San Diego on a light wallet/ Inexpensive pleasures of the city

Walk on the beach at Coronado and never spend a dime at the famous hotel. Wander around Balboa Park and don't plunk down a small fortune to take the family to the zoo. Stop in at one of the best Mexican food spots in the city and have trouble getting the tab into double digits.

San Diego is lighter on the wallet than most major American cities, and for those looking to lighten the load further, it's a place full of free attractions and low-cost stays and eats.

Blessed with a perpetually sunny climate, San Diego is a city built around the outdoors. Balboa Park has been the heart of the city since 1868. At 1,200 acres, it's the largest urban park in the United States. There are more than 85 museums and cultural spots, from the Spreckels Organ Pavilion to the San Diego Museum of Art to the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater.

San Diego County has 70 miles of beach between Oceanside in the north and Imperial Beach, just north of the Mexican border. There are 33 named beaches, ranging from rocky La Jolla Cove to laid-back Pacific Beach and family-friendly Coronado Beach.

Point Loma offers sweeping views over San Diego Harbor - on some days you can see a Navy aircraft carrier, cruiser or submarine sailing in or out of the port. Aircraft flying into North Island Naval Air Station are often below you from vantage points like Cabrillo Monument on the point's far end. Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is a beautiful final resting place for the soldiers and sailors who gave their lives in America's wars.

For lodging on a budget, think about staying at some of the motels in the Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach area. Or at the older hotels on Hotel Circle near Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Padres baseball team.

For a selection and prices, there are a number of places to look, including the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, (619) 232- 3101 or www.sandiego.org; San Diego Reservations at (800) 728-3227; and the Bed & Breakfast Guild of San Diego at (619) 523-1300. Some of the town's better hotels offer weekend discounts.

You can also find discounts on the Web through major wholesalers like www .quikbook.com and www.hotels.com.

For cheap eats, try the city's many taquerias. A longtime favorite is El Indio, just off Interstate 5 in the Uptown section of San Diego. It's famous for its taquitos and big bags of tortilla chips (made on the premises). El Indio, 3695 Chambers St., (619) 299-0333.

Getting around San Diego usually requires a car. But if your budget won't allow for a rental, make use of the San Diego Trolley, the nationally acclaimed light-rail system. The Orange Line loops much of the city center, while the Blue Line goes all the way from Mission Valley through downtown and down to San Ysidro on the Mexican border. San Diego Trolley, (619) 232-3101. Fares start at $1.25.

One of the best things to do in San Diego is hit the beach to watch the sunset. It's daily, and absolutely free.

MORE ONLINE

For an interesting and sometimes off-the-wall list of the best San Diego experiences, check out the Web site of the San Diego Reader, the city's main alternative newspaper. The site links to its "Best of 2003" list. Find it at www.sandiegoreader.com.

Copyright 2003
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