To everything there is a

A day at Siesta Beach, or at any other area beach, offers loads of free fun.

season in the Sarasota area. When it comes to sweet eats, simple pleasures and downright steals, you're only limited by your imagination and the calendar. Fortunately, Sarasota is generous to both, rewarding savvy spenders with thrills cheap in cost but not quality. Here's a roundup of wallet-friendly ways to spend your days during the next few months and any time of the year.

Fall
It doesn't cost much to be romantic, and in the season to end all seasons on Sarasota's coast, look no further than the shoreline. Nokomis Beach is an idyll, with gentle waters and plenty of space.

Just a few minutes south is Venice's North Jetty, notable for the legions of dolphin watchers who gather at sunset to glimpse the sleek animals. North Jetty Beach is a good lookout for the silver-grey creatures, which travel in pods and feed close to the shore.

Or hunt for silver treasures of another kind at

Downtown Sarasota's Farmer's Market comes alive every Saturday morning from 7 a.m. to noon.

St. Armands Circle, where the windows are always available for shopping. Be a clever opportunist and take in the theatre of people, colors and sounds against the Circle's vibrant backdrop.

Winter
Haute école is the name for the beautiful performance Lipizzaner Stallions give. If it's the cheap and chic you're after, taking in a presentation of this rare Austrian breed is in order. Beginning in January and running through April, the Col. Ottomar Herrmann's unicorn-white horses demonstrate their celebrated breeding a few times a week at the Herrmann family ranch in Myakka. While donations are accepted, admission is free.

Hoping for more haut monde? Hustle over to Philippi Mansion's Brown Bag Lunch concert series. Held every Thursday at noon in February and March on the mansion's lavish grounds and lasting about an hour, the series features a variety of accomplished local musicians, gratis. Philippi's stately surrounds aside, free concerts spring up everywhere on this cultural coast.

Anytime of Year
Invest in the quiet abundance nature provides, no matter the season. Meander down the new boardwalk on Venice's Caspersen Beach, part nature walk and part promenade. Bring along a picnic lunch as you hike or roller blade down the linear trail in Venice's new Venetian Waterway Park. Nearly 10 miles of trail follow the Intracoastal Waterway and feature fishing platforms, scenic overlooks, a playground and up-close views of the snaking Intracoastal.

Make a day of it on one of the county's beaches – parking is free and so is a day on the sands. Stroll along Sarasota's Bayfront and count the undulating sailboats. Downtown, the Sarasota Farmer's Market sets up shop every Saturday. They say talk is cheap, but it's a currency the market is liberal with as friends and neighbors chat, chill and check out the bushels of produce.


The Sarasota area's offerings are plentiful – and rich. Luckily, you don't have to be.

Create your own custom coupon book for savings at area attractions, dining establishments and accommodations, or order a printed guide. When you're in the area, stop by the Sarasota Visitor Center at 701 N. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota for helpful information and brochures.

If you go:

Lipizzaner Stallions, 941-322-1501, www.hlipizzans.com

Philippi Mansion, 941-316-1309

Sarasota Farmer's Market, 941-951-2656

Venice and Nokomis Beaches, 941-486-2626, www.venicegov.com