120 Kids October FREEBIES!!
Some people look forward to Christmas, their birthdays or the first release of the PSL. But we look forward to October. Why? San Diego offers FREE ADMISSION and FREE FOOD to kids 12 and under All. Month. Long. It's called the Kids FREE October deals and it's offered every year by over 100 partners! So bookmark this page and come back to it all month long. And then come back to it next year because it's mostly the same every year.
Many many thanks to these organizations who support this program: ScholarShare (California’s 529 College Savings Plan), the San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture, County of San Diego, and MTS.
Good To Know:
Some places require you to print out a coupon before arriving to get in on the deal. Others will just offer it at their ticket window automatically, but you may need to ask for it.
Click here for the Kids FREE In October COUPON
The offer is usually valid for kids ages 12 and under with a paid adult, but the age limit can vary with each venue.
Offers usually allow for 2 kids per paid adult, but some are more or less so depending on how many kids you've got be sure to read the fine print and ask before you go.
Admission using the Kids Free Coupon doesn't usually allow access to visit special exhibitions at some museums and they may cost extra is you want to see those.
New: Some museums are only allowing you to use this coupon once per person per museum (please share with me if you've heard which ones)
I've linked most of our favorite places below so you can click on those venues for details.
* These already offer free admission, so you may want to save these for another time ;)
+ Our kids' favorites!
DISCLAIMER: Just in case I mis-typed or mis-read any information, please be sure to verify all information before you go. :D
Here's the entire list of where Kids can go for FREE!!
- THEME PARKS -
1. +LEGOLAND, Carlsbad
Deal: I think this one is a little bit sneaky, because you can't buy this online directly from their "Buy Tickets" page. You have to find the coupon first and go to the linked URL on your coupon. I found ours at McDonald's restaurants, but I will link the Deal once I stop at McDonald's next time. ;)
The McDonald's Free Child Ticket code usually expires on Dec. 31st, so you can actually use it for the rest of the year, not just in October!
If you have the actual coupon, you can take it to the ticket booth and get the Free Child Ticket deal in person if you didn't want to buy it online.
Brick or Treat party nights requires a separate event ticket.
ALSO--->LEGOLAND is currently having their SoCal Resident Annual Membership going on NOW until Sunday 9/29/19! This is a great deal as you'll get the rest of this year PLUS ALL of next year included! They expire 12/25/20! I get the $160 Gold Pass for myself (driver) because it includes FREE parking, unlimited to Legoland, unlimited to Sea Life Aquarium and limited to the water park. And I get the $100 Play Pass for my kids and husband - it only includes unlimited to Legoland and it does NOT include parking OR Sea Life Aquarium...BUT...when you add it to your 'cart' and proceed to checkout, you'll get a prompt to ADD Sea Life Aquarium for $10 (valid for unlimited to the Aquarium until 12/25/20). ;)
-- the following information is from 2018 and is most likely the same as last year, but check before you go in case it's changed -- I'll update this soon --
2. +San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park (details here)
Deal: No extra coupons or tickets required for kids ages 11 and under, 10 kids per paid adult, kids can ride the Guided Bus or Kangaroo Bus for $5 (buy bus tickets at the Zoo). They have some special events happening on October weekends, click the link above for the schedule.
3. +San Diego Zoo & Safari Park, Escondido (details here)
Deal: No extra coupons or tickets required for kids ages 11 and under, 10 kids per paid adult, kids can ride the Africa Tram for free and ride the Conservation Carousel for $6 (buy carousel tickets at the Safari Park). They have some special events happening on October weekends, click the link above for the schedule.
4. +SeaWorld, Mission Bay (details here)
Deal: Only 1 child ages 3-9 per 1 paid adult ticket. Kids under 3 are always free.
Free Kids animal interaction programs per 1 paid adult interaction:
-->Breakfast With the Killer Whales, free for ages 3-9 ($26/adult)
-->Dine With the Killer Whales, free for ages 3-9 ($40/adult)
-->Dolphin Interaction, free for ages 10-12 ($215/adult)
---in-water experience allows you to meet, touch & feed dolphins in their own
environment
5. +Belmont Park, Mission Beach (kids free coupons here)
Deal: for ages 13 and under, coupon required, see link above
Rides: get 1 free kids ride wristband w/ paid adult ride wristband, valid 7 days/wk
Arcade: Free $10 Powercard with each child’s Combo Wristband purchase at the ticket booth
Food at Draft: Free kid’s menu item with each adult entrée + beverage purchase;
Food at Belmonty's: Free kid’s Chicken Tenders & Fries with each adult Combo Meal purchase
- BALBOA PARK -
Deals: Ages 12 and under, 2 free kids admission per paid full priced adult ticket. Special exhibits/events may cost extra.
Coupon is usually required and linked above. You can either show this coupon on your mobile phone or print off as many coupons as you'll need for each museum. **Some museums are only allowing you to use this once per person**
Tip: Some of these museums offer a Free Resident Tuesday where all San Diego residents and military can get in free! They rotate which museums offer their free days. We usually AVOID going on those free days because they can be crowded, so keep that in mind when planning your visit this month. ;)
Each place below is linked so click on the venue for more details.
Hrs: Daily 10-5
Resident Free Day: 1st Tues
Cost: $19.95/adult
Hrs: Mon-Thur 10-5, Fri-Sun 10-6
Resident Free Day: 1st Tues
Cost: $21.95/adult
Hrs: Tue-Fri 10-4, Sat-Sun 11-5, Closed Mondays.
Resident Free Day: 1st Tues
Cost: $11.50/adults
Hrs: Daily 10-4:30
Resident Free Day: 4th Tues
Cost: $19.95/adult
Hrs: Daily 10-5
Resident Free Day: 4th Tues
Cost: $10/adult
Hrs: Mon-Sun 10-7
Resident Free Day: 3rd Tues
Cost: $12/adult
Hrs: Daily 10-5
Cost: free, suggested donation $10
Hrs: Mon, Tue, Thur, Sat 10-5; Fri 10-8; Sun 12-5; Closed Wed
Resident Free Day: 3rd Tues
Cost: $15/adult, (*kids 17 and under are Free everyday)
Hrs: Mon-Sun 10-7
Resident Free Day: 2nd Tues
*Cost: "pay what you wish" everyday
15. Marston House Museum & Gardens
- ATTRACTIONS -
Deals: Ages 12 and under, 2 free kids admission per paid full priced adult ticket. Special exhibts/events may cost extra.
Coupon required and linked above. You can either show this coupon on your mobile phone or print off as many coupons as you'll need for each museum. **Some museums are only allowing you to use this once per person**
16. +Birch Aquarium at Scripps, La Jolla
Hrs: Daily 9-5
Cost: $19.50/adult
17. *Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, Miramar
Hrs: Tue-Sun 9-3:30pm, Closed Mondays.
Cost: free to everyone everyday
18. +Maritime Museum of San Diego, Embarcadero
Hrs: 9a-8p during the Fall
Cost: $18/adults
19. +Museum of Making Music, Carlsbad
Hrs: Tue-Sun 10-5, Closed Mondays.
Cost: $10/adults
20. +The New Children's Museum, downtown
Hrs: Mon, Wed-Sat 9:30-4; Sun 11-4; Closed Tuesdays.
Cost: $14/adults
21. +San Diego Children's Discovery Museum, Escondido
Hrs: Daily 9:30-4:30
Cost: $8/pp
22. +The USS Midway Museum, Embarcadero
Hrs: Daily 10-4
Cost: $21/adults
23. *+The Water Conservation Garden, El Cajon
Hrs: Daily 9-4
Cost: free everyday, donations accepted
24. +The Living Coast Discovery Center, Chula Vista
Hrs: Daily 10-5, closed Thanksgiving & Christmas
Cost: $16/adults 13+
25. *+The Warner-Carrillo Ranch House, Carlsbad
Hrs: Tues-Sat 9-5; Sun 11-5; closed Mondays
Cost: free everyday, donations accepted
26. San Diego Archaeological Center
27. San Diego Art Institute
28. Barona Cultural Center & Museum
29. Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
30. California Center for the Arts, Escondido 31. California Surf Museum
32. Coronado Museum of History & Art
33. San Diego Chinese Historical Society and Museum
34. Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House
35. Heritage of the Americas Museum
36. Junipero Serra Museum
37. La Jolla Historical Society
38. Lux Art Institute
39. Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum
40. Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
41. New Americas Museum
42. Newport Landing Whale Watching
43. Oceanside Museum of Art
44. San Diego Padres Tours
45. Serra Museum
46. Tijuana Estuary Visitors Center
47. Timken Museum of Art
48. Veterans Museum and Memorial Center
49. Visions Art Museum
- ACTIVITIES -
50. +The Hopper, all over San Diego's hot spots!
What: A double decker tour bus that you can hop on and off all day long! It takes you to Old Town, Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Gaslamp, San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park (near Auto Museum), Little Italy. There are lots of kid-friendly spots at each of these stops!
Deal: Kids under 12 can ride for free with a paid adult ticket.
Cost: $39/adults sale when you buy online today (reg. $49/adults)
51. Bike & Kayak Tours, Coronado
52. Bike & Kayak Tours, La Jolla
53. Cross Border Xpress
54. Five Star Tours & Charter Bus Company
55. Flagship Cruises & Events
56. The Gondola Company
57. H&M Landing: free fishing
58. Hornblower Cruises & Events
59. Maderas Golf Club 56. Oceanside Adventures Luxury Cruises, Oceanside
61. Old Town Trolley Tours
62. Out of the Ordinary - Teambuilding Adventures
63. Riverwalk Golf Club, Mission Vally
64. San Diego Photography Tours
65. San Diego Sailing Tours
66. San Diego Speed Boat Adventures
67. San Diego Symphony
68. Surf Diva Surf School & Surf Diva Boutique
- RESTAURANTS -
Kids eat free at these restaurants:
69. Bloomingdales, various malls
70. Carnitas' Snack Shack
71. Casa Guadalajara, Old Town
72. John's Incredible Pizza Company, National City
73. McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant
74. Rockin' Baja Coastal Cantina, Gaslamp
- HOTELS -
Kids Eat Free at these hotels (some require hotel reservation):
75. The Bahia Resort Hotel
76. Bay Club Hotel & Marina
77. Best Western Plus Island Palms
78. Bristol Hotel
79. The Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa
80. Courtyard by Marriott Downtown
81. The Dana on Mission Bay
82. Days Inn San Diego Hotel Circle
83. DoubleTree San Diego Downtown
84. Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego La Jolla
85. Hilton San Diego Airport - Harbor Island
86. Hilton San Diego Del Mar
87. Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown Bayside
88. Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
89. Hilton San Diego Mission Valley
90. Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside
91. Homewood Suites Downtown/Bayside
92. Homewood Suites Hotel Circle
93. Hotel Karlan (Kids also get a free kite!)
94. Hotel Republic San Diego
95. Humphreys Half Moon Inn & Suites
96. Kimptom Hotel Solamar
97. The Kings Inn: Amigo Spot & Waffle Spot
Greet the Waffle King, in costume every Saturday and Sunday, 10am-1pm
98. The Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows
99. Lows Coronado Bay Resort
100. Manchester Grand Hyatt: Sally's Fish House
101. Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
102. OMNI San Diego Hotel (free kids drinks only)
103. The Pendry San Diego
104. Quality Suites Mission Valley
105. The Sheraton La Jolla
106. US Grant Hotel: Grant Grill & Lounge
107. The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
- Kids get a Free Welcome Gift at these hotels -
108. Best Western Mission Bay
109. Bristol Hotel
110. Carlsbad Premium Outlets
111. Comfort Inn & Suites
112. Empress Hotel La Jolla
113. Homewood Suites Hotel Circle
114. Hotel Karlan (Kids also get a free kite!)
115. Hotel Z
116. Kimptom Hotel Solamar
117. Ocean Park Inn
118. Paradise Point
119. The Pendry San Diego
- Kids Stay for Free at these hotels -
120. San Diego RV Resort
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