Nude Beaches- Positive or Negative Experience?
 

Has anyone at this site been to a nude beach? If so, was it a postive or negative experience? Not trying to be judgemental but am interested in honest responses.

Yes.

Neither. Just like every other beach experience. Maybe that's because I didn't forget to put on sunscreen.... ;)

Positive.

Yes I have and agree with rjw. It was not different from any other beach experience I had.

No one was creepy, no one stared or took pictures.

It was exactly like all my bathing suit clad beach experiences and maybe a little more quiet.

They are a good experience for exhibitionists. For others, it depends on whether bodies on display appeal to them. In my experience, they are too often frequented by people who, if wise, would remain clothed.

I second that, Happytrails! In my naivete, I assumed only those with nice bodies would be at a nude beach. That was definitely not the case. Some people should never go without clothes in public!

Depends on how cold it was. :-O

starrsy...BE-HAVE!!!

>>> Some people should never go without clothes in public <<<

Why the heavens not? Go to Germany and see extended families - grannies in their 70's down to 2 year old tots enjoy swimming sans clothes.

To say that only those with nice bodies should go perpetuates the exhibitionist train of thought.

Positive or negative for the viewer, or the viewee?

Jim

Do I HAVE to Kal?!?!
Darn. Okay.

I believe most men are hardwired to leer, at least a little, even if they hide it well. Most women realize this as well.

Starrsville - I'm not saying everyone should have perfect bodies, but I still can't rid of the visual of an extremely fat lady with several rolls of fat standing up and having leftovers from her lunch fall out of one of the fat roll creases. Sorry, but that's just gross. :(

travel_addict, add the image of her (or him) picking up sea shells.............

But, that is life. What about men with beer bellies and skinny legs?

If only those with perfect bodies should apply, then I agree that the point is exhibitionism. Or someone's warped fantasy...and if so, rent a movie.

c'fong...reminds of the ol' joke about how the orangutan got it's name.

((*))((*))((*))ville..the day you listen to me...hahahaha

Kal:

Now my bowels burn with curiousity - please repeat the joke - but keep it within the bounds of decency if possible.

D.

dovi...no can dooooooooooooooooo.
But a hint...one is brass and one is copper. :-"

Why is it Americans that equate nudity with something bad? Or sex?

Can you imagine an extended American family on a nude beach? People would call social services.

eeeuuuwwww!!! Your bowels burn with curiosity?

I thought you wanted to be within the bounds of decency?

My point exactly, GoT. It's sad - it really is.

When I lived in Miami, Haulover Beach (north of 'south beach' a couple miles) was 'known' as a topless beach, though not officially so. Several times my Australian friend Kiri managed to convince me to go topless there. At the time, we were both in relatively good shape. Most of the people there were as well, though some were not. Didn't bother us any -- we were just concentrating on not getting burns or tanlines :)

My one experience on a clothing optional beach was very pleasant, as the beach was not crowded at all--maybe 8 couples total on a stretch of sand at least half a mile long. And it was because nobody there had a perfect body that I felt comfortable taking my own clothing off.

I've also enjoyed nude sunbathing on a private beach where nobody else was around.

Both instances were in the Caribbean.

I have nothing against the concept of a nude beach and, if I weren't the papa of a large family, I would partake if one was close by. There's something freeing about being nude in the open air- I used to sunbathe after mowing my two acre lawn in my very secluded backyard. However, the USA will never have more than a smattering of nude beaches because most local businesses on the beach would be opposed. As for state-owned beaches, politicians in even the most "progressive" states would have a difficult time supporting public nude beaches. My home state of Maryland has no nude beaches that I am aware of- Ocean City businesses would shout down any proposal to allow a nude beach in their city. Inevitably, most nude beaches will be privately-owned clubs who have bought land along a pond or stream. Oceanfront property is too expensive and economically lucrative for widespread oceanfront nude sunbathing.

Haulover Beach in Miami is a Florida State Park.

Again, you are just cementing my point; Americans associate nudity with either something bad or sex unlike most of the rest of the world.

Maybe it's a matter of vanity. I can see that years ago, I might have gone to one, but Mother Nature has not been kind. I would feel that I had to walk about with my tummy sucked in, my butt muscles tightened and my boobs as perky as I could manage.

Nope, when I go near the water, I'll cover up and relax. And while I would like to look at some good looking bodies, male and female, I don't want to see flab, bulges or saggy things.

I don't think it's a matter of being dirty or that nakedness is bad....it's just my opinion that some bodies are ugly. Some houses are ugly. Some clothes are ugly. I try not to see ugly things.

On our recent cruise in the Caribbean, shipmates recommended Orient Beach in St. Maarten to our family (inc our 2 teenage girls). They did not mention it was "clothing optional". Upon arrival and after setting up our beach chairs & umbrellas, an elderly 70ish man jogged past us wearing only running shoes, with everything flowing in the wind. Having grown up with European parents and been to many nude beaches in my life, I could have cared less. However, I turned to make sure my 14 & 18 year old daughters were OK. My youngest was giggling and blurted out, "Look ma, he's not circumsiced!" It gave way to a nice discussion of cultural diversity. Upon return to the ship, I was chastized by a fellow cruiser (a virtual stranger) for remaining at the beach with my "young, impressionable babes". I love the US, but we really need to work on our prudish views of sex & nature and desire to force those views on the rest of the world's citizens.

Well said aliska.

Several times, and I prefer non-nude beaches because I agree, some people should remain clothed.

I don't care how I sound, it's just nauseating to look at some of the old, wrinkled up, dimpled, blubbery, hairy, shriveled up body parts. Totally spoils the view. If preferring to look at a beautiful body makes me shallow then so be it....

"an elderly 70ish man jogged past us wearing only running shoes, with everything flowing in the wind" Wouldn't that hurt a bit, untethered like that? ;)

Have never been to a nude beach but have been to many topless beaches in europe - with people of all ages (and shapes), including families. It seemed natural to me becasue it was natural to the others - and no the men were not leering.

However there was one incident that did make me unconfortable enough to cover up. A group of middle aged american tourists from the next hotel over walked up the beach and the behavior of a couple of the men was crude to say the least.

I don;t understand how grown men can become so exorcised - and silly - about breasts in an obviously non-sexual context. Have they never seen any before - except perhaps in strip clubs? Do their wives dress in the closet?

I recognize that rules in most of the US are different - but they were behaving like a pack of 14 year old boys with a naughty magazine. Perhaps if we allowed ore ex on TV and less violence we would have fewer murders - and more adult men not shocked by female bodies.

we enjoyed Pt. Reyes (I think!) near San Francisco. it was very non-judgmental, not really sexual at all, just FREE.

and yes, mostly older men with big guts and one younger man with elephantitis in a very unfortunate area. could also have been cancer. poor guy!

When I was younger I used to go to the nude beach occasionally but even though I live close to the ocean I'm not much of a beach person nude or not. I do enjoy full freedom in my large and shady backyard. It's just a body for goodness sakes.

About the fat person comment, why on earth were you staring at someone long enough to be able to identify what fell of their body?

Why does being the "papa of a large family" prevent you from doing what you want to do?

Do you really believe that the only people who go to nude beaches are single, don't have children, etc., etc.?

I think you are the very person who really does need TO go to realize all the misconceptions you've had over the years are probably groundless.

The silliest man I ever saw was at a hotel in Anacapri. We were the only Americans staying there. There was a fun couple from England. But when several of the European women removed their bathing suit tops (we were all at the pool) the Englishman carried on as those he had never seen a topless female in all his life, lol.

I'd just like to add that Americans are certainly not the only people on Earth who don't, generally speaking, condone public nudity. My husband was shocked to see topless sunbathing when we were in Goa, India. He was born in the US but is Indian by heritage and knows that this would NOT be accepted among Indians themselves, but it's tolerated when tourists do it because of the money they spend.

Good point, MerryTravel.
I have to add that the Japanese, though very down to earth about the whole o-sento (public bath) experience, are very modest in other situations that do not require, strictly speaking, to be nude. I've lived in Japan, been back many times, and can tell you that even in a country of (generally) good-looking folks, nude beaches would not be acceptable there.

It has nothing to do with how much money anyone spends and toleration has nothing to do with the issue.

Either you see it as having stigma or you don't.

I said Americans in particular take issue with this never did I exclude or include other cultures.

Those of us 40+ should wear swimwear. This goes for many people younger than that too. I would probably puke my guts out if I wandered onto a German beach.

For years, since my kids were very young, we often walk the beaches out at Aquinnah end of Martha's Vineyard which takes us past a section with many nude sun bathers - it was never a 'big deal' - we were walking, looking for rocks and shells, and there are all sorts of people bathing, swimming, building sand castles, playing frisbie - and all ages, families with young children, groups of young people, groups of people I would guess are 40, 50, 60 years and up - sitting in their chairs, talking, reading, swimming, etc.

We happen to be in bathing suits, simply because we personally opt for that option - but others on the beach prefer to be nude. Now in their 20's, my kids don't bat an eye, stare or judge, as they've grown up seeing nude bathers. As my children got older, I always told them, if it made them uncomfortable, they didn't have to continue the long walk around with us, they could head back and wait on the main beach - but they always walk with us - they don't think it's a big deal at all and it is still one of our favorite stretches of beach to walk when we are on the island in the summer.

When they have been with us in Europe, they feel the same when we have been on a topless or nude beach, or in museums with paintings or sculptures of nude bodies - they come in all shapes and sizes, with or without clothing.

When my mom was dying, and they were both teenagers (one boy, one girl) I always wondered if this 'relaxed attitude' was what made them help with her care with no hesitation when she was so sick and needed assistance in the bathroom or bathing - because at that point Lord knows her body wasn't "pretty" and was sagging and drooping everywhere - I remember the first time, because of other things happening in the house, my son was the one who had to assist her, I said to him afterwards that I was sorry if that was uncomfortable for him and he said 'mom, it's no big deal I was just helping nana." I did wonder if our non judgemental attitude about the human body and nudity made it easier or if he would have had that attitude anyway.

Maybe he would have felt the same if he had never been exposed to nakedness, but maybe not. Maybe some will think I am a bad parent for exposing them to nudity on beaches all their life, but they seem in their early and mid 20's like pretty healthy kids all around.