Looking at the most recent American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) Bulletin newspaper, I was surprised at how many activities are going on this winter.  Nudists throughout the US are finding great ways to have fun.

Duckpin Bowling

In Baltimore, Maryland, the Capital Area Family Naturists (a nudist travel club) are hosting a few duckpin bowling nights.  The club has rented private space at a bowling center for naked bowling.

Watch the Super Bowl with nudist friends

Many nudist resorts across the country are hosting Superbowl events.  For instance, Mountaindale Sun Resort in Portland, Oregon will have a Super Bowl Party and Potluck Dinner.  Cedar Creek Park in Pelion, South Carolina is also having a big Super Bowl Party.

Celebrate Chinese New Years, Mardi Gras and Valentines

The Travelites, a South Carolina nudist travel club, has a slew of events planned, including gatherings to Celebrate Chinese New Years, Mardi Gras and Valentines.  Avalon in PawPaw, West Virgina also has Valentines and Mardi Gras events planned and its indoor pool makes it an attractive winter destination.

Go to a Chili Cookoff in Texas

Sahnoans at Star Ranch in McDade, Texas will host the 11th Annual Shell-less Armadillo Chili Cookoff on Jan 17.  Mmm...armadillo....tasty.   BlueBonnet Nudist Park in Decatur, Texas will host a Chili Cookoff on Jan 24.  

Party in Wisconsin

Valley View Recreation Club in Cambridge, Wisconsin is closed for the winter season, but that has not stopped them from putting together an innovative event.  The club reached out to a local hotel and rented out space for a weekend.  The result is the Valley View Recreation Club Mid-Winter Party on February 28, 2009.

Yes, according to an article recently published in the Chicago Tribune about nude recreation.

The article makes it seems that nudism is really popular. Imagine that.

"One in 10 Americans ranks staying at a resort that offers nude recreation as extremely/very desirable, according to a 2008 survey by Ypartnership/Yankelovich National Leisure Travel MONITOR." (Chicago tribune)

If that statistic is true, one out of ten of your closest neighbors and coworkers think nude recreation is extremely/very desirable.

The article talks about other trends in nude recreation. The article was overwhelmingly positive and talks about nude recreation growing. At a time when everything in the news is so negative, this article is shocking.

People are interested in nude recreation. More and more people are trying it for the first time and enjoying the experience of freedom from clothes and being at one with nature.

But there are a few hurdles to overcome for nude recreation as the article mentions. For example, the incorrect association of nude recreation as being a lifestyle/swinger activity. The two are separate but some nudist resorts are catering to both, a challenging line to walk. Nude recreation is not about sex and true nudist resorts are family-safe (at least the ones affiliated with the American Association for Nude Recreation are supposed to be).

In contrast, lifestyle activities are about sharing partners, a unique lifestyle decision based on sex. Certainly, lifestylers are just people with a different belief than me and I respect that. But in my opinion, too many lifestylers are not respectful to others who do not share their beliefs. That I do not like. It's a small subset of these lifestylers who are ruining it for everyone. While most nudists and lifestylers are generally very tolerant people, except when their rights are encroached upon, a few rotten apples need to be controlled so that nude recreation can continue to have a bright future.

Read the full article on the Chicago Tribune website free.

It's almost July.  What are you doing to get naked for the rest of the year?

Looking for ideas?  Here are some upcoming Naturist Society events that are sure to be a good time.   These festivals offer days and nights full of nude recreation activities amongst people who are dedicated to nude recreation.  The events feature workshops, sporting activities, and social activities from petanque to dances.  The Western Naturist Gathering will even have a drumming circle.

Northeast Naturist Festival
August 5 - 10
Empire Haven, Moravia, NY
315-497-0135

AvalonFest
August 8 - 10
Avalon Resort, Paw Paw, WV

Western Naturist Gathering
September 11 - 14
DeAnza Springs, Jacumba, CA
619-766-4301

Southern Naturist Gathering
October 16 - 19
Lake Como, Lutz, FL
877-TRY-LAKE

I have yet to visit the other destinations, but I did visit Lake Como Resort earlier this year.  Lake Como has a lot of fun things to do.  Several small rowboats and canoes are provided for fishing and cruising around the lake.  Lake Como has a large pool, a lakeside bar/restaurant, another larger restaurant, billiards hall, dance hall, hot tub, sauna, tennis courts, hiking trails and more.  Amongst campground-style nudist resorts in the United States, Lake Como has to be amoung the top ones. Adding the Southern Naturist Gathering to the mix should make for a very entertaining nudist getaway.

Looking at the laws of most US towns, it seems that the laws for wearing clothing are determined by 2 simple factors:

1. The category of room you are in
   
2. Who can see you
   

If you think about it, nudity is permitted in many common situations:

1. Undress in a locker room
2. Shower without clothes at home or in a locker room
   
3. Undress and do all sorts of naked posturing for a doctor
   
4. Be clothesfree, wearing just in a towel, at a spa
5. Get undressed at a dressing room in a clothing store
   
6. Be naked inside your house as long as the windows are closed
7. Be naked in your garage as long as the windows are closed
8. Possibly be naked in your yard if it is fully enclosed are you are concealed
9. Be naked all of the time if you are a non-human animal
   

In contrast, there are places in the US to be naked 100% of the time. Nudist resorts offer this comfort as do a handful of beaches.

Swimming without a soggy bathing suit is the way to relax.

Nudist resorts allow you to do a lot of the activities not allowed elsewhere.

For example, we've now dined several times in nudist resort restaurants while in the nude. Fun as long as you don't spill anything hot!

Play nude volleyball. Hike nude. Bike nude. Camp nude. Many nudist resorts offer these types of activities.

Europe has even more opportunities to go without restrictive clothing. Topless bathing is the norm and many places are clothing optional.

Then there's the naturist village of Cap d'Agde, France. That place is cool. Shop in the nude, dine in the nude, swim at the beach in the nude. I've mentioned Cap d'Agde here a few times.

The Hartford Courant newspaper's lifestyle section just featured a nice trip report about Solair Recreation League, a nudist camp ground in Connecticut.

The author, Joann Klimkiewicz, visited Solair with her sister. Both around 30 years old, they left with a fairly positive impression of the resort. The sister's collectively had experience with being in clothing optional environments (Europe and some US topless beaches) so the article was more insightful, I think, than the more common "first timer" article.

As compared to some one-sided articles by authors who have only read about nudism, this author showed dedication by taking the plunge and then writing a well-rounded and fair account of the experience.

Read the full story here

My impression of Solair
Personally, I like Solair overall, having visited once and also being in the same "around 30" age group as the sisters above. When my wife and I visited, it was a lively summer Saturday last year. Besides people gathered at the pool, hot tub and lake, the sand volleyball court was active.

The library was empty, but who wants to read books inside on a nice day!

Solair had an event that day that I've never imagined ever seeing: a cooking demonstration in the nude. Think Emeril live, but scaled down and on a picnic table in a gazebo in a nudist resort. The woman's presentation was actually very good and educational.

I think Solair's hot tub and pool are average but nice. I prefer deep pools over volleyball depth pools, but that's just me. The lake is a uncommon feature and had a platform in the middle that you could swim to while skinnydipping. The grounds are really nice, comparable to Sunny Rest Lodge, a nudist resort in eastern PA that I'll be doing a trip report about soon.

I wish that there wasn't a pricey annual membership fee (after 4 visits) at Solair - otherwise I'd be back more often. The Courant author refers to it too:

• "Solair, for example, charges $25 for a first-time visit and $500 for an annual membership. For the under-40 set, that drops to $17.50 for a first-timer, and $300 for the year."

I realize Solair's needs to run a business and the quality of the camp ground shows they are making some good decisions, so I cannot really knock them for it. In fact, it may be the glue that holds Solair together and helps make it what it is. We felt really safe and comfortable there and it is one of the most family-friendly places I've ever visited and that is a good thing for nude recreation.

So there you have it, a newspaper author endorses Solair. I think it's a nice place too. And if you search the forums on nudist-resorts.org, you'll also hear good opinions of Solair.

Sun Ridge Nudist Resort in 43 words:

Sun Ridge is like being at a family picnic at your new neighbor’s house. You don’t know anyone, but everyone is friendly. You have a good time. However, unlike your neighbor’s house, the people at Sun Ridge have a distinct absence of clothing.

The more complete story:

The fun of nude recreation is going new places that you know very few people in the world get to visit.

Located in Sterling, CT on the Rhode Island border, Sun Ridge Nudist Resort is a simple place to spend the day clothes free.

Sun Ridge lacks the elaborate architecture, fancy dining and entertainment facilities of other nudist destinations. Still, the nudist campground makes for a fun day trip or a good, laid back weekend in a rented trailer. Some people even spend the whole summer there every year, while others make this their first-time experience with nude recreation.

Sometimes all you need is a well kept but rustic nudist campground with a friendly atmosphere. That’s what Sun Ridge provides.

Trip report:

We visited on a June weekend on a day when the weather forecast was not so favorable. This also meant a lot less day guests. Luckily, the forecasted afternoon thunderstorms never materialized and we had a good day of nude recreation.

As day guests, we arrived knowing that Sun Ridge does not have any dining options except for special events. This was just an average weekend so we brought lunch with us.

You can sit down with your picnic lunch by the pool area where there’s a rec hall with picnic tables inside and outside. There are a few picnic tables by the tennis courts too, a short walk from the pool area.

We ate inside the recreation hall, a rustic structure that houses a billiards table and the aforementioned picnic tables. Some Saturday nights the place transforms into a dance area. And for some events, the rec hall has a kitchen area where food is prepared.

Afterwards we played at the billiards table for a while. Then, we spent a few hours in the pool area with trips from the cool pool to the heated conversation pool.

A little later we wandered to the tennis courts. If we had wanted to play tennis, the courts were open and well maintained.

We got dressed and left around dinnertime and headed to a casino for dinner. About 45 minutes away are 2 of the world’s largest casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. Both places have many dining options to choose from.

While pretty laid back places compared to Vegas, going to a casino after relaxing all day at Sun Ridge is a contrasting experience. It’s at the casino where you start to reminisce about the friendly and respectful people at Sun Ridge.

Sun Ridge is within a few hours of anywhere in Southern New England. Give it a try!

What well-regarded nudist destination has a nude beach, pool, nude golf, biking, hiking and more in a family-friendly environment in the Bordeaux region of France?

By the title of the article, the answer is easy: La Jenny.

While France's famous naturist village of Cap d'Agde has been reviewed here before, besides culinary delights, France serves a plate full of nudist destinations. France also provides La Jenny, Euronat and many other destinations.

The other naturist village, La Jenny, lies on the Atlantic Ocean on northwest side of France and offers a low-key, relaxing place to be naked.

La Jenny is a large, family-friendly nudist campground, a very different experience from the larger, more commercial Cap d'Agde.


La Jenny's centerpiece is an incredible grouping of 4 swimming pools kept at 77 degrees to provide a week of enjoyment.

And if the pool is not enough for you, take a walk down to the Atlantic Ocean. Lifeguards are on hand in the main section. When the conditions are right and waves high enough, surfing naked is the way to spend the day. Most people would rather just catch some sun on the nude beach.

Naked golf...real naked golf is a rarity. La Jenny's course is only 4 holes, but is probably the best 4 holes of nudist golf around.

To get around, ride a bike. Bikes are available for rental for riding around through the extensive grounds. Ride from your rented chalet down to the beach to play naked beach volleyball in the sand. Then ride back and have a nude dinner at the clothing-optional restaurant.

Accommodations at La Jenny include chalets/cabins and a campground. The chalets come in many sizes and prices, in peak season from around $70 to $200 a night. The typically include a refrigerator and hotplates for cooking. Some have ovens, dishwashers and other conveniences.
La Jenny even has a small grocery store where visitors can shop in the buff for food to bring back to the chalet. Having shopped at stores like this in Cap d'Agde, I am sure this is a fun experience at La Jenny too.
Learn more about La Jenny at their website.

Recent nude runs at nudist resorts have had a positive turn-out from participants of all ages. Lake Como had over 100 participants and Paradise Lakes about 80. Many more nude runs are planned this year at various AANR-affiliated nudist resorts in the United States. Streaking is in.

According to the Fitness Buff Radio Show (nude radio show) e-Newsletter:

"More than 100 runners turned out for the 15th annual "Dare to Go Bare 5K" at the Lake Como Resort on Sunday, May 6. Fitness Buff host Pete Williams finished in 22:06. Co-host Sabrina Vizzari, who lives nearby and created the race in 1993, did not get out of bed in time."

I'll bet Pete now makes fun of Sabrina regularly on the Fitness Buff radio show they do together.


The inaugural Cotton Tail 5K Fun Run at Paradise Lakes was held a few weeks before on April 21st. The race results show almost 80 participants. Not bad for the inaugural event. According to the Paradise Lakes website:

"The inaugural Cotton Tail 5K Fun Run was a BLAST. And, it appears Streaking may have improved some runners times! See how clothes can weigh you down? Thank you for everyone who helped make this fun event happen. We had lots of positive comments and the participants are looking forward to the Sneaker Streaker 5k September 22 at 8:00 a.m."

Upcoming nude runs:

On June 2, Turtle Lake Resort, a nudist resort in Union City, Michigan, will be hosting the annual 2007 Turtle Lake Resort 5K. According to their website:

"If you love to run or walk, the Annual TLR 5K is a must. For those of you who have never participated in this event before, Turtle Lake offers you the new experience of a Run/Walk in the nude. This is, however, a clothing optional event, so nudity is not required for the Run/Walk. All participants will receive a 5K Run T-shirt. Prizes will also be available to the winners. There are several categories in which prizes are given, so there are many opportunities to take home an award."

The event will be followed by a nude minigolf tournament, horseshoe tournament and DJ dance, making for a fun-filled day of activities. Learn more on Turtle Lake's calendar.

For a list of other nude fun runs, there's a good list here.


Try nude running out. I will someday. It's still on my "nude TO DO" list.

“Who are the people in the nudist resort neighborhood? The people that you meet, walking down the street, each day…” (Sing like Mr Rogers)

You may see FedEx and UPS making deliveries to nudist resort residences.

Pictured (via MS maps) is a FedEx truck stopped in front of residences within the Paradise Lakes nudist resort complex. Can you see the truck?


Yes, the person answering the door could have been naked, though may have covered up out of courtesy to the FedEx delivery person.

Especially at larger nudist destinations, here’s other people you may see:

- Restaurant workers
- Clerks
- Cable companies and utilities workers
- Electricians and plumbers
- Emergency and police services
- And many more.

In France at Cap d’Agde naturist village, lots of people do business within the gated naked city. Some were nudists wearing clothes because of the job. Others were accepting of nudists and chose to work in this environment.

The most uncomfortable part for me being naked and buying groceries in a Cap d'Agde store is that the clothed clerk does not speak English very well and I am equally bad with French.

After recently staying at Paradise Lakes Resort and Caliente Resort in Florida, I became more comfortable.

As my wife and I casually walked naked from the pool area to our room at Paradise Lakes Nudist Resort, we were passed by a man driving a garbage truck.

"Hey, did you realize a garbage truck just passed us and we are completely naked?", I asked.

During our first year of nudism we would have been embarrassed. Now, after some years, we understand that the garbage man is just doing his job. He’s probably been to the place many times and has acclimated. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We are free to enjoy nudism.

I'll bet the man driving the truck wishes he was off from work that day so he could swim in the pool with the nudists.

Later, we saw construction workers building a new house at Caliente. They did not even pay attention to us.

Yes, a nudist resort is the one place where even the “plumber’s butt crack” is not noticeable. Everyone can do there own thing, whatever that is.

Swimming nude is a great reason to try nude recreation. (If you are new to the idea of wholesome nude recreation, the American Association for Nude Recreation provides an FAQ). Whether skinny dipping in a pool or lounging in a hot tub, I have yet to hear a person say they like bathing suits better – no matter what age, size, or color the person is.

The Florida nudist resort trip report continues with a look at swimming naked at Paradise Lakes Nudist Resort. The resort provides a variety of ways to be comfortably naked in the water in a safe and accepting environment.

On Thursday afternoon with perfect weather, sunny and in the 80s, the pool had a scattering of nudists. We enjoyed clothes-free, wet-bathing-suit-free freedom in the main pool area.


Paradise Lakes has a uniquely shaped swimming pool (pictured). It’s more of a lounge pool than a swimming pool. When we returned on a warm Friday afternoon and again on Saturday, the whole pool area was jammed with people.

One part of the pool goes 6 feet deep, allowing for swimming, but most of the pool is 3 to 5 feet deep – nice for standing around, chatting and having a drink. A kind waitress brings beer, mixed drinks or whatever.

The pool meanders from the deep section to the shallow section and then a water volleyball section starts. In addition to the main pool volleyball area, Paradise Lakes has a separate water volleyball pool.

Nude water volleyball is a popular social nudist activity at Paradise Lakes. Games are frequent and can be almost non-stop in both pools on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when the conditions are right (time of year, weather).

To get away from it all, head towards the lake. Next to it, another pool and hot tub area provide a hidden oasis within the oasis of Paradise Lakes.


The residents and guests staying in this section of the resort property use this pool often. It’s convenient and nearby other nude recreation activities. The hot tub was being worked on during my stay, but the pool was nice and had room for swimming the way swimming was meant to be: clothes-free.

I close with these 2 important words: "waterproof sunscreen"

With a bunch of trip report updates in rough drafts, I need a break! It is hard to return to work after a nudist vacation!

Comfort is found in the thoughts of upcoming trips. One upcoming destination will beWreck Beach in Vancouver. As I learn more, I will share.

Though not a resort, the people of Wreck Beach organize fun events and are dedicated to keeping nudist history alive for future generations.

Though the 2007 calendar is in the works, the Wreck Beach Bare Buns Run/Walk is already planned:

• Wreck Beach Bare Buns Run/Walk: Sunday, August 12, 2007 at 11:30 am Sharp! Registration opens at 9:00 am at the bottom of Wreck Beach Trail No. 6 in Pacific Spirit Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Email beachgirl@look.ca for details.

During the cold winters, the Wreck Beach Swim Club organizes indoor events. Learn more about upcoming events and Wreck Beach at www.WreckBeach.org.

Interested in a naked run somewhere near you?

A commenter pointed this website out:

www.NudeRuns.com

Put out by the Western Association for Nude Recreation (WANR), the site contains lots of good info about upcoming events. If you have ever wanted to try naked running, 2007 is your chance.

Speaking of nude runs, Pete Williams writes in the Fitness Buff Radio Show newsletter about tomorrow's Cotton Tail 5K Run. Should be great weather in Tampa/Lutz, Florida! Partly cloudy and high of 80 at Paradise Lakes.

Pete Williams: "Remember that scene in the movie "Old School" where Juliette Lewis informs recent streaker Will Ferrall that she's gotten into body painting? Our own Sabrina Vizzari will be body painted on Friday afternoon - possible coverage on the 6 o'clock news - to promote the Paradise Lakes Body Art Festival and Cotton Tail 5K run on Saturday, April 21. The race is at 6 p.m. and is a perfect recovery run for anyone looking for a run between the Escape from Ft. Desoto and St. Anthony's triathlons. C'mon Everybody! We're Streaking...We're Streaking! Through the quad to the gymnasium. C'mon, Snoop!"

Learn more about the run and body art festival.

My wife and I just returned from an adventurous weekend at 2 of the biggest nudist resorts in North America: Paradise Lakes Nudist Resort and Caliente Nudist Resort.

They are in an area north of Tampa, Florida I call the “Florida Nudist Corridor” with Paradise Lakes and Lake Como Family Nudist Resort next to each other and Caliente Nudist Resort just 4 miles north. All are about 30 minutes from Tampa Airport. All are important in American nudist history and to the people who experience them.

I met one nudist gentleman, nearing retirement, who was fortunate enough to live nearby. He recalled frequenting Lake Como Nudist Resort in his younger years. The resort opened in the 1950s and was one of the biggest nudist facilities in its day. Due to life events, he took a break from social nude recreation years ago when a place called Paradise Lakes was only an idea waiting to open in 1981.

He soon grew to miss the nudist experience. He was re-married more recently and broached the subject of nude recreation with his new wife. She said she'd try it and now they enjoy nude recreation together, making their own nudist history.

He and his new wife have a membership at Paradise Lakes and visit other resorts frequently, including Caliente Nudist Resort, opened in 2004, where I conversed with the gentleman a few days ago.

For my wife and I, this was our second time at Paradise Lakes and first at Caliente. Our first time at the Paradise Lakes was only a handful of years ago and it was our first time visiting a nudist resort.

Over the next several days, I'll be recounting our story, our experiences at these two Florida Nudist Corridor nudist resorts.

I'll look at what to expect, how much to pay, what to do when the weather is great, and how to make the best of rainy weather that rains out a big event. (In our case, the event was Caliente's Bare Bods and Hot Rods Car Show which has been rescheduled for April 29th.)

Reader opinions might be heard too to expand upon my limited experience.

I hope this blog has provided good nudist travel insights. I will be taking a break this weekend to enjoy a nudist vacation. In the meantime, take a look at some of the better recent posts here and by other nudist blogs.

Nudist Fitness Expert / Radio Show Host Offers Nude 5K Race Tips

Inside "Bare Bods and Hot Rods" Nude Car Show

Nudists gather on the Mexico border

Nude Cruise traveler Mike reported from aboard the cruise ship and gave a true account of the experience here. Highlights from his daily trip reports:

Nudists break "On Deck for the Cure" record on nude cruise

Nudist Cruise: How do cruise staff react to nudists? Positively!

What really happens on nude cruises? Insider Report

Of course, I cannot forget the other nudist bloggers out there. Here are good recent posts from some of them:

Do Naked Ladies Turn Men On? (Gymnophiliac.com)

New Australian Nudist Magazine (NudistDay.com)

New study shows sunbathing makes you happy - I bet nude sunbathers are even happier! (TerraCottaInn.blogspot.com)

Nudist Politician Loss Due To Smear Campaign (USAnudist.com)

Late March Nude Snowshoeing (NudeHiker.blogspot.com)

Baby Steps (NothingToDread.com) [a first time report]

Peep! NakedJenBay! (NakedJen.blogs.com)

Plane tickets. Check. Nudist resort reservations. Check. Rental car. Check.

I am ready for a long weekend in central Florida in 2 weeks. Time will be spent relaxing at a few of the nudist resorts - this time Paradise Lakes and Caliente.

Like most people, the money tree is bare (a "nudist money tree") so my travel budget is a concern. Spending money properly allows me to relax at a nudist resort or nude beach instead of worrying about how I’m going to pay for it all.

If you are a frugal nudist vacationer, it's worth looking at rental car options to save some money.

Orbtiz, Travelocity and Kayak are good for comparison. Priceline and Hotwire have the lowest prices. All are worth looking at.

The low price ones come with less choice though. With Hotwire, the car will come from a pool of national or major car rental companies at your destination of choice. Only upon booking is the rental car agency revealed. Once booked, there are no refunds or changes allowed.

Still, my best deal was through Hotwire for $166 for 5 days (including taxes and fees).

The car agency ended up being Hertz. I went to Hertz’s website to see what everyone else pays: $228 (including taxes and fees) for the same period.

I saved $62 - enough to pay for dinner. I may even get a few $2 bills and go buy a bottle of sunscreen at a local store.

I hope the car is cool looking. Would it be wrong to enter a rental car in the Bare Bods and Hot Rods Car Show at Caliente that weekend (April 15th)?

Even still, as long as the radio works, I can listen to the Fitness Buff radio show and Pete Williams who I interviewed on Friday at 5pm on the Tampa area's WTAN AM 1340.

Pete Williams knows fitness and nudism well.

On his average Friday afternoon, Pete Williams hosts the longest-running nude broadcast in radio history.


The Fitness Buff radio show airs on the WTAN Tan Talk radio network in Tampa Bay, Florida. The radio show is broadcast live (and online) and in the buff with co-host Sabrina Vizzari and sidekick Shannon Pankow at Paradise Lakes nudist resort in Land O Lakes, FL. The nude radio show has focused on helping its listeners live longer, live fitter and live better since its inception in 2005.

Pete Williams writes about sports and fitness topics regularly and has appeared in Men’s Health, USA Today and many other publications. Pete is also a staff writer for the Bulletin, the American Association for Nude Recreation’s (AANR) monthly newspaper for its 50,000+ members.

Pete is also co-author of the popular Core Performance fitness book series written with legendary trainer Mark Verstegen. Pete even finds time to keep active and recently competed in a duathlon running and bicycling event.

Today, Pete answers questions for my Nudist Travel blog audience about the inaugural Cotton Tail 5K Fun Run to be held Saturday, April 21st, 2007 at 6PM at Paradise Lakes Clothing-Optional Resort. The event traverses through the gated 72-acre resort and provides an ideal environment for running clothes-free.

John:

The inaugural Cotton Tail 5K Fun Run expands upon Paradise Lake’s 12 successful years with the Sneaker Streaker 5K. Ages ranged from 18 to 79 in the 2006 Sneaker Streaker. Times ranged from 17 to 41 minutes. Is the new Cotton Tail 5K likewise an event for all ages and skill levels?

Pete:

Absolutely! We welcome people of all ages and skill levels and, it should be noted, in all stages of undress. We've found with the Sneaker Streaker that most people go nude for these clothing-optional 5K races since that's the attraction. Many people do it on a dare or to be able to say they did it at one point in their lives. Others find they enjoy it so much that they do it every year - or become avid nudists, even joining Paradise Lakes. With the success of the Sneaker Streaker 5K, which will take place on Sept. 22, 2007, we thought it only made sense to have a spring event.

John:

Food. You’re an upcoming tri-athlete. What do you eat prior to competitive events? Should Fun Run participants worry about nutrition?

Pete:

Great question. You never want to compete on an empty stomach. Nutrition before a 5K race isn't as big a concern as, say, a longer run or triathlon, but you definitely want to eat something with carbs and a little protein. Examples would be toast with peanut butter, one-half of an energy bar, or a 16-ounce sports drink. Be sure to drink 16 to 20 ounces of fluid (if you didn't opt for the sports drink) in the hour before the race. After the race, you want to consume a mix of carbs and protein as quickly as possible. Thankfully, we'll have plenty of refreshments available. Incidentally, if you're interested in learning more about pre- and post-race nutrition, check out my new book CORE PERFORMANCE ENDURANCE, the third book in the CORE PERFORMANCE series I've written with prominent trainer Mark Verstegen.

John:

To keep the Fun Run "fun", beer and water stations will be along the course. I can understand beer, but why water? :)

Pete:

"Fun" run will mean different things to different people. For some, just the idea of going nude is what makes it fun. This event takes place the weekend between two prominent triathlons in the Tampa Bay area, so some athletes are looking at it as a "recovery" race or true fun run, not something that's going to have them focusing on their finish time. Though we provide beer on the course, I'm not sure how many people are going to take us up on it during the race unless they're going at a very slow pace or even walking. Water is a must for hydration, whether you're drinking beer along the course or not.

John:

Modern sports clothing makers have made believers in sports bras for women and jock straps for men. Yet, ancient Greek Olympians played games nude. Who’s more reasonable, Nike and Reebok or the Greeks? I've always wondered, is running nude without support safe for men and women?

Pete:

The Greeks deserve credit for creating the idea of competing while nude. Running nude without support is safe for men and women. Jock straps and protective cups were created primarily for sports where contact is a concern, and that's not the case with a 5K run. And people who have competed in nude races and nude volleyball, even at a competitive level, have found that it's completely safe. Of course, nudity is not required in this race and athletes can wear whatever makes them comfortable.

John:

Thank you Pete. The event sounds perfect for anyone thinking about trying nude recreation for the first-time. Of course, regular nudists looking to get some exercise might want to mark the date on their calendars. I hope we can talk again in the future.

Resources:

Learn more about Pete Williams at his official website.

Listen to the Fitness Buff radio show on Fridays in the Tampa area or online. Recordings of notable guest interviews on the show are available here.

Learn more about the Paradise Lakes Cotton Tail 5K Fun Run. The event is held in conjunction with the inaugural Body Art Fest on that weekend. The Body Art Fest has the making of an exciting event and is drawing attention from PBS and TLC’s Miami Ink who will cover the event.

If you are a clerk in the Tampa, Florida area and a customer hands you a $2 bill, you might have just met a nudist.

From March 15 to April 15, Tampa-area nudist/clothing-optional resorts have a campaign to let local businesses know that nudists bring revenue.

Visitors at the area's nudist/clothing-optional resorts, namely Lake Como Family Nudist Resort, Caliente Resort and Spa and Paradise Lakes Clothing Optional Resort, can exchange currency at the resorts to easily get $2 bills for spending in town.

Here's an idea for added impact: Write "I am a nudist" on the $2 bill or "try nudism" or "Proud AANR Member" or something fun like that.
The story has brought press attention. Two area newspapers covered the story:

• St. Petersberg Times Nudists show their clout behind blanket of $2 bills
• Tampa Tribune Deuces Wild In Land O' Lakes

Andrew Skerritt, of St. Petersberg Times, says in his article "Paradise Lakes, Lake Como and Caliente, all in central Pasco [County, Florida], generate more than $2-million in annual property tax revenues. That's one million $2 bills."

Though many exciting nudist travel topics have been covered here lately, from nudist resort car shows to nude cruises to nude swimming in the Antarctica, now is a perfect time to talk about a good old-fashioned nudist campground.

Juniper Woods is such a place. Juniper Woods is a clothing-optional, family-friendly 65-acre campground in rural Catskill, New York. We visited on 4th of July weekend a few years ago - just for a day.

The atmosphere was uncomplicated and peaceful. A BBQ was set-up for the holiday. The friendly staff was busy grilling up hot dogs and hamburgers for the nudist guests. The petanque court was active. Families were about. Some people played Frisbee in the meadow.

We went for a dip in the pool. Even though the pool is not deep or huge, there was still plenty of space. We then went into the relaxing hot tub/conversation pool. We dried off by sitting on the nearby rocking swing.

We later took a casual walk around the spacious grounds. The dam that controls the water to the two lakes had broke so the water level was down. It’s probably fixed by now. Other than that, the grounds were well maintained.

By the large number of RVs and campers on landscaped sites, a lot of people call Juniper Woods their summer home away from home. Some even have small cabins with immaculate landscaping – flowers, groomed bushes and lawn ornaments.

Several tents were up in the large meadow that day. I noticed a lot of free space in the wooded campsite area. If you like camping in solitude, the wooded camping area is away from the RV area, has trees between sites, and allows for campfires.

Keeping in mind that this is a campground and not an entertainment complex, I recommend bringing some books or maybe some board games. The rec hall and pavilion had ping-pong, foosball and a few other games. Dinners and dances are held here too.

Nudist destinations come in many flavors. If you are looking a charming, secluded clothing-option campground with lots of space and a friendly atmosphere, Juniper Woods makes a nice escape.

Juniper Woods is 45 minutes from Albany, NY and a reasonable 2 hours drive north from New York City.

On June 9, 2007, Juniper Woods will be having an open house and first time visitors get in free. There will be sports events, vendors, a potluck dinner and DJ dance. Many other events are planned on weekends throughout the year.

Update: As of March 23, there are already almost 60 cars pre-registered for the show. At the car show, the date for the 2007 Bare Buns Biker Blast at Caliente will be officially announced.

(Postponed to April 29th due to rain)

As mentioned in “2007 Nude Car Shows: Chevy. Ford. Mopar. Nudists.”, I will be attending one of the upcoming nudist resort car shows and providing a report afterwards. Being eager to learn more about the show ahead of time, I interviewed Deb Bowen, the show coordinator. Deb was nice enough to answer questions about the day’s events at Caliente.

Let’s find out what the Bare Bods and Hot Rods Car Show (April 15th) at Caliente Clothing-Optional Resort and Spa in Lutz, Florida is all about.

John: Having 138 cars in last year's car show is impressive for a clothing-optional resort that opened only in 2004. Could you tell me a little more about last year's car show?

Deb: Let's see. Last year was our first show, but I have worked at other nudist resorts coordinating car shows, so I have a good base to start with. I have also recruited "The Rat Pack Car Club" into the nudist world and have worked with them for years! They go to every car show and event in the state and pass out the flyers/applications! It’s all about getting the word out! And we certainly do!

John: Were the car owners nudists or new to nudism? What has the car owners' response been?

Deb: According to the Rat Pack, the Caliente Car Show has been the talk of the "car show" world since last year! The car owners may or may not be nudists, but for the ones that aren't when they arrive, many of them are by the time they leave! I always sell a few new memberships at the show! It’s a great way to introduce nudism and Caliente to the general public! As you probably know, car collectors are generally an older crowd so it gives them a reason to come to Caliente for the first time (which many of them have stated they were looking for!!!)

John: The April 15, 2007 car show looks like an exciting day at Caliente. There will be vendors, a charity raffle, live music, a BBQ, and a sock hop. Could you tell me a little more about these? Where on the 120-acre resort will these events be held?

Deb: The car show is held in the "over-flow" parking area just beyond the main entrance! It holds about 225 cars and is actually a PERFECT place for the show! Many of Caliente’s members like to stand on the balcony overlooking the car show for a "birds eye view" so to speak, but the folks that are not nudists do not have to go into the lobby at all. Although I can tell you that they have ALL wanted to check it out. I don't remember any case of a non-nudist at any of my car shows that refused to take a look around! And they are completely blown away by Caliente, so I always encourage them to take a tour of the resort before they leave!

We raffle off great prizes and the proceeds go to charities so it’s definitely a win-win for everyone! Last year we raffled off the Nose Cone from and INDY 500 Race Car, signed!

The Live music will be a short show during the daytime by Blonde Ambition, a two-girl team that really rocks! They sing all your favorites from the fifties! They are very entertaining! Then they will put on a show at the sock hop in the nightclub that evening! But there will be either live music or a doo-wop DJ at the car show all day!

We also have a full BBQ at the car show with delicious food available so you don't have to leave your car to go find food! Car owners do NOT want to leave their cars for anything, so I make it easy! Not only do we have a BBQ, but will have fun food vendors (like kettle korn or cotton candy) and we will also have the "beer cart" driving around the lot selling beer, water, soda, wine, etc. We come to YOU!

John: Caliente has a calendar of big events. What goes into making the car show happen?

Deb: PROMOTION PROMOTION PROMOTION! You can't have a successful event if you don't let people know. I have listed the show on MANY car web sites, I have listed the event in local papers, I write about it in my newsletter, I send an invitation to all the car entrants from last year, I tell everyone I know, etc!!! And the Rat Pack always does such a great job handing out the flyer/applications to everyone at all the other shows they attend (which is 3-5 a week!)

The car show is one of my favorite events and draws the BEST people from all over!

John: Thank you, Deb, for giving the inside scoop about the event. I look forward to the car show and visiting Caliente. I hope this post on Nudist Travel Blog helps in the promotion efforts. When it comes to promoting nudist travel destinations and events, I know the challenges and there can never be enough promotion. This seems like a great event.

Additional resources:

• Caliente Clothing Optional Resort and Spa - official website
• RatRack Car Club
• American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) - Caliente is an American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) affiliated resort.
• “2007 Nude Car Shows: Chevy. Ford. Mopar. Nudists.”

What do you get when you mix auto enthusiasts with nudists? Nude car shows!

Nudist Travel Guide Blog (NudistTravel.blogspot.com) provides an overview
of 2007's nude car show calendar. This looks to be the year of nude car shows across the United States – at least 8 and probably more.

Is this a good sign for both nude recreation and car enthusiasts? Yes.

The 170-acre nudist Turtle Lake Resort in Union City, Michigan, has their Annual Antique and Classic Car Show planned for Saturday, June 9^th 2007. The day will be packed fun nudist events including: nude golf cart rodeo, nude drive-in movie, an oldies dance and all kinds of prizes.

Turtle Lake also has an Annual Motorcycle Show (August 25^th, 2007) that will have competitions and a nude motorcycle parade.

Following its successful 2006 show with 138 cars, Caliente Clothing Optional Resort and Spa in Lutz, Florida has its Bare Bods and Hot Rods Car Show planned for April 15^th, 2007 (Postponed to April 29th due to rain). A charity raffle, live music, BBQ, and sock hop will be among the day’s events.

It just so happens that I, John Henry, will be in Tampa during this time and plan to go to hit the Caliente car show. I will provide a full report afterwards.

Laguna Del Sol nudist resort in Wilton, California has the Rockets & Sprockets Car and Motorcycle Show planned for July 20-21, 2007. Pictures of their happening 2005 show are on their website here.



Lake Como Family Nudist Resort in Lutz, Florida has an annual car show. Keep an eye on their website for the official date. Their website gallery shows pictures from the successful 2006 car show.



Valley View Recreation Club of Cambridge, WI has been a fixture in the nude car show world. Old Cars Weekly editor Brad Bowling recalls covering their first show in 1991 for Old Cars Weekly in his blog. The 2007 date for the 18th Annual Valley View Recreation Club Nude Car Show will be announced soon.

Cypress Cove Nudist Resort and Spa near Orlando, Florida has an Open House and Car Show planned for July 15^th. The Open House at the same time is a good idea. Nude car shows are a way to have a good time and get new people to the resort.

Empire Haven Nudist Resort in Moravia, NY has its Annual Car Show planned for August 18^th this year. The show runs from 9 am to 5 pm with a chicken BBQ from 3-5 pm followed by a DJ Dance from 8:30 to 11:30pm.

Avalon Nudist Resort in Paw Paw, WV had its first Annual Car and Truck Show in 2006. Avalon’s event calendar is coming soon and will reveal what 2007 has in store for West Virginia nude recreation.

Know of other nude car shows this year? Post a comment.

If this “nude thing” is all new to you, check out these resources:

• Nudist Beginnings - My intro to nudism blog


• American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR)
  - The resorts above are wholesome nudist destinations according to AANR. Read AANR’s Frequently Asked Questions about Nude Recreation

And when you try nudism for the first time and say it is the best thing ever, come back to this blog and report in.