Whenever June gets close, we still get that giddy feeling we had when we were kids and counting down the days to summer vacation. (Here’s what’s running through our heads!) Whether your ideal holiday is hanging out in a Montana mountain cabin, shopping on the Champs-Élysées, or lounging on a Balinese beach, one thing is certain: the key to a happy getaway is comfortable shoes, good for walking all day or kicking back with a cocktail! So without further ado, here are a few of Ped’s ideal traveling companions.

One of the most charming styles this season is also one of the most practical: Accessoire’s Suisse!

Airy! Chic! But with added protection for your toes! This sandal easily transitions from day to night when you only want to pack one pair. We like black for travel because it goes with everything, but if you prefer a jolt of color, the Suisse is also available in summery green.

Another great sandal for meandering through bazaars or taking a stroll down the boardwalk is the Cydwoq Cobra.

As Vicky E. told us in her “Tale of the Sole,” Cydwoq sandals are great for ambling around ancient ruins, yet they’re stylish enough for  evening drinks al fresco! We especially like the Cobra because its enclosed heel doesn’t impede the ability to just slip it on and go!

Lots of people prefer an enclosed toe for catching trains, planes, and rickshaws. With Cydwoq’s Rocket, you can have a full shoe and breeziness, too!

We love the tab and tiny window over the toe. Plus the color is so much fun! Other travelers will definitely want to know where you got your fantastic shoes!

A Cydwoq style just made for the life of leisure is the Orient:

Effortlessly chic! And isn’t that what we all want to be on vacation? The Orient’s knit leather is so cool, both literally and figuratively! (It also comes in black, although sizing is limited since that color flew out the Ped warehouse door.)

Trippen is another company whose shoes are designed for walking, walking, and more walking. One of the best travel sandals this season is the Sensual:

You simply have to feel the leather of this great flat to believe how deliciously supple it is! The design holds your foot securely through a long day of sightseeing, but it instantly becomes elegant when you slip on a LBD for a night on the town.

Looking for more of a moc for your days away? Consider Trippen’s Chip:

The asymmetrical design adds flair, and the slits on the toe box add ventilation! Perfect for moseying from here to there and back again on a hot day!

If you like the idea of a full shoe, but you want to stay light on your feet as you travel, then Trippen’s Cream is calling your name!

Ultra soft and ultra comfortable, this simple shoe is constructed on Trippen’s “cups” sole, which will keep you nimble no matter how many miles you log. The pistachio color and double laces will have you smiling the whole way.

There are lots more travel-worthy options over at Ped’s main site! No matter what your destination, a new pair of comfortable shoes or sandals is just the ticket to get your trip off on the right foot!

(Speaking of shoes that feel wonderful, Trippen’s Aloe is this week’s stellar Sweet Treat! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to land at the Aloe with the magic code that will bring 20% off at checkout. Get the wedge edge!)

Last week my husband and I returned from a wonderful vacation on Lake Tahoe. I spent summers there as a girl and always called it “my sweetie lake.” Now every other year, we rent a house with my sister, Terry (we call her T1 and my husband T2), and her family, who bring a boat up from Los Angeles, along with their golden retriever, Molly, Ella’s sister!

The house in Homewood we rented.

The first morning was rather eventful. I took my morning coffee out by the shore with the three dogs (let’s not forget Lulu). All of a sudden, Ella started growling at something behind me. I turned around to see a BEAR about 50 yards away! I scooped up Lulu in my arms and grabbed Ella by the collar. But Molly thought Ella was growling at me, and those two started fighting! I started screaming, “Help!!!” The bear must have thought, “That lady is nuts,” and “I do not need a dog fight!” because he lumbered away. But, wow!!!!

The rest of the trip was much more relaxing! Molly and Ella spent their days in the water, with Lulu racing up and down the shore crying for them. Occasionally Lulu would venture into the water, too.

Molly, Ella, and Lulu soaking up the Tahoe sun!

As for the humans, we spent our days tubing behind the boat, rafting down the Truckee River, paddle boarding, biking, and having barbecues. We also cruised around the lake in the boat, visiting Sand Harbor, where the water is Caribbean blue, and Emerald Bay, where one of Lake Tahoe’s oldest mansions, Vikingsholm, looks over the lake.

On the left, my sweetie and I enjoy the lake. In the upper right, the gang rafting on the Truckee River, and on the lower right, tubing behind the boat!

We also took the boat to various restaurants on the water: Sunnyside for their famous fried zucchini; Chambers Landing (the oldest structure on the lake) for their wicked “Chamber’s Punch”; and then to my old stomping ground, Garwoods, where I worked as a sweet li’l waitress in the summers of 1989 and ’90!

On the left, my sister and me. On the right, the hub and my brother-in-law Richard. We were dining at Jake's on the Lake on our last night.

It was such a wonderful vacation! Truly, Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful alpine lakes on the West Coast! Terry and I are fully refreshed and ready to dive into fall back here at Ped HQ. But we’ll dream of our next retreat to my sweetie lake!

Life is good when I'm floating on Lake Tahoe with Lulu!

Here in the U.S., today is Memorial Day, a holiday that honors war veterans (somber), but which also adds an extra day to the weekend (happy)! What a perfect time to hit the road—or the air or the tracks—for a refreshing getaway! Here at Ped HQ, we know just how rejuvenating a three-day break can be, and we like to practice what we preach! You don’t need much for a spur-of-the-moment mini vacation: just a great hold-all, versatile shoes, and something to keep you warm in case the temperature drops. To meet those needs, Ped’s road-tripping experts offer these recommendations:

1) 49 Square Miles spacious and luscious Kerouac Satchel:

The size is ideal; it holds everything you need—a change of clothes, a good book, and a scarf—but it keeps you from overpacking. And we simply can’t say enough about 49 Square Miles’ leather, which is the very definition of “supple.” Exquisitely crafted, the Kerouac will let you wander through a lifetime of long weekends!

2) Cydwoq’s versatile Elect sandal in bronze:

Oo-la-la, how we love this sandal! With its gladiator-esque styling and metallic faux crocodile leather, this flat is so modern. But because it’s handmade by Cydwoq, it’s like an old friend on your feet—comfortable enough to run around in 24 hours a day. Plus, the bronze color magically transforms from afternoon-casual to after-dark-dressy with the change of an outfit.

3) A cosy Sophie Digard scarf:

Behold Sophie’s lovely wool Edelweiss scarf, which is light enough for warm-weather wear. But Ped’s favorite Parisian textile artist also offers other choices, depending on how prone you are to feeling chilly. Those who start to shiver as soon as the sun sets may want to wrap up in a woolen beauty. But if you’re a gal who simply gets a few goosebumps, Sophie’s lighter linen fare may be all you need. Whichever you choose, you’ll look drop-dead gorgeous!

So hit the road in style and enjoy a few fun days away!