5 Free Ways to Relax During Finals Week

Stress levels are high as the end of the semester looms for many college students in the San Diego area. Here are five free activities in San Diego. 

Check out the free museums at Balboa Park

Take in the Spanish architecture and free exhibits such as the Timken Museum of Art, Botanical Garden or the Spanish Village Art Center. San Diego residents are allowed access to free admission at museums such as the Museum of Man and Japanese Friendship Garden every third Tuesday of the Month. One can park at San Diego Zoo, it’s free and there are hundreds of spots available to the public. The 10-minute walk is well worth avoiding the maze of traffic surrounding the Balboa park area. 

Head to La Jolla Cove

Drive down State Route 52 west into La Jolla via La Jolla Pkwy to Torrey Pines Rd. and take a right on Prospect Street and you’ll find yourself at the famed La Jolla Cove. There’s plenty of grass to sit down on and enjoy the view of the cliffs overlooking the ocean. During low tide, you can walk down to the sand and observe the seals and sea lions or even explore the coves themselves but watch your step if you do. Get there early in the morning or you may have to park in the residential areas on steep hills. If you’d rather enjoy sandy beaches or waves for surfing, La Jolla Shores is a few miles down the road.

Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park has sculptures, paintings and objects on display.

Visit Old Town

Off Interstate 5, take Old Town Avenue to visit historic Old Town San Diego. It was the first permanent Spanish settlement in California in 1769 and many buildings have been preserved as public museums. Many of the exhibits are free to visit and there is plenty of art and culture to take in. 

Go hiking at Torrey Pines State Reserve

Rested along the coastline is Torrey Pines State Reserve. There is access to the beach but also six different hiking trails of varying difficulties that overlook the ocean. Free parking is available but by noon it can be hard to find. Take a backpack with water, food, sunscreen and walking shoes. 

Stroll Along Imperial Beach Pier

If you’re in the South Bay, take a walk on the pier at Imperial Beach for a unique ocean view. Seacoast Drive has gone through many renovations in recent years that has brought many new restaurants and shops to the beach town. People fish off the pier and surf on the waves below. 

This report was a collaboration between NBC 7 and the SDSU School of Journalism and Media Studies.

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