Florida Celebrates National Flip-Flop Day

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Florida sand on your flip flops--with your oldest daughter who is in the Airforce and now serves 1300 miles away, PRICELESS.

Photo Credit: Ceeja Guilliams

Flip-flops. Funny name, practical shoe – at least for the Sunshine State. Florida celebrates what might as well be the state's official footwear with free smoothies.

It’s the beginning of summer, when the rest of the nation pulls out last summer’s flip flops, or heads to the corner drug store for a new pair.

Flip-flops have become such an American summertime icon that there’s now a day dedicated to the footwear: National Flip Flop Day, held, appropriately timed for summer, the third Friday in June (June 15 in 2012).

In Florida, with more beaches and resorts than any other state in the nation, that unmistakable flip-flop sound is a year ‘round phenomenon, and a sort of unofficial state shoe.

The rubbery sandals became popular after World War II. Cheap, colorful and comfortable, flips (or flops, depending on your mood) became associated with a lazy family week at the beach. In the 1960s, first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis took Florida flip-flops to the next level when she started wearing colorful and decorated Jack Rogers’ leather “Navajo” sandals while in Palm Beach. Today, these Jack Rogers sandals are still made in Hallandale. In West Palm Beach, similar sandals are also made by Stephen Bonanno Sandals.

Other upscale flips abound. The Florida-born brand Lilly Pulitzer sells a version of the once-humble shoes, as does the shoe company Bernardo, which sells a “Miami” style thong sandal.

Today, the everyday flip-flop has gone celebrity. Orlando-based Margaritaville footwear sells flip-flops with Parrothead foot treads inspired by Jimmy Buffett. Celebrities have also been spotted in Florida with the spongy shoes. Everyone from Tara Reid to Kenney Chesney to Matthew McConaughey have been snapped by paparazzi wearing flip flops in Florida.

Businesses around the state are celebrating. Destin-based Tropical Smoothie Café celebrates the start of summer with its National Flip Flop Day celebration. The first 500 customers who come in to any of the chain’s locations wearing flip-flop sandals will receive a free 24-oz. Jetty Punch™ smoothie. For more information, visit www.nationalflipflopday.com.

Smoothie fans should also download a special offer coupon from Tropical Smoothie.

In observance of this unofficial holiday, VISITFLORIDA.com has selected its top “flip-flop” related stories.

Read about flip-flops and beaches, flip-flop romance, flip-flop walking tours and boutique shopping in flops. Then share your favorite Florida flip-flop photos and videos with other visitors!

Five Types Of Florida Flip-Flops

Flip Flop with Buffett

Flip-Flop on the Beaches

Flip-Flop Romance

Flip-Flop Walking Tours

 
Flip-Flopping in Fine Shopping