About Naked Places

Welcome to Naked Places
Some Terminology
Naturist Politics & Naturist Values
Recommended Reading
Who the Hell Writes this Stuff, Anyway?


Welcome to Naked Places

Welcome to Naked Places, a new concept in travel guides. This guide takes advantage of the power of the internet and Google Earth satellite technology to provide detailed and accurate information on places to go naked across the world. A number of naturist guidebooks have been published over the years, and there are countless nude beach guides available on the internet. Naked Places seeks to be much more than just another nudist guide. We strive to give our readers what other guides, for the most part, do not. There are three elements of this guide in particular that we think set us apart: scope, precision and inclusion.       Naked Places is a work in progress. Our goal is to provide information about as much of the world as possible. At this point, this guide covers North America; much of Europe; Australia and New Zealand. If you are seeking information about a part of the world we do not yet have online, please be patient! It has taken about five years to assemble this guide, and we are not nearly done yet. For every site that we detail in this guide, we have tried our best to be as precise as possible, giving exact locations and directions, parking locations and mapping tools. Google Earth satellite technology and photo links make locations come alive in a way that is not possible in a more conventional guide like a printed book.       We are keenly aware that there is a lot of inaccurate information about nude beaches floating around the internet—which gets multiplied repeatedly by lazy copycats. We are committed to not spreading bad information. All listings in this guide are painstakingly researched. We have first-hand experience with many nude beaches across the world collected over the better part of two decades, but we certainly have not been able to visit them all. In cases where we rely solely on other sources, we have not taken anything for granted. It we can't verify a site's location and viability through multiple sources, we have not included it. Furthermore, we get you there. A big gripe that we have about many nude beach guides, particularly online guides, is that they do little other than providing vague information about a beach's existence. If you want to actually go to a place, you have to invest time doing more research. In this guide, we've done that extra work for you. When you are ready to go to a place, all the information is in the Google Earth placemarks (explained under "Using This Site"). You need only find your way to a logical starting point, like a major intersection or a freeway exit, and we guide you the rest of the way. Google Earth satellite imagery reinforces the written directions. You actually see the route, and having an idea of the lay of the land in advance helps ensure that you will not get lost.       In addition to nude beaches, the other major component of this guide is what we'll broadly refer to as places to stay. This includes a lot of campgrounds, RV (caravan) parks, large resorts, small resorts, guesthouses and the like—some, but not all, associated with private-membership clubs—that cater specifically and exclusively to nudists. But the places to stay in this guide also include many establishments where nudity is rather incidental—such as, for example, a guesthouse where swimsuits are optional poolside but where clothing is otherwise required. We have tried to be as inclusive as possible, and we list many places that are not regularly listed in other naturist guides. For example, there is a wealth of gay accommodations across the world where nudity is perfectly acceptable, and gay naturists regularly flock to these places, yet they are rarely included in "mainstream" nudist sources. We have provided color coding and other tools to help you sort through the places to stay included in this guide. You can choose to explore in further detail the places that are more likely to be your cup of tea. In this guide we challenge the notion that only places that fall in line with the sensibilities of a narrow target audience are appropriate for a nudist guide to the exclusion of all others. Even mainstream people aren't as mainstream as they think. We're a full decade into the 21st century. The time has come.       We have observed over the years that many people who describe themselves as nudists or naturists have pronounced preferences in the ways they prefer to experience nude recreation. For example, we have met people who value the safety of being at a naturist retreat with like-minded people and for whom naturism is all about community, yet some of those same people have no interest at all in going to public nude beaches. On the other hand, we've met people for whom the ultimate naturist experience is being naked at the beach or some wild and remote place, relishing the organic experience of being in their natural state in a natural setting, yet some of those people are not inclined to be socially nude in other contexts. We are not suggesting that a choice must be made, of course. Plenty of people have broad interests in their naturist pursuits. We are merely pointing out that we are not all the same in our interests. Whether you espouse the tenets of a particular naturist philosophy or if nude recreation is just an occasional diversion... whether you are more of a nude beach bum, a hot springs enthusiast or a nudist resort vacationer... whether you are naked as much as possible or just by the pool.... whether you are straight, gay, married, single, partnered, strait-laced, free-spirited, religious, atheist or uncertain (and the list goes on)... it is our sincere hope that you will find new and useful information in this guide to enhance your particular naturist lifestyle.

Some Terminology

NATURISM and NATURIST       In 1953, the International Naturist Federation (INF) formally defined naturism as "A way of life in harmony with nature, characterized by social nudity, with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and care for the environment." Philosophical connotations aside, the words "naturism" and "naturist" are used very broadly simply to describe places or events where nudity is considered normal and acceptable. These terms (or, more precisely, variations thereof—naturisme/naturiste, naturismo/naturista, etc.) are much more widely used in Europe than in the United States. Except among Americans who pursue nude recreation, the word "naturist" remains largely unfamiliar. Europeans, on the other hand, are far more likely to described a swimwear-optional beach as a naturist beach than as a nude beach. NATURALIST       A naturalist is a person who studies animals and plants. Why is it mentioned here? Because many, many people confuse the words "naturalist" and "naturist," including lots of people who really should know better. CLOTHING OPTIONAL       Describes places or events where individuals are at liberty to decide whether to be completely dressed, partially dressed or completely naked. Nudity is acceptable but not compulsory. Of course, there aren't that many places where naked people and people in formalwear mingle. "Clothing optional" is by and large the equivalent of "swimsuits optional." C.O.       Short for clothing optional. TEXTILE       A popular term of convenience used to describe people who wear swimsuits or places where swimsuits are worn. It is easier to say "textile beach" than to say "beach where swimsuits are required." FREE BEACH       Another term for nude beach. The term does not apply solely to beaches that are officially designated as clothing optional. A free beach is any public beach where nudity is well established, accepted by patrons and tolerated by authorities. Beaches where nudists cover up if textile visitors approach or that have trouble with frequent anti-nudity enforcement are usually not considered free beaches. Although this is a good term to know when reading other naturist materials, we do not use it regularly in this guide. LANDED CLUB, NON-LANDED CLUB and TRAVEL CLUB       In naturist lingo, the term "landed club" refers to a local association of naturists that owns and operates a facility where its members can meet. These facilities vary substantially in size and amenities, but a typical facility is similar to a campground, with sites for campers, RV's and tents, cabin rentals, a swimming pool and often other amenities. Most landed clubs' facilities are open to the public, at least on a limited basis.       A "non-landed club" refers to a local association of naturists that does not own property. These are clubs whose members get together (often monthly) for social events in private homes, nude beach outings, hiking trips, visits to naturist retreats and the like. The term "travel club" is more or less a synonym, although it is more apt to be used for clubs the focus on going places. NATURIST RETREAT       The term "naturist retreat" is not especially common in naturist parlance. We use it extensively in this guide as a term of expedience, mainly to avoid using the word "resort," which does not strike us as being inclusive enough. We figure that what qualifies an establishment to be a resort is a highly subjective matter, so we mostly avoid the word. For the purpose of this guide, we use the term naturist retreat to mean any lodging establishment that caters specifically to naturists, whether it is a campground, RV park, resort hotel, guesthouse or whatever. Many, but not all, naturist retreats are the "landed" part of a landed club. If the nude opportunities afforded by a particular establishment are not central to its raison d'être, we do not generally regard it as a naturist retreat. FKK       Although you are not likely to see this term associated with places in North America, it's a good one to know when you are ready to take your naked adventures across the Atlantic. The abbreviation FKK is short for the German word freikörperkultur, which translates as "free body culture." FKK has become synonymous with naturism in Germany, and it is used throughout Europe to designate clothing-optional beaches. For example, if you see FKK on a map, then a nude beach or other place where nudity is acceptable is pinpointed. If you see an FKK sign on a beach, you've reached an area where you can be naked. NUDIST vs. NATURIST vs. CLOTHES FREE       What exactly is the difference between a nudist and a naturist? For the most part, the terms are used interchangeably, although there is some debate over nuances of meaning. The generally accepted distinction between the two terms is that "naturist" has more of a philosophical and political connotation than "nudist." Both nudists and naturists may enjoy nudity as part of an everyday lifestyle. Someone who identifies as a nudist but not as a naturist may view nudity as a leisurely pursuit or as a facet of his/her lifestyle that is not grounded in any particular philosophical belief. Someone who identifies as a naturist may have specific convictions that nude recreation promotes body acceptance and self esteem. People who identify as naturists have been the most active in advocating legal statuses for nude beaches and often work tirelessly to oppose anti-nudity legislation.      These nudist/naturist distinctions are not precise, and some people are not satisfied with either term. Must a person who enjoys sunbathing naked on the beach be labeled one way or another? Is a person who is perfectly comfortable soaking naked in natural hot springs necessarily going to be comfortable standing in line naked waiting for a serving of coleslaw at a nudist potluck? Perhaps it is the implication that nudists or naturists live naked as much as possible that some people find not to be indicative of their nude recreational pursuits. Sure, some people hang around the house in the buff all day, but we guess that most people you'll find sunbathing naked on a beach on a given afternoon are probably not naked around the dinner table later that evening. Some may even wear pajamas that night, for all we know. The term "clothes free" has become more popular in recent years to describe this resistance to being labelled. In January 2006, a California-based organization formerly known as the International Naturist Association (INA, not to be confused with previously referenced INF) changed its name to Clothes Free International. Among the reasons it cited for the name change: Just like a person who periodically works in their garden might not want to be labeled a "gardener," the words "Clothes Free" do not label the person as does the word "nudist" or "naturist." "Clothes Free" is catching on as the new friendly replacement to "nudist." Many resorts are now calling themselves clothes-free resorts instead of nudist resorts. The words "Clothes Free" points at the clothes that are gone, instead of pointing at, or labeling the person.      That's all well and fine, but at the end of the day labeling is as much about conciseness and convenience as about passing judgement. "Clothes-free recreationist" is a bit cumbersome. In this guide, we use the word nudist very generally to refer to a person who is naked (usually at the beach). So, if you bare all at the beach, in our eyes you're a nudist—at least until you put your clothes back on.

Naturist Politics & Naturist Values

When writing a naturist guide for a broad audience, the issue of naturist politics is inevitable. The very subject of politics may seem incongruous with the joys of clothes-free recreation, but politics happens. It's inescapable. Considering that some of the naturist and clothing-optional entities listed in this guide do not conform to the standards espoused by groups such as the American Association for Nude Recreation, we feel compelled to explain how the point of view manifested in this guide differs from more conservative interpretations of naturism.       A core issue, and a very contentious one, in the realm of naturism concerns the distancing of nudity and sexuality. Society at large very often does not distinguish between nudity and sexuality at all, so it becomes the burden of those who pursue nude recreation to set the record straight and explain that naturist retreats are not dens of unbridled iniquity. It gets tedious, of course, explaining a commonly misinterpreted concept over and over again. It should be no wonder that many naturists entities go out of their way to promote themselves as "G" rated, non-sexual, family-oriented places. That is indeed appropriate for places where children are present. However, we do take issue with the unyielding stance that a certain faction of naturists takes toward the existence of adults-only places that are more permissive.       Some conservative naturists argue that permissive establishments do not cater to "genuine naturists" and besmirch the reputation of naturism. The question of "What is true naturism?" is one that garners about as much consensus as "What is the meaning of life?" and "What is the one true religion?" We are not going to attempt to answer any of those questions. We don't know the particulars of your naturist values and don't presume that you share all of ours. We will say that it is unfortunate that discussions of naturism and sexuality are too often filled with invective and hyperbole, whereby people who pursue "alternative" lifestyles are demonized. We hold as valid criticism of overt sexual behavior in public nude places that jeopardizes those places, and we support the right of any naturist organization (like the AANR) to demand that its affiliates adhere to a prescribed set of values. However, we also believe that blanket criticisms of lifestyles pursued responsibly at places that openly cater to those lifestyles crosses the line into bigotry, and we find attempts to dictate rigid naturist values to be self righteous. We think it is narrow-minded to presume, for instance, that a couple that enjoys an occasional risqué getaway at an adults-only nude resort cannot behave appropriately at a family-oriented nude venue.       In this guide, we have chosen to be inclusive. Our mission is to provide as much information about nude recreation venues as possible. If you are interested only in "G" rated, family-friendly nude recreation, you'll find the majority of listings herein cater to your interests, but there are certainly places you'll want to steer clear of. As previously mentioned, we have used color coding to help you determine which places are most likely to appeal to your sensibilities.       Lest there be any ambiguity: We are not suggesting that naturist entities must cater to all lifestyles. Not at all. We are merely urging tolerance for those places that fall outside of the naturist mainstream. We encourage you to pursue your particular interests in nude recreation at places that pointedly cater to those interests. If you are looking to indulge your hedonistic or party animal urges, please don't take those desires to a place where that is clearly not part of the accepted culture. We hope that our readers will use this guide to make choices that suit their own values without passing judgment on those who make different choices.

Recommended Reading

	The book below is the best available resources for locating naked places not included in this guide.
	A joint effort of Lifestyle Press in the U.K. and The Naturist Society in the U.S., The World's Best Nude Beaches and Resorts is the most comprehensive worldwide nude recreation guide available as a single book. It is a follow-up to the late Lee Baxandall's World Guide to Nude Beaches and Resorts. Beautifully illustrated with full-color photos, this book is the best available overview to nude opportunities in the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.       Available from Amazon.com

Who the Hell Writes this Stuff, Anyway?

Naked Places is the effort of Michael Boyd and Wade Dixon. Michael and Wade both have rural roots, hailing from small towns in northern Louisiana and western Tennessee respectively. We moved to Austin, Texas independently in 1990, met in 1993 and have been together since. We still reside in Austin, which—to the surprise of many outsiders— is a liberal, hip, funky oasis in the heart of red-state Texas. Both our first nude beach experiences occurred independently right here in Austin at Hippie Hollow, one of the few legal nude beaches anywhere in the country. Michael and Wade have three children of the feline persuasion who couldn't be more loved and made over if they were human children.       Naked Places is Michael's brainchild, and Michael does most of the research and writing. (Wade isn't lazy. He just has to put more time into a more conventional line of work!) We would love to be able to say we've visited every site in this guide, but that would be impossible even if we had an unlimited supply of money. We have been, however, lucky enough to crisscross the globe a number of times, and we've visited nude beaches in places as far ranging as Nova Scotia to the Ardèche Gorge in southern France. Wade is an avid map collector and has an uncanny knack for retaining all kinds of geographical minutiae; county seats and state high peaks are a specialty. We both have an affinity for wild and remote places, especially in the American West, and we've had our share of flat tires and other misadventures in our quests to four-wheel-drive and hike our way as far away from civilization as possible. So far our maximum hiking distance covered in one day is 18 miles. We're in no hurry to break that record. One of our favorite places for a naked soak is Three Forks Hot Springs in southeastern Oregon, and our travels often find us in places so far removed that the question of whether nudity is acceptable is entirely irrelevant—like the Maze district of Canyonlands in Utah.       This current incarnation of this website was launched in January of 2010, and we are continuing to expand it in the months and years to come.

Michael		Wade