $200 in a day and not even realize you spent that much.Between brunch, parking, drinks, and one activity, suddenly your little Saturday outing has turned into a financial decision.
Luckily for you, I’ve been living in San Diego for almost a full year now and I’ve taken the time to explore some budget friendly activities and there are in fact SO many fun things to, that cost a fraction of the price as most things you see being promoted online like paragliding at Torrey Pines, or spending the day at the Safari Park Zoo.
Also, just to set the record straight I’m definitely not talking about a list of the five most popular beaches either. We alllllll know San Diego has beaches, this list is compiled of five ACTUAL things to do.
So whether you live in San Diego and are looking for some new things to explore, you’re planning a date and are looking for some unique ideas, or you’re here on vacation and not trying to blow your travel budget in one day, take notes, because here are five experiences I recommend you doing and they’re all under $100!
1. Kayak Through the La Jolla Sea Caves
If you’re looking for an activity that feels specific to San Diego, Kayaking in La Jolla is a MUST.
You’ll start from a beach in La Jolla Shores and kayak along the coast through the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, where you’ll likely come across a ton of sea lions. Smelly.. But, they’re cute!! The tour lasts around 90 minutes and uses tandem kayaks, so this is also an awesome activity if you’re traveling with a group or tbh could be a really cute date idea!
And then, obviously, there are the sea caves.
If ocean conditions are safe, your guides will actually take you INSIDE the caves. Such a cool experience, but just know that cave entry isn’t guaranteed on every tour because it depends on the water conditions and your guide’s judgement on that specific day. The waves get CRAZY so it has to be safe for everyone.
People always ask me if you need to be a super experienced kayaker for this. You absolutely don’t! I’ve kayaked once before I went, and it wasn’t in the ocean it was in a lake so I promise you’ll be totally fine. Plus, your guide reviews paddling techniques and safety tips before you get on the water. And no worries, your kayak, paddle, and life jacket are all included in your tour. I would however recommend that you know how to swim a decent bit. I didn’t get very wet when I went on my tour, but in the instance that your kayak tips over or something like that I would say it could be a very helpful skill to have.
A little tip: Wear something you genuinely don’t care about getting wet and bring a towel for afterward. Not that falling out or tipping the kayak is 100% guaranteed, but at the end of the day you are in the ocean. Plus, if you’re clumsy like me.. You’ll make it all the way through the tour without any problems just to fall out as you’ve reached shore and are trying to exit the kayak.
OH! Lastly, please be sure to give yourself extra time for parking in La Jolla because, babe.. it’s San Diego.
Check prices and book the La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour
2. Make Your Own Candle in Carlsbad
This one is specifically for those of you who are tired of everything always being centered around getting food or drinks.
Candle Bar Carlsbad lets you make your own custom candle from start to finish. You choose your vessel, wick, scents, labels, and can ever add cute little gems/stones. One of their Candle Creators personally walks you through mixing everything together before you mix and pour!
I loved that you can also customize the label, and once your candle has hardened, it really makes the whole thing feel super personalized.
The candle takes around 45 minutes to an hour to set, but since the shop is right in Carlsbad Village, I definitely recommend walking around downtown and grabbing a quick bite to eat or doing some shopping in the nearby boutiques.
They do take reservations, but when my boyfriend and I went, we walked right in and had no problems at all. Another thing to note is that once you burn through the full candle, if you’re ever in the area again you can bring the vessel back and get the wax refilled for 50% off!
This is a superrr cute date idea, my boyfriend took me as a surprise date and I LOVED IT. It’s also really cute for a girls’ day, birthday activity, or even could be an awesome solo date for those of us trying to spend more intentional time with ourselves.
3. Grab a Coffee and Feed the Bunnies at Grange Garden
Yes… Bunnies!!!!
Grange Garden is the cutest little garden themed café in Solana Beach. It is basically a little garden experience with coffee, pastries, plants, curated market finds, cute outdoor seating… and an entire Bunny Garden.
The property has multiple spaces along the strip, one of them being the viral outdoor café and Bunny Garden, I’m sure you’ll see on tik tok if you search “things to do in San Diego”. You can grab one of their specialty drinks, wander around, sit under the trees, shop a little, and spend some time feeding the rescued bunnies that are available for adoption!
This is one of my favorite little get out the house activities, so I love recommending it to people in need of cheap things to do. It’s so simple, but still fun and doesn’t require a whole planned out production.
You can grab a yummy latte (my favorite is the farmer), while you wait for your time slot to come up for your turn with the bunnies. Everytime I’ve gone there’s always been a little 45ish minute wait so def put your name down first before enjoying their yummy drinks and baked goods.
Although, I’ve never had anything more than a muffin or a croissant, they do have brunch options, as well so you could absolutely turn this into a cute little slow morning activity without getting anywhere near the $100 mark.
Visit Grange Garden and reserve a Bunny Garden visit
4. Tour the Cutwater Distillery
WHEWWWWWW. THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, MANNN…. LOL!
If you’ve ever drank a Cutwater canned cocktail from the store and wondered how the hell are these things so strong… this is your opportunity to investigate the madness.
My boyfriend and I went to the Cutwater Spirits Tasting Room, and left BEYOND DRUNK HAHA. They offer a variety of tastings and tours that give you the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the distillery instead of just ordering one of their drinks at a bar.
One thing I will say though, is that it’s really cute how they offer seasonal rotating experiences, so if you’re in the area or looking for new things to try check out what they have currently going on online because you might be able to sign up for a cocktail class or exclusive seasonal drink tastings. They have really yummy food there too, I always get the wings and there’s this specialty grilled cheese on the menu as well. It’s SO SO SOOO good. You’ve got to try it!
And obviously, this one is 21+.
A little tip: Do the tour first and leave yourself time afterward for a cocktail and food in the tasting room. You’re already there and if you’re crazy enough to do the barrel tasting like we did the first time we went, you’re definitely going to need something to eat after you try that 122 proof whiskey since they have been aging there since June of 2020! Trust me.. Just commit to FULL the experience.
See current Cutwater tours and experiences
5. Hike Torrey Pines + Watch the Paragliders at the Gliderport
Okay, technically I’m sneaking multiple activities into the last one on the list here, but that’s exactly why this is one of my favorite inexpensive Days in San Diego.
Start at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and spend the morning hiking along the coast. It’s SUCH a gorgeous hike and you’ll even be able to see Alicia Keys house from certain parts of the trail. The reserve itself sits on multiple cliffs and overlooks the Pacific, which makes for the most breathtaking sunset views. It also has multiple hiking trails, ocean viewpoints, and stairs that give you access down toward Torrey Pines State Beach. (Oh and in case you haven’t heard yet, the bottom is indeed a nude beach so… beware lol).
I know it sounds like a lot but I promise, you don’t need to turn this into an intense five-hour hike. Come for the views, walk a trail or two, take your pictures, and soak in the vibes. It’s very low pressure.
This too is always something I immediately recommend people do when coming to San Diego because this one location gives you four things to do: hiking, insane coastal views, the beach, paragliders, plus food. And you can do everything all in one day without needing an expensive tour or attraction ticket.
A little tip: Save the Gliderport for after you’re done hiking. Not gonna lie certain parts of the hike, especially if you take the stairs all the way down to the beach, can be a bit challenging so there’s nothing better than being able to reward yourself by sitting down with food and a drink while watching people fly over the ocean.
Check Torrey Pines trail information before you go
Visit the Torrey Pines Gliderport
San Diego Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive
As we all know, San Diego is not at all a cheap city. I could never in my right mind sit here and try to convince you that it is.
BUT!… You also don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars every time you leave the house. You can kayak through sea caves, make your own candle, drink coffee with bunnies, do a distillery tour/tasting, or even spend an entire afternoon hiking the coast and watching paragliders all without blowing your budget.
And tbhhhh, those are the kinds of days I personally always remember wayyyy more than some of the many overpriced rooftop brunches I’ve been to anyway.
That’s all for now, but please be sure to save this list for your next weekend in San Diego, and if you’re visiting soon, you must add AT LEAST ONE of these to your vacation itinerary!
Until next time…
xoxo,
Dru <3
***Prices, hours, availability, and tour offerings can change, so always double-check with each business or attraction before heading out.
