July 11, 2006 - There's never been a better time to skinny dip, play tennis au natural, or Jet Ski in the raw. It's "Nude Recreation Week" and America's fast-growing network of 260 clothing-optional resorts offer an ever-expanding list of outdoor activities for nudists.
Since 1992, the $400 million nude vacationing industry has tripled in size. There are now clothing-optional hotels and time-share condos in nearly every major tourist destination, nude cruises, and in-the-buff charter flights that won't let you fly by the seat of your pants.
"I think Americans are waking up to the peace and serenity that comes with taking off your clothing. For one thing, nobody has a pocket for a cell phone or beeper," says Carolyn Hawkins of the American Association for Nude Recreation, which boasts more than 50,000 dues-paying members.
"In a room of naked people, you don't know who's a judge, and who's a secretary. It's really leaving all those distractions that divide people behind." Founded in 1931 as the American Sunbathing Association, the AANR once largely consisted of humble campgrounds where visitors could commune with nature in their birthday suits.
But these days, nude recreation has gone mainstream. A premiere destination like Paradise Lakes, near Tampa, Fla, welcomes 80,000 guests a year. A hotel and 340 luxary condo units lace the 72-acre resort, which features five tennis courts, three heated pools, a spa, two restaurants and several boutiques.
At the nearby Caliente Resort & Spa -- one of the newer players in Florida's burgeoning nude torism market -- guests are paying $300 a night to stay at its Mediterranean-style villas.
Internationally, these clubs are competing against the ultra luxurious Hidden Beach in Riviera Maya, Mexico, which features "Swim-up Suites." In these $400-to-$600-a-night accomodations, guests can jump from the balcony into a man-made river that snakes through the resort and feeds into a massive pool, which, of course, has bar service.
But if Hidden Beach seems like nothing more than an erotic waterpark, consider that most of the guests are more than 35 years old, and focused on premium services like beachside yoga, elegant dining and spa service.
The majority of nude resorts actually cater to families. In fact, nudism is hardly a young person's endeavor. More than 80 percent of the AANR's membership is 35 years old or older. "Older people are more likely to accept the sagging, flabby imperfections … in themselves and others," Hawkins says.
