The second time is a charm.

We've been to Solair nudist resort once before several years ago and were in the Boston area again.  We had to make a return.  The nude recreation destination is a great day trip from Boston if you want a day of family-friendly fun in the sun.

Solair Recreation League is located in Woodstock, Connecticut in the north east corner of CT, minutes from the Massachusetts border. It is about an hour and half from Boston, MA. If you ever happen to visit Boston (which is a good time in itself), Solair is an easy nakation day trip with a rental car.

We returned to spend the day at Solair late last summer. Having been there once before, we knew what to expect but explored to see some new things we missed on the first visit.

We just paid the day fees at the entrance and were on our way. Solair offers discounted day fees for those under 40. It seems to be a good incentive. We saw a good mix of ages and people under 40.

It was a nice day. Everyone we interacted with were very friendly.  Just like our first visit, the grounds were in great condition.   There's a lot to like about Solair.  Here's my favorite things. 

What I like about Solair Recreation League nudist resort:

• This nudist resort is member owned.  The members take care of it and are very friendly to guests.  In fact, a lot of friendly regulars who have summer homes on the grounds and know the region well and can recommend restaurants and such.
• You feel "away from it all" here on the large wooded grounds.
• Nice pool, sometimes has water volleyball games on busy summer weekends (it did during our first visit)
• Indoor hot tub and sauna
• Lake with paddle boats but no alligators like in Florida. Go skinnydipping or take a paddle boat out.
• Small recreation room with pool table and ping pong - if you get a cool day, there's at least something to do in the nude indoors.
• Lots of nude hiking and walking on both the paved roads in the residential area and wooded trails (I'm not sure that there are maps for the wooded trails.  You may have to ask a member.)  We took a walk all around the residential area and then onto a short trail that goes up a hill and overlooks the lake.
• If you bring a bike, you could ride your bike on the paved roads on the grounds.
• Tennis courts - not sure if you have to bring your own rackets and balls.
• Some food served in cafe on the weekends

What not to expect:

• It's not a place big on nightlife.
  
• It's more of a "very nice campground" than a "resort".
• Food options are limited...so packing a picnic lunch might be a good idea.
• Don't expect you can be disrespectful to others.  The members care about this place a lot and they want visitors to do the same.

Having now been to many more nudist resorts over the years, I have to say that Solair is an excellent facility given that it is a northern US nudist resort that has a short season.

If you are going for a first time visit, read Solair's website or maybe call first. It seems they want first timers to only visit on weekends, at least that is my understanding. I think this is because they need to have someone on hand to give a tour.

At least as of my last visit in late 2009, Solair had a policy that during the first 4 visits, they want visitors to spend time talking with a member who does an interview as part of a membership screening/recruitment process. I had previously thought that this would be a pain in the butt (I have mixed feelings about these types of red tape procedures that detract from nakationing). But we did talk to a member this visit. It wasn't a big deal at all. It was a casual 10 minute chat. The nudist member who interviewed us was friendly and asked us our experience, told us a little bit about the place, and asked if we had any questions.

If you're in the area, give Solair Recreation League a try.

Kleidungsarm am Eisbach im Englischen Garten (München): Manche lassen die Hüllen fallen
Originally uploaded by humpelbein

The English Garden (Englischen Garten) park in Munich, Germany is one of many clothing optional bathing locations in the historic city. The locals spend the day nude sunbathing in a section of the park.

Besides this park area is a river to cool off in and do some skinnydipping. This picture shows the Eisbach river, the small man-made river that flows through Englischen Garten.  Click the picture to go to the photographer's Flickr page where he describes the seen further.

After sunning and swimming, Englischen Garten visitors can get dressed and head over to the beer garden for a drink or two. Nude sunbathing and beer. Can't beat it.

Wreck Beach and the Sun God

As the warm sunny day ends, you lie naked on a nude beach with your spouse. Fellow nudists are nearby. Everyone is relaxing as a cool evening breeze blows in.

As the sun starts to make it’s final descent towards the horizon, there are faint sounds of cheering muffled by the wind.

It grows louder and louder, surrounding you. Someone nearby screams “Goodbye Sun God, Goodbye!” An energy flows around you as everyone excitedly watches the Sun God.

The edge of the sun is seconds from hitting the mountain in the distance. The cheering grows louder and louder as the Sun God then slowly disappears behind the mountain.

Then the Sun God is gone. You know its the end of a great day at the beach.

This is one of the more magical moments in life, being at one with the people around you and Mother Nature and not a care in the world.

(Photo credit: Wreck Beach Preservation Society)

It was Wreck Beach in Vancouver, Canada where this happened on a day when the weather and people were in harmony, a common experience during the short Vancouver nudist season.

Maybe this is why many nudists call Wreck Beach one of the top 10 clothing-optional beaches in the world.

But there’s a lot more to Wreck Beach than the occasional beautiful sunset. During the day, we experienced most of its several mile-long beach and visited both ends of the beach.

Taking the long climb down the steps of Trail 6, we first arrived in the southern part of the beach. This is the popular part of the beach you see in pictures in my previous Wreck Beach post.

This main part of the beach has soft, unique brown sand and is covered with driftwood logs from a nearby logging operation. The logs give the place a one-of-a-kind character. They also provide a good place to rest your head while protecting you from the wind.

While resting your head, the view is of mountains in the distance. Behind you is a dense forest covering a steep hill.

We were lucky to have perfect weather. The weather drew out lots of people. Probably 70-80 percent of the beach goers were nude in the sandy beach area that day - a good number for a clothing-optional beach.

The atmosphere was friendly and respectful. Vendors offered food and drinks and other wares. A group of people played nude volleyball. Wreck Beach regulars seemed to keep guard of the place and kept it safe and comfortable. Later, they would clean the litter left by the more careless.

We also visited the other end of the beach north of the sandy area. The northern part is rocky (see second to last picture here) and when the tide is high, there’s not much room. Finding a soft spot in the sand without having a rock in your back is challenging.

The northern rocky area also has a lot less people. Being less crowded means that it lacks the protection you have when surrounded by many fellow nudists. We just didn’t feel comfortable with the rocks or some of the people who seemed suspicious or staring (not a nudist behavior).

The main beach is so much better and returning there for the evening turned out to be a great experience.

If you are ever in Vancouver, a great tourist destination in itself, be sure to visit Wreck Beach if the weather is nice.

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Wreck Beach is a direct result of the ongoing efforts of the Wreck Beach Preservation Society and other supporters. They prove that when like-minded people get together, great things can be accomplished in the face of adversity.

(Photo credit: Wreck Beach Preservation Society)

(View article)

USA TODAY interviewed John Kinman, the President of AANR (American Association for Nude Recreation) about nude beaches. Kinman recommended what he considers as the Top 10 clothing-optional beaches.

1. Little Beach, Maui, Hawaii
2. Wreck Beach, Vancouver, Canada
3. Cap d'Agde, France
4. Hawksbill Bay, Antigua
5. Haulover Beach, Miami
6. Gunnison Beach, New Jersey
7. Collins Beach/Rooster Rock, Oregon
8. Orient Bay, St. Martin
9. Samurai Beach, Australia
10. Black's Beach, San Diego, California
    

A good list. Of course, the list is subjective. What makes a great beach? A great nude beach is a beach that meets your needs or that you have great memories about.

Many other nude beaches are worth considering. Here's some others where memories have been made:

• Adriatic Coast, Croatia - the coastline is dotted with all kinds of nudist beaches and campgrounds (Valalta near Rovinj, Croatia, pictured at right)
  
• La Jenny, France - a nice, family-friendly beach and nudist campground/resort
• Barcelona, Spain - topless everywhere, there's a section near the east end that's legally nude (signs posted). There's a beach cafe but nothing fancy. Barcelona is a great place to visit and this nude beach is a great place to lounge after seeing the tourist sites.
• Sorobon Beach, Bonaire, Caribbean - At Sorobon Beach Nudist Resort reviewed here.
• Many more...
  

To me, Cap d'Agde is the best, not just because of the beach but because of the facilities and activities in the village. Shopping nude at the many small stores dining out in nude restaurants in the naturist village is great fun.

Pictures of Wreck Beach, Vancouver's famous clothing optional beach, are hard to find. Like every nudist destination I know of, photos are not allowed of nudists. Correction: After recently visiting, I did not notice any signs prohibiting cameras, though the regulars would probably toss a camera in the water if they saw someone trying to take pictures of others without getting the consent of the subjects first. So no need to worry. This preserves the privacy rights of clothes free beach goers.

Fortunately, travelers have taken photos of Wreck Beach taken during the off-season and when the weather is too cool for naked people to be around.




On a warm summer weekend afternoon, the place is surely packed and much nicer to look at.

Leaving the beach:

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.

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.

Would you try nude swimming in Antarctica?

The crew and guests aboard the 24-day "Dive Antarctica" voyage had the opportunity. The trip's purpose was to explore the Antarctic undersea world and the above-ground landscape.

Calling this a 'vacation' is not the right word. The excursion seems more of a 'quest', an adventure into lands few have seen. The intense and physically challenging Antarctic diving required that the guests be highly trained and experienced divers. They were rewarded with incredible sights throughout the trip.

Between spectacular diving sessions, the travelers had a little downtime. Some tried swimming in the cold waters. After shedding clothing, a few on the excursion took the opportunity to swim naked - the ultimate nude Polar Bear swim.

Here's footage of a man and woman from the Dive Antarctica excursion skinnydipping in the Antarctic Sea:


(YouTube)

During the trip, the team discovered some pollution in the waters, some from tourism and more at a research station. In a noble effort to keep the environment pristine, Dive Antarctica is proposing to return in 2007 to do a clean-up mission.