NATURISTS AND CLOTHING OPTIONAL, “NOTHING TO HIDE”
BY CLAY LARROY
Make the most of your travel
experiences. Taking a cruise is a great way to see many different places when
you travel. Cruises offer many activities and things to do while on the ship,
while offering you the opportunity to explore different locations each time you
arrive at a port. Travel is a great opportunity to learn more things. Time
spent abroad helps you understand and appreciate diverse cultures. In addition,
it encourages an acceptance and tolerance of ways of life that differ from your
own. When you want to plan a
vacation contact me!
Internationally,
people of all ages frequent popular nude beaches, including children. Resorts
tend to be far more restrictive, allowing only individuals 18 and older. If you
are traveling with minors, check carefully into the rules and regulations of
the resort you are visiting.
The
United States has many more beaches and resorts than most people first imagine,
mostly located in Florida and California. The Caribbean has a number of resorts
offering clothing optional settings, but typically at adult-only facilities.
Antigua, the Bahamas, Belize, Bonaire, Curacao, the Dominican Republic,
Jamaica, Grenada, St. Barths, St. Lucia, St. Martin and Turks and Caicos all
offer clothing optional resorts, as do some areas of Mexico.
In
Europe, a large number of Mediterranean beaches allow topless and nude
sunbathing. France, Spain and Greece also have many clothing optional beaches
and resorts. One of the most interesting of these resort cities is Cap
d"Agde in France, which takes public nudity to a community level in
certain areas of the town, allowing nudity on the streets, at the grocery
store, and in restaurants. In the South Pacific, Australia, Thailand and Bali
all have naturist resorts and beaches. Keep in mind that often the clothing
optional areas are marked as such, and venturing beyond the permissible
confines of the naturist area risks a fine. Several cruise ship companies also
provide clothing optional cruises.
While
most bookings for naturist vacations are for independent couples, escorted
trips are also available to resorts and international destinations. The social
setting of a group provides a built-in enclave of like-minded people, and many
feel more comfortable. Tour operators hosting escorted trips have knowledge of
the destination and of local rules and assist travelers with becoming
acquainted with a new destination, the naturist setting or both.
As
with most communities, the naturists have their own code by which they adhere
and expect others to conform.
- No
staring
- No
lewd remarks or gestures
- Keep
a towel with you to use when sitting on furniture
- No
photography of anyone not with your party
- No
unmerited or unwanted advances or attention
- Finally,
universal respect for "house rules" :the local rules of the
resort hosting the naturist community that may govern issues like clothing
at mealtimes, jewelry, and permissible activities and hours
Because
of the psychologically sensitive nature of nudity, it is important that the
traveler fully discuss potential issues with their traveling companions and
determine well in advance how to handle situations, such as one party suddenly
becoming uncomfortable with the setting or with planned activities.
True
naturists will explain to you that anything that you can do clothed can be done
while unclothed. Activities include backpacking, canoeing, scuba, skydiving,
and kayaking, along with more common activities like dancing, volleyball and
sunbathing. Some obvious precautions are in order, such as sunscreen, but in
general, people comfortable in a clothing optional setting are extroverts, and
the available activities reflect their outgoing natures. However, naturist
retreats emphasize being comfortable, and those wishing not to participate in
an activity should not feel pressured to do so.
It
has been said that if we were meant to be naked in front of each other, we
would have been born that way. If a naturist lifestyle appeals to you, there is
a world of destinations suited to accommodate!
REFERENCE SITES:
http://www.travelresearchonline.com/
“There is nothing in all the world more beautiful or
significant of the laws of the universe than the nude human body.”