Free and Wonderful Things to Do Around Sarasota

Sarasota is a beautiful place. Swaying palm trees, gorgeous beaches, a thriving arts community and much more await. Many activities that create marvelous memories in Sarasota are free. Below is a list of some of them.

People watch at St. Armand's Circle -- St. Armand's Circle is an upscale shopping and dining district where the beautiful people go to be seen - and the wanna be beautiful people go to see them. It's terrific fun to sit on one of the many benches and watch the people and their vehicles go by. On any given day, you are likely to see several Ferrari's, Lamborghini's and other luxury cars. Ladies in fancy dresses stroll and shop, creating wonderful opportunities to play the people watching game where you make up stories about the people that you see. (This is Beth, who just received a large settlement from her 2nd husband's estate who just passed away while on an African safari.) People also bring their dogs to St. Armand's Circle. It's fascinating to watch these canine creatures browse the shops and enjoy the many restaurants. A lot of the shops even have water bowls placed outside their doors for the refreshment of the visiting dogs.

Boat watch at the Ringling Bridge -- Pull off the road on either side of the Ringling Bridge into one of the parking lots. You can sit back and enjoy the breathtaking view of Sarasota Bay. You will see boats of all sizes and types zoom by, huge pelicans crashing into the water headfirst looking for a meal, the skyline of downtown Sarasota and possibly even a dolphin or two jumping out of the beautiful emerald water. When the water level is low, you can even walk out a little and throw rocks or giant shells. It's a terrific, quiet spot to relax and enjoy the beauty of Sarasota Bay.

Walk the Beach at Longboat Key -- There are many fabulous beaches around Sarasota - each with a unique "feel" and "personality". The beaches of Longboat Key are quite secluded and offer folks a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico. There aren't any huge "public beach parking lots" on Longboat Key. Instead, there are tiny little pull-in lots dotted along the Key. The sand on Longboat Key is quite coarse, filled with an infinite number of tiny seashells. The hypnotic crashing of the waves and the quiet atmosphere on Longboat Key make for a truly relaxing time. Also, after storms, you can find all kinds of things washed up on Longboat Key - starfish, horseshoe crabs, and other large sea shells.

Ringling Museum of Art on Mondays -- Every Monday you can get in to the Ringling Museum of Art for free. This is an opportunity that should not be missed. John Ringling's art collection is amazing - and the museum facilities itself are impressive. You can also pay to see other parts of the museum - but that's not necessary to have a great time. Ride the free tram down to the mansion for a great view of Sarasota Bay. Duck into the gift shop and peer around the corners - this will give you a pretty good glimpse of the mansion without paying the fee to see it. Even children enjoy seeing the art - there are lots of angels in the paintings and the one of the lion whose eyes follow you is a huge hit with the little ones. Of course, the tram ride is great fun for the kids too.