Beach Parks

Always FREE, these are some of my favorite San Diego parks.
Coronado

• Spreckels Park: middle of the town
• Heritage Park: great view

La Jolla

• Children's Pool (Seal Beach) - FREE visiting of the seals (and since it's spring = their babies).
• La Jolla Cove, is a great small beach during the weekdays. I love it b/c Diego can't run too far. If you have older children and they are strong swimmers, put on a mask and/or snorkel and see some amazing fish, including the bright orange Girabaldi. PLUS, the 4th of July celebration there is awesome.
• Tide Pools
• LJ Shores: Playground, Grass & Beach

Solana Beach
Fletcher Cove: Playground separate from beach. Clean bathrooms. Walk downhill to the beach and my favorite part = you don't have to walk forever to get to the water. There is always parking during the week and not a ton of people. "Naked Cafe" is across the street - amazing all-natural food restaurant & reasonably priced. Take Loma Santa Fe Road West until it ends.

Encinitas
Moonlight Beach/Park: playground, beach, refreshment stand. very crowded on weekends.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=659

Point Loma
Tide Pools: http://www.nps.gov/cabr/naturescience/tidepools.htm
Bermuda Street Beach: no playground, tiny beach for a couple families when it's low-tide.