While San Francisco may be one of the most expensive cities to visit in the U.S., it certainly doesn’t have to be. Whether it’s eating street food or enjoying an afternoon at one of San Francisco’s many great public parks, there are plenty of things to do for cheap, and even free. While some of these activities are outdoors and only available during the summer months, many are year-round.

Here are 10 of the best free things to do in San Francisco throughout the year:

Sutro Baths

The Sutro Baths, the city’s version of ruins, are one of the most interesting landmarks in San Francisco. Formerly a large swimming complex along the rocky cliffs of the Pacific Ocean, the complex burned down in the mid-1960s, leaving the remains that stand today. This is an intriguing landmark, which offers one of the best views in San Francisco. It’s also the trailhead for the Lands End hiking trail.

Golden Gate Park

Few parks in the U.S. can rival San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. While it has the same shape of New York City’s Central Park, it’s nearly 25% larger. The park features museums, large and open green spaces, and paths for walking and bicycling. The park is convenient to the Haight and Inner Sunset districts, which have great dining and nightlife.

Tour of Anchor Brewing

Anchor is one of the most well-known breweries on the west coast, calling San Francisco home. It’s one of the few breweries that offers a free tour, culminating in a tasting session of Anchor beers. However, you’ll need to book your reservation weeks in advance (months in advance if you want to go on a Friday).

Free museum days

San Francisco features some great museums, including the California Academy of Sciences and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. While many of San Francisco’s museums aren’t free, they have free museum days, which are typically one day per month during the middle of the week. This is also when the museums are often the least crowded.

Cable Car Museum

In San Francisco, cable cars are truly part of the city’s culture. And when you see the hills of San Francisco, you’ll see why; you’ll be thankful for a cable car ride up those steep streets. The Cable Car Museum offers visitors a behind-the-cable look at this fascinating method of transportation.

Shakespeare in the Park

You’ll have to be visiting San Francisco during the summer months to take part in the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s Free Shakespeare in the Park. Each summer brings a new weekend afternoon and evening show. Bring a blanket and picnic and make a day of it. The plays take part at a couple of different locations in and around the bay area, but I recommend the Presidio location.

San Francisco Mime Troupe

Don’t worry, we’re not talking about any old mime performing on a street corner. The San Francisco Mime Troupe has been putting on a shows for years. Scheduled performances take place around San Francisco during the summer months, including Dolores Park in the Mission, Glen Park, and Washington Square Park.

San Francisco Maritime National Historic Site

The San Francisco Maritime National Historic Site is located near Fisherman’s Wharf, offers a chance to get close to several types of boats, including tugboats, ferries, and schooners. Self-guided tours of the boats are available for a nominal fee. Visiting the Site also allows for some great photo ops, since it has views of downtown San Francisco, Ghirardelli Square, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

Sea lions of Pier 39

Pier 39‘s sea lions are celebrities in San Francisco. You may have to wiggle and squirm your way past other tourists at Fisherman’s Wharf to see them, but this is a great chance to see some local marine life. You can almost always find the sea lions at the dock at Pier 39; simply follow their smell.

Fort Point

Located on the southern side of the Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Point offers one of the best views of the bridge. While the Golden Gate Bridge is the main attraction, Fort Point also offers great views of the city. The historic site maintains normal business hours Thursday through Monday. Both guided and self-guided tours are available free of charge.

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At the Porte de Vanves Flea Market

So in celebration of freedom of choice and “seizing the day,” here’s a grab bag of activities for kids in Paris that not only would have captured my imagination at age 10, but still holds magical appeal today.

So play on, Cheapos!

1. 400 bows: The Doll Museum

Got a broken doll or a one-eyed sock monkey? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Véronique Derez at the Le Musée de la Poupée. La Docteur Miracle is usually on call on Thursday afternoons, and will gladly mend eyeballs, replace lashes and repair heads. Permanent collection feature the 400 historic French dolls.

Check out the clothing for the dollies in the gift boutique. Looking for a vintage doll to call your very own? Skip on over to the Porte de Vanves Flea Market any weekend morning.

2. Day for knight: the Army Museum

Nestled in what was once Louis XIV’s military hospital, the Musée de l’Armée is a definite hit not to be missed. Watch out for Catherine de Médici’s stone bow and Henri IV’s sword, dripping in mother-of-pearls. See Charles de Gaulle’s leather bomber jacket, and Napoleon’s tent, hat and little dog too!

Up in the attic, model railroad bugs can feast their eyes on the military model collection. On either end of your visit, picnic down the street on the grassy Champs de Mars. This former marching grounds is my favorite spot for gazing up at the Eiffel Tower, sun soaking and people-watching.

3. A real scoop: The new Chocolate Museum

Around St. Valentine’s Day 2010, Le musée Gourmand du Chocolat opened its doors in the heart of Bonne Nouvelle. The museum serves up 4,000 years of history, along with free chocolate samplings. Signage is in both French and English, and at a kid’s eye view, to boot

Inside the Chocolate Museum

After your tour, stop by the shop for cookbooks and molds, along with chocolate lipsticks, candles and bags of chocolate from all over the globe. Ooh, la la. Also, Cheapos, discount bookstore Mona Lisait and Le Grande Rex movie palace are located just a few blocks away.

4. Right round like a record: The carousels

The Sun King set the French love affair with the carousel in motion when he installed a wooden one in his amusement park at Versailles! Today nearly every square in Paris boasts one. My favorite carousel is deep in the Jardin du Luxembourg (where kids try to spear brass rings with tiny lances), designed by Opéra architect Charles Garnier.

My pet merry-go-round spins at the Place des Abbesses. The difference between a carousel and a merry-go-round? The latter features a variety of animals and transports, while the former only wild horses!

5. Send in the clowns

But think seasonal. During the fall and winter, warm-up with the clowns at Cirque d’hiver Bouglione. Imagine! Degas, Seurat, and Toulouse-Lautrec all sat tight on the same velvet seats at this old one ring circus.

Chaumont’s Théâtre Guignol Anatole

Tips: Stop by the nearby Clown Bar for a pre-show nibble. Its circus memorabilia-covered walls and frites will help get the party started. Pack your camera because there’s usually a photo-op with the troupe during intermission. For the love of Bozo, just do it.

Haribo street candy

During the warmer months, get punchy with the 202-year-old puppet Guignol and his rowdy entourage at the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont’s Théâtre Guignol Anatole. Before moving to the park in 1867, this same theater worked the crowds into laughing frenzies over on the Champs Élysées.

There are more than a dozen puppet theaters in Paris. For current show listings, pick up a copy of Pariscope (the weekly entertainment guide) at any newsstand or kiosk. Buttes-Chaumont’s temple, cliffs, cavern and waterfall lend a panoramic backdrop to any scene.

Additional Pick-me-ups

Best French supermarket cookies (for touring fatigue): Lu Biscuits
Best French soda pop (in a super cool bottle) to order in a café: Orangina
Best place to score the perfect snow globe: the shops at the Place du Tertre in Montmartre
Best street candy: Germany’s Haribo (another meltdown cure)

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