Ian Dryden

There are still “freebies” to be found in the sphere of San Diego sightseeing. If ever you have been called upon to host out-of-town relatives and guests, you probably are aware that escorting tourists about the city can run into quite an expense. So, the following tours, available to the public and organized groups, are recommended to your attention. They cost nothing more than the transportation to and fro.

An excursion through Old Town Historical Park begins every Saturday at 1:30 p.m. It originates at the Old Town Visitors Center and is conducted by one of the park rangers. For more information, call 294-5182.

Local archaeological excavations at the Presidio may be surveyed on a San Diego Historical Society tour. The Society provides this service Tuesday through Friday to organized groups rather than individuals. They request that you call 297-3258 to make an appointment.

The Villa Montezuma at 1925 “K” Street is a perfect place to begin rediscovering historical buildings in the downtown vicinity. Hostesses at the home of the late Jesse Shepard are delighted to share the lore and beauty of the Villa. Open Sunday and Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. The house is closed Monday and, curiously, Saturday. It is open to the public and free of charge, but accepts donations for maintenance. Groups are encouraged to call in advance for organized morning tours: 239-2211. Several pamphlets are available at the Villa Montezuma which locate other historical buildings in Golden Hill and the downtown area.

It’s a fun way to become more familiar with the Victoriana and geography of our city.

A “self-conducted bayside tour” has been created at the Cabrillo Monument on Point Loma. The Visitor’s Bureau suggests that you contact their facility at the lighthouse for instructions and information: 293-5450.

A similar ecology walk originates every Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the Morley Field parking lot. Self-tour maps are available. Again, a call to the Visitor’s Bureau at 276-8200 will yield further details.

A day in Balboa Park can be highlighted by a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts across the street from the statue of El Cid. Complimentary tours are conducted Tuesday through Thursday at 10 and 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The itinerary includes die permanent collection with the option of other traveling exhibits. Some of these temporary shows have an admission charge, however, and it is advisable to contact the museum for additional facts. The phone number is 232-7931.

La Jolla’s Museum of Contemporary Art has provisions for groups ranging from ten to 75. An age limit has been set at a minimum of five years. The museum, located at 700 Prospect, concentrates on works produced since 1950. Tours are conducted Tuesday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Contact Carolyn Kenvin for assistance: 454-0183.

If you’ve ever wondered how all the scenery, lights, and rigging are manipulated in a theater, the Civic Theatre offers a tour to clear up just that type of question. Guests are shown the stage area, beneath it, the lighting board, and, when convenient, demonstrations of the various facilities. Groups ranging from six to 25 persons are welcome and should contact Mr. McClure at 236-6515 for an appointment.

One of San Diego’s most famous points of interest is its harbor. Although there are excursions available for a price, there are other attractions in the area which do not have an admittance fee.

The Navy opens at least one ship every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Broadway pier. The public is invited to inspect the vessels, and hosts are stationed at strategic points to assist with explanations and directions. To find out which ship will be open, call 235-3545 late Friday afternoon.

The Woman’s Organization for the Tuna Industry (WOFTI) will guide you through a tuna ship when one is available. They request that you make arrangements two weeks prior to your visit: 297-8580. This is a first-hand view of the men, their work, and the entire controversy surrounding the tuna industry. WOFTI also provides guest speakers and films to local schools concerning the subject of the tuna industry in San Diego.

Something to keep in mind for after the first of the year, as a complement to your tuna ship tour, is a trip to Van Camp Food Industries. Much of the tuna brought in by local fleets is processed by Van Camp. The Sorrento Valley complex is still under construction at this time, but they hope to have tours established after January 1. For information: 231-1911.

San Diego Gas and Electric has programs for junior and senior high school classes only. A discussion and tour of the power plant, boilers, and control rooms last approximately 45 minutes. Again, this is closed to the general public: 232-4252.

Pacific Telephone has two school representatives, and, as with SDG&E, their curriculum relates only to career possibilities and school classes with a special interest in their facilities. Tours usually include a visit to work locations. Contact the public relations department for details: 238-2420.

The San Diego Union facilities in Mission Valley are also available to groups with guests ten years old and older. An appointment is necessary: 299-3131.

Hilliard Hall of the Union explained that a tour follows the development of a news story and averages one hour in length. After a film and a question-and-answer period, visitors are shown the wire copy room, news and composing rooms, camera, plate-making, press and mail rooms. The program is usually tailored to the special interests of the visitors.

Appropriate to our current water crisis is a field trip to the Helix Water Purification Plant near Lake Murray. Tours are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the business office would appreciate a call in advance. Special groups should contact the plant office for requirements of group size and age: 463-0327.

Mercy Hospital has a plan to introduce the public and children to the daily regimen of a major hospital in a painless manner. Although an appointment is necessary (294-8040), they encourage service organizations and schools to acquaint themselves with the hospital routine. Size limitation is 15 persons maximum. Areas included depend upon the age, interests, and size of the group. Laboratories, patients’ rooms, and care facilities are included on the agenda. Again, call the public relations department for details and a reservation.

The Salk Institute on Torrey Pines Road in La Jolla has a fine program on Wednesday afternoons at 2 p.m. The schedule consists of a slide show, lecture, and tour. Groups of any size are welcome but advance notification is required (453-4100). Although tlie Institute is open to file public on all weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., the area of inspection is limited, and volunteers who serve as guides may not be available. Plan on a Wednesday visit for the most complete and rewarding program.

The Superior Mattress Factory downtown is a great way to do a, bit of research before purchasing that new bed. A tour lasts half an hour and includes a look at raw cotton being processed into padding and the assembly line itself. Call Rudy or J.T. for an appointment at 233-6643. One caution: smoking is strictly prohibited.

The Auto Binder Company is delighted to show their business methods to the public. Here you can observe how those guide books and brochures are assembled before they reach the tourist. Phone ahead to make arrangements: 234-4123.

Coca Cola Bottling has a career education development plan available to high school classes only. The program is for career exploration purposes and they require three to four weeks’ advance notice: 262-7551.

For those seeking relief from the industrial complexes, Rocky Home Dairy provides file perfect tour at their Lakeside farm. Reservations are needed one month in advance, testifying to file popularity of the program. The dairy facilities include washing, filling, and capping the bottles, file freezer and storage rooms. Also included are the farm house built in 1937, the livestock, and a grape arbor used in raisin production. Children above the age of three are welcome, and chocolate milk is free at the conclusion of each tour. Call the farm at 443-0633 for information and scheduling.

Callaway Winery provides the only organized tour of an operating vineyard. (Bernardo and Ferrara wineries do have tasting rooms and permit guests to wander about their facilities.) Located a few miles east of Highway 15 off the Rancho California exit, Callaway is something of a loner in Southern California winemaking. It is the only label from this area to be sold nationwide on a scale similar to the northern California competition.

The tour includes an explanation of processing techniques as well as a look at Callaway facilities. Visitors will follow the route from vineyard to fermentation tanks and barrels, the controversial centrifuge, to bottling and labeling.

Ely (E-lee) Callaway is often on hand to personally guide his guests through the plant. A possible drawback: there is no winetasting available. Call the vineyard in Temecula for further information: 676-5283.

Get a look at the action behind the television camera at one of three local television stations: KGTV (10), KFMB (8), and KCST (39). KGTV, located at Highway 94 and 47th Street, accommodates groups of no more than 20 people. As the tours are quite technical, they request children of third-grade level and above. One adult for every five children is required. Highlights include visits to the studios, control rooms, props and news room. The morning tour observes the Noon News in progress. Call the promotion department for an appointment at 262-2421.

KFMB limits groups to 15 people. The tours are on Tuesday and Thursday by appointment and include a visit to the TV control rooms, studios, and news room as well as file AM and FM radio facilities. Contact June Bain for more information: 292-5363.

KCST (located near KFMB in Kearny Mesa) provides tours for studio audiences following the You're On show. This is a live program airing Saturday evenings. Jim Gallagher, the program’s associate producer, will conduct the group if notified one week in advance. Reservations for the audience are limited to 50 people and should be made with Mr. Gallagher at 279-3939.

Finally, some good advice no matter which tour you’re tempted to try: to receive the best cooperation and results, always call ahead. Verify the information found in this or any other published guide; often the material is outdated. Also feel free to call or visit the San Diego Visitor’s Information Bureau in Mission Bay (276-8200) or the Cabrillo National Monument (293-5450) for details and directions to many of the local sites. They are more than happy to assist you in your quest for a good, safe, and economical outing.