Latest news with #clothingoptional
National Post
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
At this West Virginia nudist resort, everyone has skin in the game
PAW PAW, West Virginia — The time was 2 p.m., the sun was scorching and a retiree named Dewey Butts III was reveling in his version of heaven: a swimming pool crowded with dozens of men and women – every last one of them naked, himself included. Article content Here at the Avalon Resort, a self-styled 'clothing-optional' retreat two hours west of D.C., the dress code requires no type of dress (or shirt or pants) at all. Article content Article content Article content 'This is about finding a way to enjoy life and I enjoy being nude,' said Butts (yes, that's his real name), a widower who drove last weekend from Pennsylvania with his girlfriend for a gala celebrating Avalon's 30th anniversary. Article content Article content 'This is freedom,' he said, his smile befitting someone who had just won something akin to the jackpot. Article content The regimented constraints of conventional life often inspire a deep yearning for liberation, the form of which can be as logistically challenging as, say, parachuting out of an airplane, or as prosaic as channeling your inner Pavarotti in the shower – neighbors be damned. Article content At Avalon, 250 rolling acres that include streets with names like 'Bare Buns Boulevard,' freedom means moseying about in nothing more than gobs of sunscreen and embracing a lifestyle that dates back nearly 100 years in the United States and longer in Europe. Article content Feeling a tad self-conscious? Article content Not to worry, say Avalon's members, largely an older crowd that includes people like the ever-sunny Linda Keesee, 74, a retired naval intelligence officer who bought a condo at the resort years ago with her husband, Bill, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who died in 2022. Article content Article content Article content On her kitchen wall is a framed photo of a happy moment – Bill at their outdoor grill, his middle-aged body covered only by a red apron. A second photo, this one on a side table, also captures Bill at the grill, this time without the apron. Article content 'I always tell people when they come to Avalon that Barbie and Ken don't live here,' said Keesee, in a sundress, at least for the moment, as she reclined in a comfortable chair in her condo. 'It is people of all shapes and sizes and colors just enjoying the freedom of it.' Article content The resort draws patrons from various backgrounds and professions, as well as parents with children, willing to pay an annual year-round membership fee of as much as $800 (raising kids to accept nudity as natural and to not equate it with sex is a mainstay of the nudist ethos). Article content On this particular weekend, the crowd seemed heavy on ex-military and government types. At one point at Keesee's place, Chris Morales, 63, a forensics expert who formerly worked for the Secret Service and Justice Department, dropped in, naked from head to sandal-covered toes.
Washington Post
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Grin and ‘Bare' it: At this nudist resort, everyone has skin in the game
PAW PAW, West Virginia — The time was 2 p.m., the sun was scorching and a retiree named Dewey Butts III was reveling in his version of heaven: a swimming pool crowded with dozens of men and women — every last one of them naked, himself included. Here at the Avalon Resort, a self-styled 'clothing-optional' retreat two hours west of D.C., the dress code requires no type of dress (or shirt or pants) at all.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Roads awash with hundreds of bare bikers for annual Vancouver World Naked Bike Ride
Traffic was stopped and attention was grabbed Sunday afternoon as hundreds took to Vancouver roads wearing nothing but their pride. The annual Vancouver World Naked Bike Ride, initiated in the winter of 2002 by social activist Conrad Schmidt, saw men and women of all shapes and sizes shed their clothes and gather at Sunset Beach at Beach Avenue and Bute Street for noon, before the ride got underway at 2 p.m. Designed to champion 'human-powered transport,' the event saw some hit the streets via skateboard or rollerblades, joining the bikers in a journey that left many unsuspecting pedestrians and motorists shocked and snapping photos. While cyclists are encouraged to be as naked as they feel comfortable with, with Sunday's event hosting bikers in various states of undress and fancy dress, helmets and appropriate shoes are mandatory. Many bike riders seized the opportunity to use the event as a platform to raise awareness for environmental issues, using their bare bodies as canvases for politically charged messages. One rider's back bore the slogan 'burn calories not fossil fuels', while another had painted 'climate crisis is real.' The event culminated with a celebratory picnic, hosted by clothing-optional rights group Naked Iconoclasts Fighting The Yoke (NIFTY).
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Naked cruise' coming to popular UK beach - with live music and bar
A one-of-a-kind cruise will set sail from Plymouth this week, where patrons can enjoy picturesque views, a glass of wine and lively entertainment... entirely in the buff. Naturists from across the region and beyond cast off on the city's first ever naked cruise on Friday, 13 June. The stately vessel departs The Barbican Landing Stage at around 4.45pm, whisking guests on three-hour-long voyage across the stunning Plymouth sound and along the peaceful River Lynher, before heading towards the quaint village of St. Germans. Along the way, passengers will enjoy views of Royal Navy ships moored along the River Tamar, all while taking in the evening sun. Organised by British Naturism's South West events coordinator Keith Bowman, the clothes-free cruise is the first of its kind in the area. Inspired by successful 'Naked Cruise' events held in the U.S., Bowman saw an opportunity to bring a special form of recreation to the South West coast. Speaking to Plymouth Live, he revealed he was taken aback by the enthusiasm he encountered after explaining his idea to the first boat hire business 'he could find' in Plymouth. He said: 'To my surprise, they jumped at the chance to provide a cruise around Plymouth Sound and along the local rivers. It's surprising how people become more interested when I mention the word "Naked."' In addition to breathtaking views, guests will be treated to an onboard experience complete with electric music and a fully licensed bar. Refreshments will be available for purchase via cash or card, meaning everyone can enjoy a drink or snack as they relax in their natural state. Boarding begins at 4.30pm, with the vessel expected to return around 7.45pm. Tickets are currently available at £25 for members of British Naturism and £30 for non-members. Bowman said: 'Organising the event has been a dream and the boat company couldn't have been more helpful. Tickets are selling steadily, and as normal with Naturist events, we expect a last-minute rush for tickets. Why not come and join us.' For those still unsure about whether to take the plunge, Bowman encourages curious adventurers to imagine a 'bright, sunny, warm evening with a glass of wine or cuppa in hand' watching the world go by as they navigate the waters 'NAKED!' Meanwhile, a keen traveler has shed light on what it is really like going on a nude cruise - with less luggage to pack being one of the major perks. Writing anonymously on Reddit the man, aged 67, invited other users to 'ask me anything' about the experience. He booked a cruise via the Texas-based travel company Bare Necessities, which has been operating clothing-optional ship charters since 1990. The unnamed man said he was on a 2,000 passenger Carnival cruise liner with his 61-year-old wife for a seven-day round trip from Tampa, Florida, with stops in Mexico and Honduras along the way. He reiterated to other Reddit users that the trip - his first ever nudist cruise - was 'not a swingers cruise or a sex positive environment' and 'this was a crowd with lots of nudist experience.' Explaining the ins and outs of nudist cruising, he revealed that the captain 'generally makes an announcement after exiting a port when clothes can be removed' and 'usually it's about thirty minutes.'
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The Independent
07-05-2025
- The Independent
I've visited nude resorts for 10 years – these are the benefits of naked vacations
"There's no stress over what to pack or wear — less is more, really." Linda Weber is the President of the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), and is telling The Independent about perhaps one of the more obvious benefits of a naked vacation. But the 62-year-old, who has been visiting naturist resorts for the past 10 years, reveals that there are other, less observable plus points to a clothing-optional getaway (before covering some of the intriguing do's and don'ts, and rules for unwanted arousal). She says: "There is something deeply freeing about being able to truly be yourself without judgment or pretence. "Naturism accepts all those who want to participate and the body-positive aspects counter the media's artificial expectation of what 'normal' bodies look like. "We are all unique and there is no judgment." Linda, who was elected AANR president mid-2024, adds that "it's a privilege to advocate for a philosophy that brings such peace, confidence and connection to so many people". What first attracted her to naturist getaways? Linda — who splits her time between California and Utah with her husband, Stan – reveals: "My husband discovered an advertisement for a Bare Necessities cruise, and the idea of traveling among like-minded individuals while exploring new countries was instantly appealing. 'I'll admit, I was curious — and a little apprehensive — about what it would be like to be on a ship full of nude people. But that first cruise in 2015 opened the door to years of unforgettable experiences." Tempted to try a naturist vacation? You'd be joining a growing trend. A pre-Pandemic Tripadvisor survey revealed that 45 percent of Americans would like to try a nude vacation, up from 31 percent the year before. And while the AANR doesn't have data on the number of "room nights" occupied at its 200 or so affiliated resorts, it did conduct a snapshot study of nudism in Florida in 2017 that reveals the enormous economic contribution of nudism to the state. According to the study, over two million nudist vacationers book into 34 nudist resorts every year, making the nudist industry in Florida worth a staggering $7.4 billion dollars. Florida's first officially sanctioned nude beach – Haulover Beach in Miami – makes around $980,000 a year in parking fees alone. And the AANR points to the nude cruise industry as an indicator of how accepting of clothing-free vacations people are becoming – it's grown from one clothing-optional 500-passenger cruise liner in 1992 to a sector that accommodates between 15,000 and 30,000 "nakationers" annually. So, where to begin? Linda underscores that a resort is an "excellent place to start" because they have a "surprising" range of activities on offer — from tennis to volleyball and from yoga to karaoke — and a "safe and welcoming environment". She continues: "One of the most comforting aspects of visiting a naturist resort is the sense of safety and privacy. Most US-based resorts conduct background checks and have rules to ensure proper behavior. "Nude beaches are also wonderful, but since they're public, not everyone there may share naturist values. Once you're comfortable, beaches can be a great supplement to your resort experiences. "For first-time visitors, doing a bit of research is essential. Make sure you're choosing a clothing-optional resort rather than a lifestyle resort if your focus is naturism. "Look for affiliations with organizations like AANR, The Naturist Society Foundation (TNSF), or INF-FNI in Canada and Mexico." And once there, don't be afraid to ask questions, stresses Linda. She says: "When first-timers anticipate their trip, they often build up this expectation that everyone will know they are first-timers and their minds often come up with scenarios when the opposite is true. "Naturists are a friendly lot and you will be welcomed. First-timers don't ask questions out of fear when the front desk or fellow naturists would be glad to allay any fears they have." To save time at reception, Linda points out that reputable resorts post rules and guidelines online, and graciously reveals a few etiquette do's and don'ts to The Independent, regardless. She says: "Resorts have clear hygiene guidelines, like always sitting on a towel and no bathing suits in pools and spas. "These standards ensure that everyone respects the shared environment and each other. "Erections, while natural, are expected to be addressed respectfully in naturist settings. "If one occurs, the appropriate response is to discreetly roll over or enter the pool." Exhibitionist behavior is an absolute no-no. She says: "I've visited some incredible clothing-optional clubs across the US and Mexico, including Playa Sonrisa in Xcalak, Quintana Roo; Lake Como and Cypress Cove in Florida; Oaklake Trails in Oklahoma; Mira Vista and Shangri-La Ranch in Arizona; and Glen Eden and Laguna Del Sol in California. "Thanks to the American Association for Nude Recreation, there are many more resorts I hope to explore." Visit AANR for more information.
