san diego

October is Kids Go Free Month 2025 Edition!

Abby H.

October is a great time to be a kid in San Diego!

This October 1-31, kids 12 and under receive free admission at many arts, cultural, and science museums and historical sites in San Diego County.

For those of us with curious kids, this is perfect! Kids can get into over 40 museums in the San Diego area for free with paying adults (all the info can be found here).

Some of the participating organizations include:

Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Fleet Science Center (Galleries only)
Heritage of the Americas Museum
Japanese Friendship Garden
Living Coast Discovery Center
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Marston House Museum & Gardens
Mingei International Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Museum of Making Music
Museum of Photographic Arts
San Diego Air & Space Museum
San Diego Automotive Museum
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
San Diego History Center
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
Timken Museum of Art (it’s always free for everyone, FYI)
Women’s Museum of California

A full list can be found here. Oh, and as part of free October, Kids can get into the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park free when accompanied by a paying adult!  Other Kids go free attractions include: Legoland, Sea World, and the USS Midway!!

*Some museums charge fees for special exhibitions, programs or films. Some museums may limit offer use to once per month per guest. Purchase of a Balboa Park Explorer Pass does not qualify as a paid adult admission for the Kids Free in October program. Purchase of a Go San Diego Pass or card does not qualify as a paid adult admission for the Kids Free in October program at most museums; call museum(s) before visiting to enquire. 

San Diego Residents: Hiking with The Cayoneers and The NAT!

Abby H.


One of my favorite aspects of living in San Diego County is the abundance of public open spaces available. That’s why I had to share this information straight from The NAT (That’s the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park).

Canyoneers are looking forward to launching their 52nd hiking season on September 7. The new season features 60 unique hiking opportunities between now and June 2026, allowing people to enjoy, explore, and discover San Diego’s natural landscapes. Hikes are led by the Canyoneers, volunteer naturalists trained by Museum scientists, to teach participants about our region’s rich flora and fauna, diverse landscapes, and natural history.

This year, 14 new hikes have been added to the schedule. Bridge to Nowhere in Eagle Peak Preserve, Kwaamii Point in Cleveland National Forest, and Ash Wash in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are just a few examples of the new trails they’ll be exploring. Hikes are free, but advance registration is appreciated. Participants can register here.

The long-awaited second edition of Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors is also being released in early September. This hiking guide was originally published in 2016 and sold 12,000 copies.

For more information about the Canyoneers, a complete schedule of hikes, and to register, visit the Canyoneer website here. 

Thanks to Paula at the NAT for this amazing information- I hope to meet some of you on San Diego’s trails!

Taylor Research Stroke Patient Study- $250

Abby H.

Taylor Research is a research company based in the San Diego, CA area. I have taken part in their studies for 15+ years.

Frequently, they will send out emails requesting referrals for studies that are hard to fill. This is one of those cases.

• Study Topic: Stroke Patient
• Study Type: One-on-one session
• Study Location: Mission Valley, San Diego
• Available Date(s): TBD
• Session Duration: 1.5 Hours
• Reward Amount:$250

To sign up, please complete the form here. In the referral box, enter my name Abby Hewes. If you are selected and participate, I may earn a referral bonus!

Please feel free to share this- $250 for 90 minutes of your time is pretty sweet!

August and September 2025 Upcoming JCP Kid’s Craft Events!

Abby H.

JCPenney hosts a fun craft event in-store for kids on the second Saturday of each month.  They are easy for kids and a fun, free activity.

While you are there, make sure to join their Rewards Program. There are a lot of great benefits, and it’s free to join. I do a lot of our shopping at JCP. They are very size-inclusive, have great prices/sales, and support diversity in the communities in which they are located.

In-store events are only where local mandates allow.  All kids must be accompanied by an adult. More details, including participating JCP locations, can be found here.

August:

8/9/25 11AM-12PM Decorate a back-to-school pencil pouch. The craft includes a pencil pouch with a zipper pull, markers, and a sticker sheet.

September:

9/13/25 11AM-12PM Make a wooden tic-tac-toe board. The Craft includes a wooden board and pieces with markers.

 

Upcoming 2025 Upcoming Clothing Swaps

Abby H.

I love clothing swaps- If you have read my blog, you know it’s one of my favorite ways to refresh the kid’s wardrobes (and my own).

And as always, if you are looking for more information about clothing swaps, check out my post (with other San Diego, CA area resources)  here.

AUGUST 2025

 Thread Bumpin’ Clothing Swap

Saturday, August 2, 2025 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM La Mesita Park 8855 Dallas St · La Mesa, CA

Only the following will be accepted:

  • Clean adult clothes
  • Jewelry
  • Makeup/perfume/beauty goods, accessories
  • Small personal items/decor

All leftover items are distributed to people in need through an NPO.

Crave Community is hosting a clothing swap on August 3rd, from 11am-1pm at San Diego Made Factory 2031 Commercial Street, San Diego, California 92213.

Bring your gently-loved clothes, swap for something new-to-you, and enjoy a welcoming space filled with good vibes and even better company.

More information can be found on their Instagram page here.

Chingona Cambio is hosting their first-ever clothing swap at Chula Vista Bayside Park

999 Bayside Parkway Chula Vista, CA 91910

on August 30th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

More information can be found here.

Tickets may not be available, but according to social media posts by the coordinator of this event, everyone is welcome, regardless of ticketing status.

On 8/16/2025, The Flower Pot is hosting a clothing swap, entry fee is $10. More information here.

 

SEPTEMBER AND BEYOND

In partnership with I Love a Clean San Diego, the San Diego County library branch in La Mesa is hosting a Sustainable Saturday: Clothing Swap on the following dates:

  • Saturday, December 6, 2025 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM La Mesa Branch Library 8074 Allison Avenue La Mesa CA 91942
  • Saturday, September 6, 2025 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM La Mesa Branch Library 8074 Allison Avenue La Mesa CA 91942

Bring one bag of unwanted clothes and accessories (for all ages!) to the library and leave with a fresh, new-to-you wardrobe! Items must be in good condition; no rips, tears, or stains.

I find clothing swaps by joining local area clothing swap groups, both through Facebook and Meetup.

7/28/2025 is National Waterpark Day- Splash for Less!

Abby H.

July 28 is National Waterpark Day, and if your kids are anything like mine, they love swimming and splashing.

Here are some of the local splash pads that my kids love:

Hilton Head Park (wristband costs $4)

Santee Lakes (you can walk in for free, but there is a cost for the wristband $4)

Santee YMCA– This is only a good deal if you are a YMCA member or live in Santee. On certain days, Santee Residents can enjoy the pool and splashpad for free. 

Civita Park– small, but free and the playground at the top of the hill is super fun.

The city of San Diego Parks and Recreation department has info about all of the city-run splash pads and pools here.

Groupon has offers for the Southern California area here.

Legoland has a fun waterpark, and the kids and I recently went and had a blast. Here is our review. 

The Plunge at Belmont Park is a fun indoor pool and water playground.

Sesame Place– I was not a fan of this place when we went right after they opened. The water isn’t heated, so on overcast summer days, it can be pretty chilly. Sometimes they have Groupons available.

Food As Medicine Initiative: Free Food with Medi-Cal

Abby H.

In California, those who have Medi-Cal may be eligible to receive free food delivered to their home if they have certain health conditions.

Several programs partner with Medi-Cal that deliver pre-cooked meals or fresh fruits and veggies. To qualify, check with each program listed below. Each program has its own perimeters and availability.

The following programs appear to be available throughout Southern California. I recommend verifying that they are available in your county.

To find out about the Food is Medicine movement and medically tailored meals, I recommend checking out the California Food is Medicine Coalition and the California Department of Health Services website here.

If you have questions, it’s best to contact your Medi-Cal provider, as they know all of the details of your specific plan.

If you need help finding free or low-cost food resources near you, check out my page here.

Taylor Research- San Diego, CA Area Lower Limb Amputation Study- $300

Abby H.

Taylor Research is a research company based in the San Diego, CA area. I have taken part in their studies for 15+ years.

Frequently, they will send out emails requesting referrals if they have hard-to-fill studies. This is one of those cases.

  •  Study Topic: Lower Limb Amputation
  • Study Type: 1-on-1 Usability Study
  •  Study Location: Carlsbad, CA
  • Target Audience: Adults who have experienced lower limb amputation
  • Available Date(s): July 23rd – 31st, 2025
  •  Session Duration: 3 hours (1 hour training, 1 hour rest, followed by 1 hour testing)
  • Reward Amount: $300

If you would like to sign up, fill out the form here. In the referral box, enter my name Abby Hewes. If you are selected and participate, I may earn a referral bonus!

Please feel free to share this- $300 for an hour of your time is pretty sweet!

Free Summer Mentor Support in Santee!

Abby H.

If your tweens/teens are feeling a little meh this summer and could benefit from support, check out this great free offer from Live Well San Diego, the County of San Diego HHS, and Fred Finch.

Available three times a week at various locations throughout Santee, this program is open to all kids in grades 5-8. No prior registration needed.

If you are looking for mental health resources in California, check out my post here.

Summer Events for Teens and Tweens at San Diego County Libraries

Abby H.2 Comments

My kids need to get out of the house this summer. Yours might too. I spent a few hours looking up some fun free stuff for teens and tweens at our favorite San Diego County library branches. Both the county of San Diego and the City of San Diego have library branches, but they are not connected.

City of San Diego library events can be found here.

The complete list of County Library events can be found here. 

Here are a few of the events my kids are excited about going to:

 

Lakeside Branch

SLC Teen Afterhours: Laser Tag and Trivia
Saturday, June 14, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

SLC Teen Afterhours: Art with Miss Wendy
Saturday, July 12, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Kids SLC: SD Animal Sanctuary and Farm
Thursday, June 26, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Super Science Super Show
Thursday, July 17, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Critter Encounters
Thursday, July 3, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Don’t Try This at Home-Scientific Serenade
Thursday, July 31, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Santee Branch

Animal show with Zovargo
Friday, August 1, 2025
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
At Mast Park

La Mesa Branch

Construction Club (LEGO club) Ages 4+
Monday, June 2, 2025 meets weekly
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Summer at your Library: Mad Hatter Tea Party
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Teen Backyard Bird Experience
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

 

Casa de Oro Branch

Game Night Unplugged
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (takes place weekly)
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Teen Video Game Hour
Monday, June 16, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

 

El Cajon Branch

Tween Tuesdays
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Tweens ages 8-13 to explore the RIASEC framework while socializing with other El Cajon tweens. Join us each week for games, music, and a RIASEC-themed activity:

* June 24: Catapult Challenge (Realistic)
* July 1: Make Your Own Slime (Investigative)
* July 8: Mask-Painting (Artistic)
* July 15: Lotería with Prizes (Social)
* July 22: Sharpie Mugs (Enterprising)
* July 29: Bingo with Prizes (Conventional)

 

Rancho San Diego Branch

Tween Craft – Perler Beads
Thursday, July 3, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Tween Craft – DIY Bags
Thursday, July 17, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Tween Craft – DIY Shirts
Thursday, July 31, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

 

As you can see, there are tons of great events going on for free this summer! And if your kiddos are looking for more fun, check out my post about Summer Reading Programs!