Like many, I’m longing for a long weekend where I can get to the beach for a day. Heck, I’d settle for a Saturday afternoon along the river. Anything to get my feet in the water, my toes sunk into some sand, and my face in the sun.  Your feet can take a beating in these conditions however, so take along the right kind of shoes.

First, bare feet in the ocean or river can leave them exposed to rough rocks and potentially not-so-friendly water creatures.  Protect your feet with a pair of water shoes that completely cover your feet. You’ll want a shoe that drains and dries quickly too. 

Second, flip-flops or sandals are essential if you will be making trips from your pool-side lounge chair to a changing area or bathroom.  Look for flip-flops with a little height as well as some grip on the bottom so you are less likely to slip on wet services.   Flip-flops are a good idea for the beach as well; they give you a dry, easy to slip-on change of shoes when you are done in the water.