USAnudist.com

Traditionally, Independence Day has been a beach-centric holiday. People who rarely go to the beach often end up spending the 4th slathering on SPF-30 and baking in the sun until they’re the color of a well-boiled lobster.

For the nudist the availability of suitable beaches is very limited. The coastline of the United States is 12,380 miles and of that, less that 25 miles is dedicated to nude use. Fortunately, there are several well known nude beaches on both East and West coasts. The unfortunate part is that many of these nude beaches exist because they are so difficult to get to that only someone very dedicated is willing to make the effort.

This seems especially true for the California beaches. While California has more legal nude beaches than any other state, their use is restricted because of long hikes or difficult climbs are required to reach them. Black’s Beach, near San Diego, is at the base of cliffs with limited difficult trails to decend. While close to population areas, with public transportation easily accessible, the difficulty of the climb limits access to many.

Wreck Beach, near Vancouver, Canada is another nude beach near a major population center. 7.8 Km of beach at the base of a 200 foot-high cliff is Canada’s largest, legal, clothing-optional beach and is a Mecca to visitors from around the world! with over 500,000 annual visitors.  Adjoining the University of British Columbia campus, Wreck Beach is easily reached from Vancouver.

On the east coast, access is much easier due to the flat coastline.  Haulover Beach, near Miami, is easily reached by car via Collins Avenue, the main highway on Miami Beach.  Multiple parking lots are available within the park, which is run by Dade County.  Handicapped parking is available with paved trails to the boardwalk and sand chairs available for loan at the lifeguard station.  The park is near many hotels, restaurants, and amenities.  Due too the ease of access and year-round good climate, Haulover is one of the busiest nude beaches in the world, with 5,000 - 7,000 daily visitors.

In the New York Metropolitan area there are nude beaches on Long Island, at Fire Island National Seashore.  Near Robert Moses Park, Lighthouse Beach, traditionally clothing optional.  While easy enough to get to the general area, it could require a walk of as much as a mile to get to the beach.

Sandy Hook, New Jersey offers a nude beach in view of the Manhattan skyline.  Gunnison Beach, a part of the Gateway National Seashore, is one of the busy beaches.  With it’s close proximity to New York City, the only thing restricting it are lack of adequate parking and easy road access.  To counter this, a company in Manhattan is now running a regular ferry service directly from Manhattan to Gunnison Beach.  Ironically, the name of the ferry is SeaStreak.

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The large concentration of nudists in Pasco County may be having an effect on the housing market in nearby Tampa. The massive growth in demand for nudist housing in the area has spilled over the county line.

Real Estate experts say the nudist housing market is stronger than ever and the demand far outstrips the supply of available clohing optional housing areas. Here is the full article on the new sales gimmick as reported in the Tampa Tribune.
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E-Bulletin June19, 2008 - Volume 2, Issue 13 Go Green (and Naked) A humorous look at the positive side of being natural is the basis for a commercial for the just-launched Planet Green television. The new channel is the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network and will reach 50 million homes with more than 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming in an informative and entertaining manner. For those who may not have seen the commercial, it features a woman who is naked in line  at a bank talking to a clothed customer about the environmental benefits of people wearing fewer clothes to keep from turning down the thermostat. To make her point, the woman motions toward a bank security guard who is completely nude except for his gun belt. Watch the video at Planet Green.

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After last year’s actions in Battleboro, where what had been simple incidental nudity became illegal, another threat has appeared in Westmore, VT. A group of mostly summertime, temporary residents have complained about nude use of Lake Willoughby’s Southwest Cove. Southwest Cove is also known as “Cunningham Cove” in some nudist guides, after long-time naturist Jim Cunningham, who, with his family, opened it to nude use 25 years ago.

Here is the story as found on Boston.com

At Vermont lake, new controversy over nudity

By Wilson Ring, Associated Press Writer | June 15, 2008

WESTMORE, Vt. –From the beach of Lake Willoughby’s Southwest Cove, the sheer cliffs of Mount Pisgah tower over the deep, frigid water. Across the narrows, the peak of Mount Hor completes the look of a Scandinavian fjord.

In the summertime, the beach offers a different view: naked sunbathers. Southwest Cove is one of the most famous nude beaches in the country, but there’s a move under way to make people put their suits back on.

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Pasco nudist resort suspended by national association

LAND O’LAKES — Caliente Resorts, often billed as the “Ritz-Carlton” of Pasco County nudist resorts, has been temporarily suspended from the American Association for Nude Recreation.

The suspension is over allegations that Caliente had been associating itself with swingers groups through third-party Web sites, said Doug Butler, president of the Caliente masters association, which represents the hundreds of homeowners and condo owners who live near the resort.

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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
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http://www.naturistaction.org
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Copyright 2008 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible for its content. Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or redistribution of this message, provided that it is reproduced in its entirety and without alteration.

DATE : June 1, 2008
SUBJECT: California: San Onofre State Beach
TO : Naturists and other concerned citizens

Dear Naturist,

This is an Update from the Naturist Action Committee. NAC is making you aware of recent developments, favorable and unfavorable, that are part of a serious threat in the state of California.

A VERY BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

As detailed in the NAC Action Alert of May 21, 2008, Ruth Coleman, Director of California’s Department of Parks and Recreation, has abruptly terminated the Department’s application of the Cahill Policy to clothing-optional portions of San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County. The Cahill Policy has been used successfully for decades as a management tool for clothing-optional areas within California State Parks.

The specious justification being given by CA Parks for the selective revocation of Cahill at San Onofre State Beach is that doing so will eliminate illicit sexual activity that occurs primarily on an adjacent military beach. The recision of the Cahill Policy would pave the way for park rangers to issue citations for simple nudity on the State Beach under Title 14, Section 4322 of the California Code of Regulations.

For a more detailed history of the situation and specifics of the Cahill Policy, please refer to the NAC Action Alert of May 21. You will find it on NAC’s Web page: www.naturistaction.org Look under “ALERTS.”

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E-Bulletin May 22, 2008 - Volume 2, Issue 11 Bay To Breakers Draws Huge Crowd Often considered a cross between a serious race and a street part this year’s Bay To Breakers race in San Francisco lived up to the hype. Over 60,000 participants ran through the streets of San Francisco to the Pacific Ocean during the 97th annual race nude, in outlandish costumes, and in serious running gear for the city’s biggest party of the year. John Korir of Kenya, won the 12-kilometer men’s division race for the second year in a row with a time of 34 minutes and 24 seconds. Lineth Chepkurui, also from Kenya, won in the women’s division with a time of 39 minutes, 22 seconds. Onlookers partied in the streets to music in true San Francisco style. Read more, view photos and watch a video at Bay To Breakers.

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This is an Action Alert from the Naturist Action Committee. NAC is asking for your immediate help in responding to a serious threat in the state of California.

NAC has learned that Ruth Coleman, Director of California’s Department of Parks and Recreation, has abruptly revoked the application of the Department’s Cahill Policy, as it applies to clothing-optional portions of San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County. Rangers have been told to begin “educating” beachgoers, starting June 1. The issuing of citations for nudity in the traditional clothing-optional area is to follow after 30 days.

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New York Times Highlights Nude Vacations

Sunday’s Travel section of The New York Times led off with the feature article “No Shoes, No Shirts, No Worries” about the booming nude recreation travel industry. According to statistics cited by travel writer Michelle Higgins, nude vacations have become increasingly upscale events. The three-page spread includes a brief history of the beginning of nudism and how clothing-optional vacations are now considered mainstream and more in demand than ever. The article gives information about AANR clubs such as Avalon in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and Mira Vista Resort in Tucson, Arizona, as well as AANR participating businesses Hidden Beach Resort, Castaways Travel and Bare Necessities Tour & Travel. Also included is a sidebar about Nakations, the latest travel buzzword, coined by AANR. Read the entire article and view a photo slide show at The New York Times. Click here to learn more about Nakations or to order your own pre-assembled Nakation in a Box, which includes everything you’ll need for your next nude vacation.

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Supporting local activists, NAC is asking you to participate in an online survey to indicate that you favor the inclusion of clothing-optional areas in the City of Seattle’s consideration of future strategic plans.

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