Free attractions in National City

National City is a relatively small metropolis situated in the heart of San Diego County. While it may not be at the top of the list of travelers' tourist destinations, the locale is teeming with cultural and historical attractions. In fact, it's one of the oldest cities in the county, and many of the highlights of the area point back to its Native American past - the Kumeyaay people lived here for thousands of years before European settlement. You can discover the intriguing heritage of this destination with the help of one of Thrifty Car Rental's National City rental cars, which often come with money-saving National City deals. During your stay, be sure to check out these affordable sites:

Frank Kimball Museum

Located in Heritage Park, the Frank Kimball Museum is easily accessible with the help of a National City car rental. You'll drive past historic buildings, old shops and unique galleries as you pull up to this renowned institution. It was once the residence of Frank Kimball, the founder of the city, and today it serves to educate the public by displaying many of the original belongings of the first settler. You'll step back into the 19th century as you discover historical artifacts, such as an old family bible, a stereopticon slide viewer and original furniture, not to mention the extensive collection of photos located in the historic research room. Admission to this museum is free.

National City Santa Fe Rail Depot

Make your way to the Santa Fe Depot Museum and park your National City car rental on Main Street. While entry is free to the public, there is a suggested donation of $2 for adults and $1 for kids. The goal of this institution is to teach people about the train depot that ran from 1902 through 1973 and helped shape commerce and society in the western U.S. National City's rail depot is the only one still standing in the country and was restored to its original condition in 1998.