While the big businesses of suburbia often quote “No Shirt, No Shoes, No service,” there are other towns and establishments that welcome barefooting, so here is a town and a tale of a vacation spot that is fully traversable sans shoes.
If you ever want to experience a town through new eyes, try walking a mile in someone else’s shoes, or rather, without them. You learn a town by being aware of every step, seeing through textures, planning routes as you go, and taking time to stop and smell the roses, or just enjoy wiggling your toes in the grass.
A town I did this with was Colonial Williamsburg Virginia, where fanny-packed, polo-clad middle class Americans come to see re-enactors from the days of the British colonizing Virginia.
While shedding my worn Vans, I carried them around constantly despite having a purse, in order to show my choice of taking my shoes off and being pretty damned proud of it. That is key, I feel, to show the choice of avoiding shoes. Because that is what people do not yet understand, that yes, I would rather not wear any shoes at all than the adorable high heels or thick tennis trainers I see.
But I digress.
The day was overall very positive, being able to walk on brick or smooth brick stones, and grass. I even had the opportunity to calm my hot feet in a small stream. But despite the sweltering 95 degree day, the brick was warm, but not overwhelming to my feet because there were trees for shade and grass. But cobblestones and their broken oyster shells made me ooch-and-ouch every step.
But every shop had wooden 1800s floors, not polished or smoothed and lacquered, and I was told to watch my feet, though they welcomed my bare feet into their stores.
I was proud to have the gardener say “You have some mighty tough feet, miss” as I maneuvered the garden scattered with oyster shells for the paths. And while an oddity, this gentleman took my bare feet exactly for what they were and I consider them: a sign of strength, something to be respected like any other way of life.
So when you go into a new town and want to learn about it in a new way, if you are without your FiveFingers, just slip off your shoes. It is a great way to start conversation, catch someone’s eye, and learn about a town through your feet.
Has anyone tried this? I would love to do my next barefoot venture in somewhere more controversial, and see the results. Has anyone gotten really positive feedback? In a recent comment, one reader said they never have never had any trouble. Tell us your best or worst story about being a barefoot or a FiveFinger rebel!
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I enjoyed Colonial Williamsburg just last week myself… barefoot, of course. It seems to be very barefoot-friendly as no one said anything to me. I also spent a day in Asheville, NC recently – another bf-friendly locale.
Dahlonega, Ga is another one. Though during summer highs that can reach over 100, I don’t recommend the asphalt ;) A lot of the stores are barefoot friendly, but during events such as Gold Rush or Bear on the Square, I’d recommend shoes just because of the crowds. Don’t want anyone stepping on your toes!
While on holiday in France recently, I spent the day barefoot in two towns. Mont St. Michel, and St. Malo in Brittany. These are medieval walled towns, and I just felt like feeling the stones as I walked the towns walls, nobody made any comments. The only other barefoot person I saw though, was an obviously drunk, dirty, and begging girl in her twenties. Not a good advertisement!
I have been walking around barefoot in most of my stomping grounds in San Antonio, TX. We enjoy 100F++ daily right now, so it’s limited to non-black pavements (bright concrete is great) and such, but nobody is saying negative stuff. I do carry my flip flops with me as a self-defense, against the heat and the possible, “No shoes, no service” thing that some restaurants MIGHT have around here. But other than that I am putting about 2 barefoot miles in, every day around lunch time (11:30ish to beat the crowds). So yeah, San Antonio, TX could be another barefoot open place …
Was in Williamsburg the last few days. Walked the brick sidewalks and experienced the crushed oyster shells barefoot. Temps were mild, in the mid-70s. Perfect barefoot weather.
I live in Richmond, but used to work at the brewery near Colonial Williamsburg. That was 15 years ago, wish I was a barefooter then, but nevertheless, it is good to know that I can go there sans shoes.
This summer however, we went to Lexington, VA (the home of VMI and Washington & Lee University) and I went barefoot everywhere, even inside Stonewall Jackson’s house. It is a very quaint, and very hilly town, but barefoot friendly indeed.
I had a barefoot unfriendly experience at Colonial Williamsburg today. A lady at the gate to the mansion gardens refused to let me in stating that “we need shoes.” Shame on you Colonial Williamsburg!
Thank you so much for spending time in order to create “Colonial Williamsburg, A Barefoot Friendly Town | MyFiveFingers.
com”. Thank you once again ,Alta
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