We will be at South Beach in July with our 2 teens and everyone I know is saying I can't believe you are taking your kids there - they say the beaches of South Beach are all topless. I knew about the topless thing but thought it was mostly just around the hotel pools not all over the beaches. We will be staying at the Royal Palm Crown Plaza - will there be lots of topless women at our pool and on the beach??????????

You will probably see some topless women on the beach but not a lot. July sees lots of South Americans who aren't quite as prudish about nudity. Why not make this a learning experience that people have different values and customs and that it isn't necessary to have hang-ups about nudity.

I understand what ballet is saying. My teen son would be freaked if there were topless girls around- it's the teen part, esp. while w/parents, regardless of how the adults feel abou tit.

oops, i didn't plan that last typo- really.

Yes, they'll get used to it. The first few days are the hardest. ;-)

I love typos LOL

Anonymous,funny !

ballet....we had the same sort of surprise when we were in St Maarten one year with our son. Being on the French side, meant no woman, young or old wore a top and barely wore bottoms. The first day I was the one uncomfortable, after the first startled glance, he never showed discomfort.
I know that there are usually sort of rules about it-in the pool you can lie topless and swim but they like you to wear something when wandering around.
That said, if they are teens, odds are they have seen this already and the novelty of it will wear off quickly.

You can try the method my Dad did to diffuse the discomfort level anytime an overly steamy love scene or ad for certain femine products came on tv - "How about those Yankees." It usually worked best after a few moments of awkward silence.

Ryan: what a Dad- love that! Isn't that what John Candy or Steve Martin said in "Planes Trains and Automobiles" when he realized he had his hands in a "tight spot"? Although I think it might have been the Bears or Cubs instead of the Yankees.

Don't worry, ballet 1288. In July it rains mostly all the time in Miami. You probably won't see anybody on the beach.

Oh my emt and anonymous........you gave me a great laugh just now! Thanks.

Typos cracked me up too!

The most "uncomfortable" thing about being on a so-called "topless beach" is seeing all the people who would have been better off covering up the flab.

"Steamy love scenes"??? where was that happening? In your fantasies perhaps.

TopMan,
Maybe you should go back to bed. Looks like you got up on the wrong side of it this morning...

ballet, we travel frequently in the Caribbean, and certain islands (as Scarlett already mentioned) have quite a bit of toplessness.

My guess is, after about 15 or 20 min. of rib-elbowing and snickering, it will be no big deal.

The first time we went to Key West and stayed at a very nice B&B, there were men sunbathing nude on the deck.

After being a little disconcerted by it the first time I went up there, whenever I went to go get some sun, I'd joke to my husband that I was headed out to the "weenie roast," and never looked back. Just not a big deal after the first few minutes.

If you explain to them that they may see a few errant boobs, they'll look forward to the trip and then when they get there, they'll see it's really a non-issue and no more sexual than seeing topless women on National Geographic.

... this thread will quickly separate travellers from make-believes.

... why worry about bare breasts when really your kids are in greater danger of being exposed to eurotrash models and photographers!