VACATIONING NATURALLY
Clothing-free escapes are about much more than casting off inhibitions
Find out if a visit to a clothing-free resort is the right type of vacation for you.
“Once you get over the typical fears, you learn something about yourself.” —Ted Hadley, owner of Cypress Cove Nudist Resort
Ican still remember the doubt-filled tone in her voice as the woman behind the car rental desk responded to my declaration that I was going to a nudist resort for a one-week stay. “So, people really do that?” she asked. “I’ve heard of nudist colonies, but I had no idea people took vacations like that.”
First, I told her they aren’t nudist “colonies,” which is an antiquated term and repugnant to today’s modern clothing-free enthusiast, but rather nudist “resorts.” And, yes, people do take vacations like that. In fact, vacationing in the buff has been a growing travel trend in the U.S. for years.
Want proof? According to a 2017 economic impact study conducted for the nonprofit AANR-Florida, nude tourism in Florida adds $4.3 billion to the state economy. That’s just one state and one year. Imagine the number of dollars generated by this special-interest tourism throughout the country.
But how many people actually vacation au naturel? You’d be surprised. According to the study, Haulover Beach, a nude beach in Miami, has about 500,000 nude sunbathers annually. The study also mentions a recent Zogby poll that found 28% of surveyed adults would consider visiting a nude beach. That could represent more than 90 million Americans.
The Roper Organization did its own study and found that 54 million Americans had skinny-dipped in mixed company. When you add all that to the growing number of nude travel businesses opening every year—and a steady international interest—you quickly see that vacationing in the buff is no longer a fringe amusement. Instead, it’s a serious and burgeoning business.
WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE But what is it like to take one of these natural vacations? People who do it will tell you that it’s the most relaxing feeling in the world, and they’re right.
“Once you get over the typical fears, you learn something about yourself,” says Ted Hadley, owner of Cypress Cove Nudist Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. “You see that all of your baggage and negative body image can be removed along with the costumes that cover up who you really are.”
Hadley, who is a third-generation owner of the 300-acre, family-friendly resort, sees people from all walks of life enjoying the outdoors and resort amenities. Many of them are completely new to the idea of stripping down to relax.
“Our resort is known for is relaxing environment,” Hadley says. “We provide a safe place for everyone to explore what nude vacationing is all about. Many of our guests are repeat visitors, but we also get many who have never been to a resort
like ours. Within minutes of coming through the gate, they all feel welcomed, relaxed and in good company.”
Peter Sewall, Cypress Cove Nudist Resort’s general manager, agrees. “Safety and privacy are highly valued here,” he informs. “This is not an adult-oriented playground. We create a private, protected environment where entire families come to play, relax and learn to exist in their bodies in healthy ways.”
According to Sewall, business has been booming for the 55-year-old resort: “We’re definitely happy with our growth over the years. As more people become open to the idea of trying a nude vacation, we expand opportunities and activities for them.”
Activities include tennis, pickleball, golf, volleyball, canoeing, paddleboarding, water sports, fishing, fitness, arts, dancing, live bands, concerts and more. People do those things in the nude, you ask? What’s the appeal?
Ella Orion, 35, who has been visiting Cypress Cove Nudist Resort for the past two years, notes, “I get the ultimate feeling of release when I’m visiting [Cypress Cove]. Stepping outside, unrestricted by clothing, feels like remembering to breathe after holding your breath during a suspenseful scene. You didn’t even realize you had been holding yourself back from a simple human need because your emotions had you distracted.”
That’s the deeper, internal relaxation part. But what about doing it with other unclothed people? “Surprisingly,” Orion continues, “being nude in public makes me feel more equal and accepted. It’s easy to forget about the economic segregation that happens when people are able to judge others based on what they’re wearing. Around here, no one cares if your towel is Gucci—just whether or not you’re sitting on one.”
Orion alludes to common resort etiquette, which requires using a towel when sitting. Hygiene is important at nudist resorts, and so is mutual respect, non-judgment, personal privacy and safety. Cypress Cove visitors are expected to behave respectfully, thus guaranteeing a safe and fun experience for everyone.
Ultimately, vacationing au naturel is not about simply losing one’s inhibitions. Rather, as Orion says, it’s about finding a natural part of one’s self that has been kept hidden away under layers of guilt, misunderstanding, unrealistic expectations, shame and other “mental baggage.” Taking a nude vacation means leaving all that negative baggage behind, finding a deeper kind of relaxation, getting in touch with nature and regaining that feeling you had as a child—when running around “butt nekkid” was just wholesome fun in the sun.
“It’s not about seeing or being seen,” Orion concludes. Indeed, for her and millions of others who like to vacation au naturel, it’s about being yourself—your whole self. “There’s no other vacation like it.”