Nude Beaches

Nude beach or nudist beach is all what you want to know about? Let us start first to find out the meaning of nudism or nudist itself. The very mention of these two words often arouses feelings of titillation, embarrassment, outrage or even a combination of the three. For the thousands of people involved in the naturist movement worldwide, however, the idea of a nude beach seems, well, natural. After all, we all come into this world wearing only our birthday suits. Nudism or nudist are ideas that believe about being the way we were born and the way human kind was for most of our history: nude except when the weather dictated otherwise. It brings everyone down to the same level. You never know if the person you are talking to is a janitor, a doctor, or the CEO of a Fortune 100 company. Nudists are extremely accepting of everyone no matter the gender, race, sex, size, etc. Whether you shop at Wal-Mart or Brooks Brothers, no one knows and no one cares. It allows us to relax and just enjoy good company.

A nude beach is a beach where the users generally wear no clothing. If clothing is optional then, to emphasize that, also the terms clothing-optional beach and free beach are used. It is one of the most common and traditional forms of public nudity. A nude beach should not be confused with a topfree beach or topless beach, where upper body clothing is not required for women or men, although a swimming costume covering the genitals is required for both men and women.

There are unofficial several criteria that must be met for a beach to be categorized a nude beach, that is, not a part of private club or resort. Nude and topless beaches first became popular along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of France in the 1950s. Since then, several beaches from Crete to the Caribbean have become "clothing optional." All over the world, you can find a nude or clothing-optional beach that will meet your needs. A wide variety of venues can provide you with the kind of nude beach you seek: Certain bed and breakfasts, resorts, camp sites, private clubs, and spas all cater to customers who feel more comfortable in the nude. At some you'll find total privacy. Others attract a community of like-minded sun worshipers who have a fondness for a nude beach.

People visit nude beaches for many reasons, including because they enjoy being nude or partially nude, because they enjoy looking at people who are nude, because of curiosity, because of personal philosophy, or simply because they believe that there is no reason to wear clothing (see naturism and nudism). Sunbathing with little or no clothing allows a more even sun tan, eliminating tan lines.

Nude beaches are variously known as "FKK" (from the German Freikörperkultur), "clothing optional" (C.O.) or "free" beaches; they are also described as being "au naturel." Though the latter term is nominally derived from French, it is, not used by speakers of the language to describe nudity (in French, au naturel is used only for food cooked without preparation). In French, nude beaches are called plages nudistes "nudist beaches" or plages naturistes "naturist beaches." In British English the terms "topless beach" and "nudist beach" are most common.

Most existing nude beaches have been used as such for many years and thus have become "traditionally nude". Many are "unmanaged" beach areas that have been adopted by the local users in an effort to maintain the beach's "quality". Others' right to existence has been recognized as such by one or another legislative body—municipal, regional or national, and are termed "official" (although not necessarily legitimate). One can distinguish between different types of beaches:

* Those where nudity is illegal and/or not tolerated. Nudity may result in requests to cover up, uncomfortable glares, a fine or arrest.
* Those that are unofficially tolerated by the "authorities"
* "Official" nude beaches
o Nudity is compulsory unless the weather is bad, etc.
o Clothing is optional (i.e., nudity is permitted but not required)

The clothes free areas tend to be segregated or isolated physically from the non-nude areas. In other instances people maintain a comfortable space between people dressing differently. Signage is often used to inform beach visitors about what to encounter and/or to segregate different areas on the beach. This accommodates people who are not comfortable with nudity. This also accommodates beach users who do not like to be watched too much, especially by clothed individuals.

In the United States, the popularity of traditional nude beaches has declined somewhat over past decade due to the influx of abusive users, the aging of the nudist community, and the efforts on the part of religious groups, usually Christian fundamentalists, to close them down. However, the number of official nude beaches has, in fact, increased during this period. Most of this increase can be attributed to the ongoing stewardship of local nudist organizations and the establishment of working relationships with—or lobbying of—local municipalities and law enforcement agencies. In fact, clothing-free attractions are increasingly being recognized as being a good source of tourist income. The users of nude beaches are sometimes the target of enforcement relating to legislation banning public nudity, often because of broad language included in laws or bills intended to target sexually oriented businesses. Clothes free organizations such as the Naturist Action Committee have lobbied against such bills.

In the United States, nude beaches stretch from Santa Cruz, California (home of the Red, White, and Blue nude beach) to Moshup nude beach in Martha's Vineyard. Nude beaches in Europe can be found everywhere from Pori, Finland (Yyteri nude beach) to Banana nude Beach in Greece. Wherever you do, know that a visit to a nude beach is a natural experience. And that the pleasure of sunning and swimming at a nude beach is one you will long remember. So pick your favorite place, check to make sure your nude beach is open to the public, and get ready to shed your cares and your clothes at the nude beach. There are almost 50 places where nudity or topless sunbathing is allowed or tolerated. These nude beach locations include Blacks' Beach, the most popular nude beach in the country and the nation's oldest nude beach (San Gregorio, where people have been going topless since 1967)