Walk in the Sand Day

Walking barefoot in the sand is one of life’s simplest yet most soul-nourishing pleasures. It’s calming, grounding, physically beneficial, and mentally restorative. The shoreline is where many people go to reset, but these beloved places are also under threat from pollution, erosion, climate change, and overdevelopment.

A Global Step Toward Beach Appreciation, Wellness & Protection

Each year, as the Earth tilts toward spring and new life begins to bloom, the world comes together for Walk in the Sand Day, observed on the Saturday after the March Equinox. This annual event, created by Patti Jewel, invites people across the globe to take off their shoes, feel the earth beneath their feet, and experience the healing power of nature, all while raising awareness about the need to protect our beaches.

This isn’t just a casual stroll. It’s a global movement.

Why Walk in the Sand?

Walking in the sand is more than a physical activity, it’s a therapeutic, sensory experience that connects us to the natural world:

• Mentally calming: The sound of the waves, the feel of soft sand, and the wide horizon all combine to ease the mind and reduce stress.

• Physically healthy: Sand walking strengthens muscles, improves balance, and promotes circulation.

• Emotionally grounding: There’s something deeply centering about the slow, mindful pace of walking where land meets sea.

Walk in the Sand Day reminds us that the beach is not just a destination, it’s a place of restoration, connection, and wonder.

The Vision Behind the Day: Patti Jewel’s Call to Mindful Celebration

Patti Jewel, creator of both Walk in the Sand Day and World Beach Month, believes in the power of everyday actions to spark global awareness and change. Through holidays that celebrate nature, creativity, and connection, Patti hopes to inspire people around the world to appreciate and protect the world’s natural treasures.

Walk in the Sand Day perfectly embodies this vision: a quiet, powerful act of presence that deepens our bond with the beach and opens our eyes to its delicate beauty and vulnerability.

A Walk That Leads to Awareness

Walk in the Sand Day may seem simple, but its impact is profound. With each step, we connect to nature, to ourselves, and to a global community that values the beauty and importance of our world’s beaches.

The Saturday after the March Equinox, take a moment to step away from the busy world. Let the sand guide your thoughts. Let the ocean reset your soul. And let your walk remind you that the beach is not just a place to visit, it’s a part of the Earth worth cherishing and protecting.

Walk in the Sand Day reminds us to cherish what we love and to take action to preserve it.

his special day was to celebrate the simple, grounding act of walking along the beach and to inspire greater appreciation for the fragile beauty of our shorelines.

Part of Patti Jewel’s mission to use meaningful holidays to promote awareness, joy, and global unity, Walk in the Sand Day invites everyone to take off their shoes, feel the earth beneath their feet, and reflect on the gift of our coastlines, while also considering the responsibility we share to protect them.

The Global Walk for the Beaches Initiative

As part of Patti Jewel’s larger mission to create holidays that unite the world around important causes, Walk in the Sand Day now includes the Global Walk for the Beaches, a coordinated worldwide effort to bring people together, physically and virtually, in a powerful show of support for ocean and beach conservation.

How It Works:

• On the Saturday after the March Equinox, individuals, families, and organizations gather at beaches, lakeshores, and waterways around the world.

• Participants take a walk, as short or long as they like, barefoot in the sand, along the shore, or even symbolically in parks and green spaces.

• Walkers are encouraged to wear aquablue, and share photos or videos using the hashtag #GlobalBeachWalk and #WalkInTheSandDay.

• Beach cleanups and awareness events are also encouraged to pair physical activity with environmental impact.

The Goals:

• Unite global communities in a peaceful, meaningful action.

• Raise awareness of coastal pollution and climate threats.

• Encourage sustainable practices and coastal stewardship.

• Amplify the message that beaches are not just vacation spots — they’re vital ecosystems worth protecting.

How to Participate in Walk in the Sand Day & the Global Walk

You can join the movement from anywhere in the world:

Take a Beach Walk

• Head to your local beach, lakeside, riverbank, or shoreline.
• If you’re landlocked, walk barefoot in a park or backyard — symbolic walks count!
• Head to your favorite beach or shoreline and walk barefoot in the sand.
• Go solo for reflection or with a friend to share conversation and beauty.
• Pay attention to what you see, hear, and feel and let the walk be a meditation.

Collect Moments, Not Things

• Rather than taking shells or rocks, focus on taking in the experience.
• Snap photos, jot notes in a journal, or draw what you observe in nature.

Leave No Trace

• Pick up litter along your walk. Even a small cleanup effort can make a big difference.
• Share tips on beach preservation and sustainability with others.

Make it Impactful

• Bring a reusable bag and pick up any litter along your route.
• Talk to others about the issues facing local and global beaches.

Share the Journey

• Post photos of your walk, your sandy footprints, or the view ahead using #WalkInTheSandDay and #ProtectOurBeaches.

• Encourage others to take their own walk and reflect on why beaches matter.
• Post photos or videos of your walk.
• Use hashtags #WalkInTheSandDay, #GlobalBeachWalk, and #ProtectOurBeaches.
• Share a story or message about why the beach matters to you.

Get Others Involved

• Organize a group walk or community cleanup.
• Partner with schools, environmental groups, or tourism boards.
• Print and share educational materials or posters.

No Beach Nearby? Improvise

• Walk in a local park, nature trail, or even your backyard barefoot to feel more grounded.

• Play ocean sounds and visualize the sea as a form of guided meditation.

Upcoming Dates

Walk in the Sand day is observed on the Saturday after the March Equinox (start of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere).

A Message from Patti Jewel

“Walk in the Sand Day is about more than touching the earth — it’s about feeling connected to each other and to the planet. With the Global Beach Walk, we invite people everywhere to step up, walk together, and speak out for the beauty and protection of our beaches.”
— Patti Jewel, Creator of World Beach Month & Walk in the Sand Day

Walk With Purpose

As we walk, we reflect. We remember that every grain of sand is part of something bigger and so are we. Whether you’re walking alone or with thousands, your steps help form a global wave of love, awareness, and protection for the natural coastlines we all cherish.

This March, take a stand by walking in the sand.

Join our Global Walk and Show Your Support of Our Beaches

Get in touch with Patti Jewel to take a walk with her and support the mission

#WalkInTheSandDay | #BeachMindfulness | #CelebrateAndProtect

Everyone should enjoy a walk in the sand!

Walking in the sand has many benefits including the relaxing ocean front experience where you can watch the waves, bird watch, look for sealife, find a pretty shell, and enjoy being in a natural environment. Part of Walk in the Sand day is to appreciate the beauty of the beaches that nature has provided us and to get involved in protecting and keeping the beaches and ocean clean.

Walking in the sand is great exercise and provides a walk that is like no other.
It takes more energy to walk in the dry sand areas and works more muscles in the legs and feet. You can walk slower and enjoy nature while getting a better workout, burn more calories and enjoy the experience much more.

If you prefer the harder sand near the water in a faster paced walk, the benefits compared to walking on pavement are less stress on your feet and joints as the sand offers more flexibility.

The feeling of walking in the sand provides a soothing and relaxing sensation and is healthy both mentally and physically.

Walking barefoot

Your feet contain nerves that connect and correspond to different parts of the body, according to reflexology. The foot has 42 muscles, 26 bones and 33 joints and deserves to be pampered. While we know how healthy walking is for our bodies, walking barefoot in the sand is also great for your feet. The sand massages your feet as you walk and provides a natural way for your feet to be massaged. This can improve blood circulation, stimulate the muscles in the feet, strengthen the feet and ankles, relive stress and help you to relax. It also connects you to nature which can relieve all kinds of stress and imbalance in your life. And there is nothing quite like the feeling of walking in the sand barefoot! But also note that walking barefoot in the sand can exaggerate or cause problems in the shins and tendons of the heel and feet so it is best to keep the barefoot walking in the dry sand areas to a shorter walk.

60 minute Walk on the Beach

Wear great waterproof walking shoes. Start your walk with 10 minutes in the dry sand, then move closer to the water, not in the water, just where the sand is firmer and pick up the pace for the next 30 minutes. Then take off your shoes and slow your pace to enjoy the feeling of the sand between your toes as you walk for the next 20 minutes. This isn’t for everyone, but for those who are near a clean, not too shelly or hazardous on the feet beach, who love to go barefoot and feel the sand therapy through their feet, this is a great experience. You can alternate between the dry sand and the shoreline where you can get your feet wet and feel the waves softening the sand beneath you.

Walk in the Sand Day Founder

Walk in the Sand Day was founded by Patti Jewel to celebrate the beauty of the worlds beaches and the healthy activity of walking in the sand. As a beach advocate who goes to the beach for relaxation and healing, both mentally and physically, Patti created this day to share the experience and joy with the world back in 2012 and has now expanded it to a global effort to unite the world in an effort to appreciate and help save and protect our beautiful beaches.

Patti Jewel is a strong supporter of protecting the environment, preserving the beaches and sharing the beauty of this wondrous natural resource that mother nature has provided. As the founder of WalkintheSand.com and FloridaSmart.com, she has published content about Florida’s beaches for over 20 years and is an activist in beach preservation and wildlife.