skinny dipping – Clothing Optional Trips

How it all Started: Our First Time Naked on a Beach

July 5, 2018December 17, 20184 Comments

Many times I’ve received questions from couples interested in exploring nude recreation asking how my wife and I got started. They want to know if we were nervous? What concerns we had prior to dropping her swim suits and what we thought afterwards.

This is actually our first blog post. I thought I would share it again and add a few thoughts too. If you’re reading this and interested in learning more about social nudity and what it could be like for you and your spouse, read on. If you’ve already discovered the Nudist Secret… that spending time together naked is safe, refreshing, relaxing, exciting and fun, please share with me how you and your spouse first decided to take the nude plunge.

In 1996, me and my then girlfriend (now wife) first ventured on to a clothing optional beach. We went to Black’s Beach outside of San Diego and for the very first time ever, took off our bathing suits and our inhibitions. As we marched down the cliff trail from the Torrey Pines parking lot to the sandy beach below, we both wondered why we were making this trip? Why go against everything our parents had every told us about the importance of covering up, wearing a bathing suit and never revealing too much skin. We were both 25-years old and while we were free spirits, we had never done anything like this before.

So we found our spot on the beach, laid out our towels and looked at each other… it was the moment of truth. I pulled off my t-shirt and then as if in slow motion, pulled down my swim suit and watched it hit the ground. There I was, standing completely naked, outside for the first time in my adult life and feeling more exposed and naked than I had ever felt before. My girlfriend made a nervous laugh and said I was looking a little cold too. My manhood and I were both cold and shy at that moment. It was not your typical sunny and 75-degree California day. While the sun was shining, it was windy and chilly. I no longer had any fears about getting physically excited.

My girlfriend sat down on her towel and then untied her black bikini top and carefully pulled off her bottoms. She folded them up and put them back in her bag. Even naked she is as tidy as ever.

There we were. Naked. Outside. For the first time. Ever. And it wasn’t at all what we thought it would be like. We lasted about an hour before we agreed the cold wind was too much to take, especially when you had only a towel to keep warm. We didn’t see lot of hard, bronzed bodies walking the beach showing perfect bodies that day. The few women I saw reminded me of ex-hippies who while naked and fine with it, looked like blobs of silly putty sitting in the sun. Care free and happy but the men, they were a different story. By far the men were in much better shape and many walked by our sandy outpost to see the two of us with our blinding tan lines. While at first I thought I needed to protect my girlfriend from their wandering eyes, she quickly pointed out that we had found our perfect spot in the sun on the gay section of Black’s Beach.

While far from a perfect day, we both agreed the experience had been thrilling and the feeling of sunshine all over our bodies was amazing. Why had we thought this was wrong? When we had gotten over our sense of fear and anxiety, we found we felt great and that it was an amazing experience for us as a couple. While not sexual, it was intimate. Besides, how could 100 gay, naked men lying in the sun be wrong? We still laugh about it today.

That was nearly 20 years ago. What started as a fun hour or later on an afternoon, has turned into days and weeks for us on vacation and often with all of our clothing stored in carry-on luggage. Finding the perfect nude beach, clothing optional pool, nude resort, or clothing-free B&B has been a wonderful journey for us and we have shared many great times, met wonderful people and have many good memories. Simply put, some of these destinations are wonderful to visit. They’re beautiful settings with surf, sand and great food and drinks.

So again, why a blog about nude travel? When we started visiting clothing optional destinations, there was often very little information to guide us. We literally got hurt many times walking down trails that doubled as mud slides to reach beautiful secluded beaches where we could get an all-over tan with other likeminded people. Since then, the internet has become a treasure trove of information for the closet nudist or want to be skinny dipper but I’m surprised at how often when I’m looking for travel information about a clothing optional destination, all I see is highly sexual images and behavior that is best saved for the bedroom. I honestly don’t want others who are interested in discovering this side of themselves and sharing it with their significant others to be turned off by what they believe happens when swimming suits are set aside. We don’t become crazed wild animals only interested in sex and foreplay on the beach. Not to say that you don’t need to be careful, but that’s where I believe we can help you out so that it’s a positive experience.

From what we’ve seen, most couples discover clothing optional travel when they are in their 40s and beyond. I’m thankful we figured it out in our mid-20s, but we weren’t the norm at all and we really didn’t embrace nude travel till we were into our 30s. We still find we’re often the youngest couple at the resort or on the beach and we’re into our 40s now. Thankfully that’s beginning to change. Our last trip to Hidden Beach Resort had many young 30s couples.

My vision for this blog is to share our experiences as we got more comfortable with being naked by ourselves and later with others and to tell you about the places we have visited and why we did or didn’t go back. By offering honest information, I hope we can be a resource to others with questions and hopefully give the push another couple might need to try this out and see if it’s for them.

So are my wife and I nudists? I guess so. Although naturists applies better to us. We enjoy bonding with the environment around us without clothing. So are we normal? We live in the midwest in a nice suburb surrounded by friends and family who know nothing about where we travel or why. We are parents and business people. We are active in our community. We are very normal and probably very boring to many people out there. We don’t sit around the house naked or plant trees in our backyard so we can lay out nude on our patio. We only recently started going to a local nudist club so we could lay out and enjoy the sun and take a cool relaxing dip in the pool when we had some free time. We’re not members. Just visitors. We don’t bring our children. This time is for us to share and I’d like our children to discover how it feels to be naked on their own.

Interested in hearing more or am I boring you already? Well, let me tell you where we’ve gone and where we’ve been naked. The list is long: Tahiti, Cancun, Tulum, St. Martin, Grenada, Palm Springs, San Diego, South Beach, New Orleans, Toronto, and beaches, clubs and skinny dipping spots across North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida.

So what won’t we talk about… Sex and sexual intimacy in a nudist environment. Nudity does not mean sex or foreplay or touching. That’s a misconception. A big misconception. I’m not saying that spending time nude together with your spouse or partner might not stir some exciting moments later, but it is not appropriate to do this in the open. Especially on a clothing optional beach or nudist club or property. Ever.

We have a lot to share. We will share with you the naked truth about being naked. It’s been a wonderful experience for us. Enjoy the ride. And let us know what questions you have. And again, if you’ve got a first time experience (especially if you’re a woman), we’d love to hear about it and potentially share with other couples on a future blog post.

Many of the images used for this post I found on https://www.reddit.com/r/naturists/. If any of these images were shared on reddit. To my knowledge, none of the images are copyright protected. However, please let me know otherwise.

A Naked Honeymoon: One Couple’s Truly Memorable Nude Trip

April 15, 2018July 8, 20183 Comments

58-Nude-Couple-in-Water — Enjoying the great outdoors with your spouse and no swimsuit has been some of the best experiences we’ve ever had.

If we could do it all over again, my wife and I would have gone on a clothing optional honeymoon. To be honest, when we went on our honeymoon to Tahiti we were just beginning our nude journey, and what a trip it has been. From nude beaches and skinnydipping to nude B&Bs and nudist clubs to hot springs deep in the wood and nudist resorts.

Our nude trips have been a great experience for us. We’ve been to many wonderful places and have made many good friends along the way. Including a couple who lives near to us that we’ve vacationed with to Saint Martin and gone nude boating on the Great Lakes.

Our nude journey started with a conversation before we got married. We talked about where we might want to go on our honeymoon and I asked my then fiance if we went to Tahiti would she sunbath topless. She said she would think about it but probably yes. This led to a follow up discussion about going to a nudist club in our area because I wanted to be naked with her. We tried it and liked it. That was more than 20 years ago.

Nude-Beach Couple — Some of our best time together has been spent together nude on a beach. And what a beautiful way to spend a honeymoon. Picture from orientbeach.com

Last year “Busy Bride” reached out to me and my wife to ask our opinion about a nude honeymoon. She was interested in trying out nudism. Her fiance wasn’t too sure at first but liked the thought as they explored more. Originally we discussed Busy Bride and her fiance going to St. Martin. They even booked a wonderful rental property but then saw a great travel special at Couples Sans Souci that they felt they couldn’t pass up. Thankfully the decided to go to Jamaica. Hurricane Irma destroyed St. Martin last Fall.

Here is Busy Bride’s honeymoon trip report of Couples Sans Souci. I loved the thoughts she shared about her experience. All in all, her and her husband’s first nude experience couldn’t have gone any better and it was even better because it was their honeymoon. I’m envious of all the experiences they’ll enjoy together.

Couples Sans Souci was AMAZING! We absolutely LOVED it and could not have stayed at a better resort for our honeymoon! Where to start? The food was amazing. We’ve never been to an all-inclusive before, and as we’re both still “young. My husband will be 25 next year and I’ll be 30. I don’t feel so young anymore (haha!). So we haven’t had lots of opportunities to dine at gourmet 3-star Michelin restaurants yet. To our young tastes the food at every Sans Souci restaurant location was fantastic. We stayed in building B, had a top floor unit, that overlooked the beach and the Pallazzina. We loved our room. I think it was one of the more recently renovated rooms. It was gorgeous. And I can’t believe the room service there either. Absolutely amazing. I wanted to try some rum, and we had the order tally sheet you hang on the door. So we ordered one, thinking we would receive a nip. It was a full sized bottle. I couldn’t believe they just gave us a full-sized bottle. I guess it is all inclusive. Turns out I’m not such a big fan of rum either, haha. We had room service for breakfast almost every morning. We sat on our patio and ate and basked in the beautiful view and sounds of the ocean. Now, when I’m having trouble falling asleep at night, I’ll put on some waves and I’m out.

We tried out the nude beach second day we arrived. The first day was shot, we got there in the afternoon and we were exhausted. We had enough time to change before the manager’s buffet, which was lovely. We met another young couple there, then asked if they wanted to have dinner with us. They asked what our plans were for the next day and invited us to try the boat tour with them. When we told them we planned on visiting Sunset Beach they said they hadn’t heard about it, so we explained. They gave us some funny looks when we said they were welcome to come hang out there with us. We didn’t see them much after that dinner I think we scared them. Haha.

Au Naturel Beach Sign — After you enter Sans Souci’s Au Naturel Beach, it doesn’t matter if you undress immediately or wait to find your perfect spot in the sun.

So, we tried the beach. It was very funny, because after all this anticipation it was me who ended up getting nerves and needing to be coaxed into going. My husband told me I was the one who wanted to try out a nude beach so badly and I’d regret it if I got cold feet now. So we walked up to the gate and we stepped inside. Then I turned to my husband and said, “So, what do we do? Do we take off our clothes here so they know we understand the rules and then find beach chairs, or do we walk up first and then disrobe?” He didn’t really know, which ended in us awkwardly walking and disrobing at the same time. I’m sure we gave some people a good chuckle as we headed towards a pair of chairs in the very back off to the side.

We made sure to sunscreen very well prior to going down, so we had no issues with sunburns in any inconvenient areas. I took out my kindle and started to read and he just wanted to nap. We both ended up snoozing. I can’t believe I fell asleep there. I never sleep in public. I can’t even sleep on planes. I like to be aware of my surroundings. I was very surprised at how relaxing it was to lay back and enjoy the sun, listen to the waves, and sip my tropical frozen drink. My husband woke me up and asked if I wanted some food, because the grille was setting out a buffet. Again, I got a little nervous. It was one thing to be in a corner naked, it was another to walk up to the bar and grille fill my plate and walk back to our chairs naked. My husband had been getting my drinks for me, since I was being shy, but I said I’d join him in getting some food.

We walked up and I realized I was very hot after napping and not taking a dip so I jumped in the pool to cool off and then walked up to the grille to grab a plate. I was stopped by an older woman who was intrigued by my tattoos. She reached out and touched my hip as I passed and I was surprised at how much I didn’t care. We were all naked anyways. So I stopped and we had a lovely chat about tattoos and why I chose the ones I had and what they meant to me. Other people were sitting with her and they introduced themselves. After a short conversation my husband and I grabbed some food and headed back.

I was surprised at how friendly everyone was. And suddenly, I wasn’t shy or nervous anymore. It really didn’t matter that I didn’t have any clothes on. In fact, we saw them later that night at the buffet on the main lawn or rather they saw us first and called us over to their table. They were very lovely people. We saw them quite often after that. It’s funny how you remember and recognize the people you meet at Sunset Beach and how friendly they are when you see them outside of the nude area.

The rest of our stay we actually spent on the main beach except for two more days on Sunset Beach (Sans Souci’s nude beach). This was mainly due to the fact we scheduled too many activities and my husband got sick to his stomach for two days. I also brought too many skimpy bikinis that I knew I couldn’t wear comfortably back home, so I wanted to wear each one I’d bought at least once. It was my first time wearing a thong bikini and I was enjoying showing off a bit.

If I were to do it again, we’d schedule less activities and just enjoy being extremely lazy, and I’d buy less bikinis because you really don’t need them at all. I was tempted to go topless on the main beach, but the vibes were not as welcoming there. I didn’t feel comfortable like I did on Sunset Beach. We spent some time at the main pool, met Brian and asked for the Eclipse drink you recommended. He made as close to the drink as he could. He was missing one ingredient, but it still tasted amazing and since we just loved Brian’s personality and finesse (all the spinning cups and liquor, serving drinks to us on his head or back) we made an effort to hang out where he was serving at the main pool and martini bar quite a bit.

We did enjoy Sunset Beach on our second to last day. It was such a nice way to bring our honeymoon to a close. I can say for sure that the most relaxed we felt while at Couples San Souci was on Sunset Beach. My husband was surprised at how much he enjoyed it. We both agree we want to go back when we can afford to and next time we will try to visit Couples Tower Isle at least once. We thought about doing the trading places thing for a day but never got around to it. We did hear good things about Tower Isle from a few couples who had tried both Sunset Beach and Tower Isle. They said it was worth trying at least once, but their favorite was Sunset Beach. I still want to try Hidden Beach Resort, but I think I want to revisit Couples Sans Souci before we head over there.

We are both very happy that I stumbled onto your blog. We dodged a bullet by cancelling our cruise and booking Couples. What a difference that would have made if we had cruised for our honeymoon instead of discovering the paradise that is Couples Sans Souci. I loved that it was adults only and couples only and I loved the small private nature of the resort. It never felt crowded, and there are so many cute nocks to discover and cuddle in. Thank you so much for your help and tips for our first nude experience together. It really did make our honeymoon memorable and extra special.

I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen about our experience. I think my friends are tired by now. I keep telling them they should try a nude beach and a couple of them are planning honeymoons so I am definitely pushing Couples Sans Souci. I even told my parents they should try it out. I’ll definitely be looking into beaches and areas to enjoy being nude in the future and especially in the U.S. I’m wondering if there are any resorts where we wouldn’t need to travel outside the U.S. to enjoy them. I really wanted to give an honest review of our experience at Couples.

Thank you so much Busy Bride for sharing your review and your thoughts. And congratulations on finding out about the power and love of a nude vacation early on in your marriage. Enjoy.

Does anyone else have a naked honeymoon trip they’d like to share? Please do.

Saint Martin’s Happy Bay Beach is the Quiet Nude Alternative to World Famous Orient Beach

June 5, 2017July 2, 20176 Comments

Look online and you’ll see a lot about Saint Martin’s world-famous Orient Beach. It really is a wonderful beach to visit and explore. It’s also a must visit beach if you’re looking for a great place to bare it all for the first time with your spouse or partner. Many couples experience social nudity for the first time here. Orient Beach is actually one of five beaches in Orient Bay that together total nearly 1.3 miles of sand and surf paradise for vacationers.

club orient beach resort — The yellow umbrellas, blue ocean and tan boobs and bottoms is a sure sign you’re on Orient Beach in Saint Martin.

In the middle of the day, Orient Beach actually feels crowded. Add cruisers (people from cruise ships) walking in the surf and checking out all of the nude sunbathers who number in the hundreds; naked couples and families enjoying the sun and surf and yes, it is very crowded. While I can tell you the only time you truly stand out on Orient Beach is when you’re wearing a bathing suit, some newbie nude couples might not want to strip with a hundred strangers. Although when you’re comfortable with being naked on Orient Beach, a challenge many nude vacationers try each year is walking the entire beach in the buff.

Our last trip, I walked all three beaches on Orient Bay in my birthday suit. That’s more than 2.5 naked miles. While many people walk it naked, you have to do it early in the morning before the beach gets crowded.

Although I would still put Orient Beach on your must visit naked bucket list (there really is nothing like it), there are other beaches on Saint Martin that are quieter and more private to explore recreational nudity with your spouse or partner. Happy Bay Beach is a perfect place to drop your swimsuit or bikini bottoms in a quiet and relaxed setting.

Happy Bay Beach is between Friar’s Bay and Grand Case and is the perfect beach to try skinny dipping or nude sunbathing with your spouse.

Happy Bay Beach is the site of a former resort that was destroyed in a hurricane and never rebuilt. Mother Nature has reclaimed the cabanas and hotel buildings. What’s left is a quiet beach used by families and couples of all ages.

You’ll see it all on this beach. There are couples, gay couples, young families, old couples, vacationing teens from France (this is the French side of Saint Martin), and jet ski tours and sailing boats that stop by the beach throughout the day. On the beach, you’ll see people in conservative and skimpy bathing suits. You’ll also see women laying out topless and on the North side of the beach, you’ll see mostly nude couples enjoying the sun, peace and quiet.

While Orient Beach is loud and flashy, Happy Bay Beach is relaxed and more intimate. For the couple who are unsure about trying social nudity but want to try it, this is the perfect beach to get comfortable and get naked. Before I show you our pictures so you can enjoy the beach when you visit, here are suggestions for first timers to make the most of their first nude beach experience.

When you get to the beach go right. Head North towards the rocks and away from the BBQ snack and beverage shack. Once you pass the large tree in the middle of the beach, you can find the perfect place to soak up the sun without your bathing suit. There is no bad location. You can remain on the beach or set up your towels closer to the trees and brush at the back of the beach. The choice is yours.

Before you pull down your bathing suit or take off your bikini top, know that everyone who has ever gone naked on the beach remembers the mix of anxiety and excitement you’re feeling right now. It feels like you’re breaking all the rules and yet the thought of taking your suit off is so natural and freeing. It’s exhilarating. I still feel this same sensation every time I step onto a nude beach. The only difference is I know the sense of relaxation, freedom and love that comes from dropping my shorts and relaxing naked with my wife on a beautiful beach like Happy Bay.

Once you get through the anticipation and then the excitement when you take off your bathing suits, you’ll feel a little crazy. You’ll wonder why you felt so much anxiety for something that is so simple and feels so natural. Amazing how good it feels when all you’re wearing is a smile. In an hour, it will feel like you’ve been doing this your entire life. By the end of the day, you’ll be walking the entire beach in the buff and holding hands playing in the ocean.

Happy Bay Beach is the perfect beach for couples and many return year after year. I believe it could be your favorite nude beach too. So here’s how you find this wonderful beach.

As you’re headed from Grand Case to Frairs Bay, you’ll see a basketball court on your right. Take the first right turn (Rue Happy Bay) after going by the court. You’ll see a gate at the end of the road. This is was the entrance to the resort. If you can, there is a parking lot on the right. If not, park on the street. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk to the beach. It’s on a road/path the entire way that is well marked and not at all strenuous. There is also a path from Frairs Bay but I’ve never taken it and don’t know the route.

Rather than tell you where to go next, I thought our pictures would be best:

Here is the parking lot for Happy Bay Beach. While we haven’t heard of any problems, it’s probably best to take your valuables with you.

After parking, there is a path to the right of the gate that will take you to an easy step over the wall and onto the road leading to the beach.

The trail/road is well marked even as Mother Nature continues to reclaim what remains of the resort.

You’ll see many of the original hotel rooms and buildings. They’ve seen better days. We stayed clear of them. The road goes by them.

After going by the resort buildings the road becomes a dirt path and starts to go steadily down to the beach. You’re almost there!

There is a slight turn in the road and you’ll see the ocean for the first time. Just a few minutes more.

Finally the trail reaches the beach. From this sign you can go left to the clothed/topless section of the beach or to the right to the nude/clothing optional section. While everyone sets up their towels in different spots, we walked the length of the beach naked. No one cared at all. It really is a friendly, laid back beach.

This is the north end of the beach, which tends to be nude/clothing optional. Get naked and get comfortable. To me, this beautiful beach captures the very best in a nude beach experience: beautiful, laid back, not crowded, paradise.

Looking to the south of Happy Bay Beach, you’ll see the rest of the beach where the snack bar and path to Frairs Bay is found.

Happy Bay has a sand bottom and very little wave action. Each day we were there sailboats anchored and often their guests came ashore for lunch or to play in the waves. Most came on shore naked. Don’t be surprised if you see a few jet ski tours that come by too. Don’t worry about covering up. The tourists usually keep to themselves or drop their suits and go skinny dipping in the ocean.

We brought our lunch, snacks and plenty of wine during our visit. You can also go to the snack bar which provides water, beer, soda and BBQ foods. We of course packed up our trash so that future visitors can see the beach as beautiful and unspoiled as we did.

Please note that Happy Bay is used by the locals on the weekends and on Sunday’s the Police do patrol the beach to make sure everyone covers up (go to Orient Beach on Sunday’s).

Perhaps even more important is preserving Happy Bay Beach and keeping it natural and pristine. Respect the beach and nature and please don’t leave any garbage. Or better yet, pick up what others have left behind. And while Happy Bay is unofficially clothing optional, it is not a place to get it on with your spouse or partner. Nudity does not mean sex or intimacy. Enjoy your time together naked but keep intimacy for your bedroom. Trust me, after spending the day naked together, your alone time will be extra special later on.

This is the second of three blogs detailing our recent trip to Saint Martin. Look for blogs about another wonderful quiet clothing optional beach called Petite Cayes and a blog post about taking a naked vacation with friends. Have you been to St. Martin? We’d love to hear your thoughts on your experiences on the island and why it’s a perfect destination for couples to try nude recreation.

The Perfect Saint Martin Beach for First Time Skinny Dippers: Petite Cayes

June 4, 2017June 7, 20174 Comments

Say “Saint Martin” to any nudist or frequent Caribbean traveler and you’ll immediately hear about the most well-known and popular clothing optional beach in the islands: Orient Beach. It has it all. Beautiful sand. Easy surf. Lots of dining, drinking and lounging opportunities. It also has lots of people on it and to the couple trying nude sunbathing for the first time a crowd can be intimidating.

For many nude beach newcomers, Orient Beach is often their first experience. This is probably because of Saint Martin’s French influences (it’s half Dutch and half French) and as a popular cruise ship destination. In reality, while the entire beach is topless, the south end of the beach next to Club Orient is the only nude/clothing optional part of the beach. You can’t miss it. The yellow umbrellas and historic sign greet most visitors before they see their first naked bottom or boob. By the time you’ve walked the beach to Club Orient’s Papagayo restaurant, you’ll have seen what a nude beach like Orient is all about. Couples and families of all ages talking, sleeping, eating, drinking, swimming, and all naked as the day they were born. It’s relaxing and fun.

beach-couple-island-naked-Favim.com-5141034 — You’ll know you’re on Orient Beach when you see the bright yellow umbrellas and the bare bottoms. Photo courtesy of http://castawaystravel.com/

To the couple ready to drop the swim suit or bikini bottoms and try nude recreation, Orient Beach is a wonderful place to try it. Simply put, you won’t stand out. You’ll be lost in a sea of nakedness. Tan bodies really do seem to blend together when there aren’t any tanlines or bold swim suit colors to make your body stand out. You’ll also have access to liquid courage with lots of bars on the beach and numerous lunch/snack locations.

justnakedcouplestumbler — Nude couple exploring Saint Martin’s Cupecoy Beach. Simply put there is no better way to experience a beach than with your spouse or partner in the buff. Photo from http://graymark52.tumblr.com/post/40190227223/nudebeaches-cupecoy-st-martin

My wife and I first traveled to Saint Martin nearly 15 years ago and we spent most of our time naked at Orient Beach. It really was wonderful to enjoy our naked time together without the concern of offending anyone or being part of someone’s holiday photo collection. And while I’d recommend to any couple headed to Saint Martin for the first time to try spending the day nude together at Orient Beach, there are several other less crowded and unbelievably beautiful clothing optional beaches on the island to visit too.

If this is your first time reading our blog, my wife and I have been going on nude vacations for nearly 20 years. What started as a, “Do you want to try it” discussion when we were dating has turned into many great memories visiting beautiful beaches and resorts around the Caribbean, Pacific and U.S. The purpose of our blog is to provide information to other couples interested in trying nude recreation. It has been a wonderful connection point for my wife and me. It is intimate but not in a sexual way. Sexual touching and intimacy are not appropriate at the nude beaches and resorts we attend. That’s better for time spent together in the privacy of your own room.

The beginning of our journey to Petites Cayes beach.

I often say how do you make a beautiful beach or resort better… make it clothing optional and then you truly are relaxed. We’ve also met many wonderful couples through our travels. Many who are friends of ours today. Our nude vacations are our little secrets and Petite Cayes is one of those quiet, secret beaches that most people will never see but to me, capture all that is wonderful about experiencing a nude beach with your spouse and friends.

Petites Cayes beach near Anse Marcel is a true Caribbean gem and a perfect for a couples first nude beach experience.

So how do you get to one of the most beautiful beaches on Saint Martin? Park next to the trash dump. Believe me it gets better. For those that are willing to take the 30-45 minute hike on the slope of a steep hill and across rocky beaches and terrain, Petite Cayes is paradise. Like most nude or clothing optional beaches we’ve visited, you’ve got to want to be there. For us the hike was just part of the journey and while difficult at times, it was just beautiful scenery.

Rather than tell you about the hike, we thought it best to show it to you. It really is an amazing hike to a fantastic quiet little beach.

When you start your hike to Petites Cayes beach make sure you have everything you’ll need all day. Remember to bring water, food, suntan lotion/sunblock and extra clothing. Most importantly, remember to pack out whatever you bring in.

IMG_0652 (1) — Views like this one are why I love nude beaches. The beach is the reward. The journey is the adventure. And what an adventure it was.

The hike is over rocks and steep slopes next to the ocean and beach below. Difficult at times but safe.

The trail can be a little tough to find but you won’t get lost.

The views from the trail to Petites Cayes beach are breathtaking. Be sure to bring your camera.

The views and terrain keep getting better and better. You’re seeing St. Martin’s beautiful coastline and going where few others go to Petites Cayes beach.

You’re almost to Petites Cayes beach. Final hike is across a rocky beach.

You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see this stunning view of Petites Cayes beach.

Welcome to Petites Cayes. Few make the trip but those who do are in for an amazing beach experience.

Find your own perfect spot on Petites Cayes beach. Go skinny dipping in the waves. Enjoy the sun and sound of the surf. It’s the perfect nude beach experience.

So after your 30-45 minute hike, (there is a second route from Anse Marcel but it is more strenuous), you’ll find yourself on a beautiful half moon beach. Find your spot in the sun and get comfortable. For many first timers, this is the hardest moment. Time to get naked. Take a deep breath and do what you’re comfortable with. Bare as much as you’re comfortable with on the beach or do what I’d recommend. Drop your swimsuit, bikini top and bottom and sit down and apply lots of sunscreen. Remember, body parts that have never seen the sun before tend to burn very easily.

By the time you’re done putting on your sunscreen or suntan lotion, you and your spouse will realize that you’re naked. No one is staring. It feels wonderfully natural. Enjoy the warmth of the sun and breeze on your naked skin. For me, sitting beside my wife and feeling warm all over is one of the most amazingly freeing and relaxing feelings ever. When you’re ready, head down to the surf and splash in the waves. The wave action can get rough depending on weather and time of year. We were able to body surf in the waves.

The day we visited, there were no more than 20 people on the beach at any given time. While we and our friends were the only ones naked the entire time, everyone was friendly and gave each other plenty of space. More than a few other couples hiking to the beach saw us, stripped and went skinny dipping in the water with us. It’s hard not to be friendly when you’re naked.

We enjoyed lunch, snacks and plenty of wine and punch during our visit. We of course packed up our trash (remember, we did park next to the trash dump) so that future visitors could see the beach as beautiful and unspoiled as we did.

Regarding nudity and Saint Martin, technically nudity is only permitted on Orient Beach and all beaches can be used top free. There are however many unofficially nude/clothing optional beaches like Petites Cayes, Happy Bay, Cupecoy beach and others. If someone asks you to cover up, you should out of respect for the locals and the law. Beaches like Happy Bay are often used by the locals on the weekends and on Sunday’s the Police do patrol the beach to make sure everyone covers up (go to Orient Beach on Sunday’s).

Perhaps even more important is preserving Petites Cayes and keeping it natural and pristine. Respect the beach and nature and please don’t leave any garbage. Or better yet, pick up what others have left behind. And while Petites Cayes is unofficially clothing optional, it is not a place to live out your beach sex fantasy. Nudity does not mean sex or intimacy. Enjoy your time together naked but keep intimacy for your bedroom. Trust me after spending the day naked together, your alone time will be extra special later on.

This is the first of three blogs detailing our recent trip to Saint Martin. Look for future blogs about Happy Bay Beach and taking a naked vacation with friends. Have you been to St. Martin? We’d love to hear your thoughts on your experiences on the island and why it’s a perfect destination for couples to try nude recreation.

Top image from USA Today article: Caribbean in the Buff: Top Nude Resorts… http://experience.usatoday.com/caribbean/story/best-of-caribbean/2015/03/26/best-nude-resorts-in-the-caribbean/9879267/

Say I do to a Nude Honeymoon

May 22, 2017May 23, 20176 Comments

It was our honeymoon to Tahiti/French Polynesia where my wife and I got comfortable with social nudity. It really wasn’t what we expected. Knowing that topless beaches were the norm in Tahiti, we thought we could find our own private little island (motu) and leave the bathing suits in the canoe. I thought of us exploring the island naked and enjoying the sun and surf of our own tropical paradise. That didn’t happen, but what did, we still laugh about today.

That said my beautiful bride shed her bikini top on day one and didn’t put it back on until we got home to the Midwest USA. This was one of our first experiences with one of us/both of us being nude in front of others and it was wonderful. The irony was even though we were around topless couples all day for more than a week, it was the time we spent together and my wife enjoying the freedom of not wearing her bikini top that made it so memorable.

back-freedom-girl-sea-Favim.com-1675967 — Are you a woman nervous about sunbathing nude? Try topless sunbathing first. Get comfortable in your own skin.

Would we have considered a nude honeymoon at a nude, not clothing optional resort like Hidden Beach Resort in Mexico? Probably not, but we were only in our 20s then. Going to a nude beach was on our list. If we were getting married today though, a nude resort would be our first choice for our honeymoon and there are lots of locations across the world to consider.

Recently I received an email from a young woman we’ll call “Busy Bride.” She is in her late 20s and was planning her dream honeymoon to match her beautiful wedding later this summer. She and her fiance had booked a cruise but were having problems with the cruise company. After souring on a cruise, she started to look at all-inclusive resorts and came across our blog post on Couples Sans Souci in Jamaica. She hadn’t considered a nude honeymoon before. She contacted me to say she loved the idea of it but had lots of questions. Busy Bride provided the following blog post about her honeymoon planning and why she and her fiance are excited about their nude honeymoon this summer. Enjoy. I’m really excited for the honeymoon she and her fiance have planned.

We had booked a cruise for our upcoming honeymoon. Neither of us had ever cruised before and were really excited. There was a glitch during their cyber Monday sales and they would not honor the price. Everyone I spoke was hospitable and patient but unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, one manager was particularly rude, harsh, and was the deciding factor on our choice to cancel our cruise and look elsewhere.

After coming across an article on TripAdvisor about the differences between Sandals, Couples, and Secrets, I came across a review about Couples Sans Souci that mentioned a nude beach on the resort. Not clothing optional. Nude only. I was intrigued and Googled Couples San Souci nude beach. The third search result was a blog entry titled, “Jammin Naked in Jamaica: Couples San Souci Perfect for First Timers.”

I was intrigued and read through the blog. I had never before even considered going to a nude beach. Sure, I had skinny dipped a few times as a teenager and when I was a little, I ran through the sprinkler butt naked too. What kids don’t? But I’d never considered being nude as an adult, in public, much less socially.

Something about the blog entry struck a chord in me though. Thinking about being naked with my new husband was thrilling. Not in a sexual way, but in a scary way, like the feeling you get at the top of a roller coaster you’ve never been on before. So I started researching nude all-inclusive resorts.

Hidden Beach, Couples Sans Souci, Couples Tower Isle, and Hedonism II are a few of what I found initially before sending a note to TC for his advice. Hedonism is not for us, at least not at this point in our lives. Couples Sans Souci seemed lovely, as did Tower Isle.

Hidden Beach Resort looked amazing and very luxurious like a spa resort! My only issue with Hidden Beach Resort was that it was all nude, all the time. No exceptions. I was ready and willing to jump in without a life jacket at this point after reading quite a few entries from TC’s Clothing Optional Trips blog, but I had yet to bring up the topic with my fiance.

So I posted a question to TC to see if he had been to these resorts and what his opinions were. We connected and he gave me all sorts of valuable input about his experiences and opinions of different beaches/resorts he and his wife had been to and also a few very important questions and some advice. He asked questions like, “Had I spoken to my fiance about this? Were we equally interested in trying social nudity? Had either of us tried it before?” He also pointed out things not everyone might think of, but everyone would wish they had thought of: for example, sunscreen is your best friend for pale areas that see little to no sun. Nobody wants sunburn on their privates. What a way to ruin a honeymoon, right?

Speaking of honeymoon, the reason we had initially chosen a cruise was because we wanted exotic, we wanted different, we wanted unique. We thought a Caribbean cruise that hit more than one location would be ideal. More bang for the buck, plus included, bottomless drinks! The more we thought about it, after the customer service slip up, we realized we hadn’t thought of the multitude of other passengers, possible screaming rowdy children, tight cabins, and the feeling of being herded off the boat and back on the boat once in port. Not really a romantic honeymoon situation.

We do want to cruise, just later. Probably when we can afford a suite, so many years from now…. haha. When I posed the idea of “au natural honeymoon” to my fiance he was initially shocked. The fact I was asking him was what shocked him most. After the initial surprise he said he was interested, but that Hidden Beach Resort seemed a little too much to start with.

I was disappointed I admit. The resort looks so luxurious and I love the idea of being nude all day every day and can’t wait to try it, but it will be a trip for later. I want my fiance to be comfortable and enjoy our first time together naked and not to cringe and dread it.

After ruling out Hidden Beach we looked into St. Maarten, which was recommended to us by TC because of budget. We initially wanted an all inclusive because we thought we’d save money that way since it was ALL INCLUDED. But, we looked into VRBO.com and found a gorgeous 2 bedroom vista right on a cliff on the Dutch side of the island. It had a private pool, gorgeous views, private deck, no neighbors in sight, and a beautiful feature window in the master bedroom in front of a long soaking tub. Yes please! We checked with the owner and they said it was fine if we wanted to ditch clothes and lounge au natural all day, every day. There were no neighbors to offend, and we would have the schedule of the service people who clean the home twice a week. We would save quite a bit of money by sacrificing being waited on hand and foot as we would have been at Hidden Beach. Its definitely a luxury we will need to indulge in for an anniversary maybe in the future. We still get to honeymoon someplace exotic on a beautiful island, laying out naked, poolside, with ocean views. And if we are brave enough to want to try more (which I think we will be) there are nude, or topless, beaches all around St. Maarten! There were many other reasons we chose St. Maarten that TC pointed out for us, and we researched deeper after his recommendations, and we are so excited for our upcoming honeymoon!

I am so happy I stumbled across Clothing Optional Trips blog. I never would have considered trying social nudity with my fiance, much less for the first time and on our honeymoon, if I hadn’t come across the blog.

When it comes down to it the honeymoon is supposed to be this unforgettable experience that you remember fondly year after year. It’s supposed to be possibly the best trip a couple takes together, or one of the best at the very least. When resorts like Sandals market to future honeymooners they’re selling that “unique, one-of-a-kind” experience that couples can get only at that resort!

When I thought about whether we were cancelling our cruise and pursuing someplace where we could be nude publicly and socially together, what sold me was this: What’s more unique, more romantic, more unforgettable than going au natural for the first time, together as newlyweds? And so we cancelled the cruise and booked that home on St. Maarten! We can’t wait! Thanks again for all your help and recommendations TC!

I can’t wait to hear about their trip and yes, I’m telling them about all the great places to enjoy nude on St. Martin (French side)/ St. Maarten (Dutch side).

So did you enjoy a nude experience on your honeymoon and no I’m not talking about what happens in your bedroom. Where would you recommend newlyweds go to experience nudism after their big day? Resorts, beaches, all-inclusives? Let us know your thoughts and what you would recommend to couples like Busy Bride and her fiance.

Trading your Bathing Suit for Your Birthday Suit: 10 more things to do with your spouse naked.

June 28, 2016January 24, 20177 Comments

beautiful-body-casal-couple-Favim.com-765306 — Naked time is the best quality time of all. Image from danilek.tumblr.com per Favim.com.

A year ago I wrote about spending all day with my wife naked. We didn’t hang out in our home or in our bedroom or bathroom. We didn’t even sit out on our deck or backyard. Instead we went to a local nudist club and spent all day, outside and enjoyed the sun, the hot summer air, and the other guests. We didn’t wear a thing. It was much needed together time but it wasn’t sexual. It was fun. It was relaxing. It was energizing. It was wonderful.

Our blog captures our time together and what we like to do naked. This post was by far the most read and most popular I’ve ever written. I shared ten things we enjoy doing together naked when we’re at a nudist club, nude resort or clothing optional beach. I told you what we like to do and asked you to tell us what you like to do naked. If you missed it, click here to give it a read.

Many of you read our thoughts and sent your own. I got to tell you that your ideas were fantastic and my wife and I have added many to our own Naked Bucket List. Before I share these ideas with you, please know the purpose of our blog is to share our experiences so that other couples who are interested in exploring social nudity will know what it’s all about. It’s exciting. It’s fun. It’s sensual but it is not pornographic. As surprising as this might sound to a new-bee nudie, it’s not sexual. There is a time and a place for everything but intimacy or sexual touching is not appropriate in the open at a nudist club, nude resort or beach. That’s not what it’s about.

Being nude with your spouse or special friend is about feeling warm all over and free. I find the first time nude best compared to your first kiss. It’s exhilarating and exciting but you still feel like you might throw up. It’s about sharing time together without holding anything back, including your bathing suit. I could tell you more about why we enjoy being together naked but it’s probably better to share with you what others like to do. So if you’re ever wondering what it would be like or what to do naked here is our new top 10 list of things to do naked with your spouse this summer. Enjoy:

All hands on deck for nude boating & sailing – I told you all last year how much my wife and I enjoyed canoeing naked in Tahiti. Several of you said that sounded great, but we really should try leaving our swimsuits at the dock and riding the waves in a sailboat or motorboat closer to home. And of course dropping anchor and skinny dipping too. I’m on board for this idea.

Nobody puts baby in the corner… especially when she’s dancing naked – You name it, it can be done and enjoyed naked, including dancing. Line dancing? Sure why not. Disco? Okay. Breakdancing? That might leave a mark. Years ago at Hidden Beach Resort my wife and I went to our first nude dance. Even the band was naked. Imagine 35 couples dancing the night away while a Mexican cover band belted out hits from the 80s and 90s in broken English. It was fantastic.

How fast can you run? Now how fast can you run naked? – Sure anyone can compete in a Tough Mudder or Colors Run but do you have what it takes to compete in your Nikes, socks and nothing else? I’m not making this up. Runner’s World even wrote an article about it and I’ve written about White Thorn Lodge’s Naked 5K and Colors Run. Give it a try and remember if you’re not in first, the view never changes.

Nude Day Out with Friends – Okay I never thought this would make our list, but a few weeks ago we went to White Thorn Lodge and met friends there to spend the day in the buff with them. Yes, we met them on Orient Beach on St Maartin and no, none of us were wearing swimsuits then either. We had lunch together. Skinny dipped in the pool. Took a hike. Talked. Laughed. Enjoyed mojitos. Talked some more. We had so much fun we stayed for dinner. Yes, it can be intimidating to think of spending the day naked with friends but when you’ve been out to dinner many times before and enjoyed it, why not? Our friends made a great day even better.

Check out the Heavenly Bodies – No I’m not talking about peeping toms. They suck. I am talking about laying naked under the stars or sitting in a hot tub or pool with your spouse. You’ll see more moons than the one in the sky. Romantic and fun too. We love to do this when we’re visiting a nude resort like Couples Sans Souci.

How do you stay warm when you’re naked on a cool night? A hot spring of course! Friends of ours love going to nude hot springs in Colorado and California. It sounds awesome and usually has a naked hike to the springs to get there too. Definitely on our list now.

Naked water skiing also known as a power enima. I was surprised when two people suggested this and said it was a blast. I googled it and sure enough, it’s a thing. I’m not one to judge because I’ll try most things once, but the thought of my bare butt (or worse) hitting the water makes me scream in pain just thinking about it. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

When you’re ready to Dive in all the way, try nude snorkeling or scuba diving. This has been on my bucket list for years and I thought I was going to accomplish it when I went to Couples San Souce earlier this year. Unfortunately you can snorkel only on their textile beach, not their nude one. I guess that will wait till next time.

You’ve been served. Naked beach volleyball! Yes, it’s almost cliche to think about nudist and nude volleyball games on the beach or in the pool. I’m not sure why but it is part of the nudist culture. That said, it might be a pickup game in a pool, the semi pro games at Haulover nude beach on the weekends or the Super Bowl of Nude Volleyball each year held at White Thorn Lodge in Western Pennsylvania. Regardless, you’ll have a blast or is it a ball?

So is a nude dog one not wearing a collar? Several people mentioned how much they enjoy taking a walk at a nudist club and bringing their dog with them to walk too. I love walking our dogs but never thought once about bringing them with us to a local club. I would first recommend calling the club to make sure dogs/pets are welcome. We’ll have to give this one a try.

So here are 10 new ideas to do with your spouse or special friend naked this summer. Let us know if you do any of them and what you think. The next question I usually get is, “Where can my wife and I try some of these activities?” I’ve included links where I can but your best bet is to go to the American Association of Nude Recreation (AANR) website to their club and resort finder app. AANR member clubs and resorts must maintain a high standard to be an accredited club. Not all of these activities will be available at an AANR member club (nude boating or sailing, hot springs?) but most will. I also recommend visiting The Naturist Society (TNS) website for more information about nude recreation.

Better yet tell us what you like to do if we haven’t mentioned it yet. Regardless, remember that social nudity is about you and your partner. It’s fun and always should be. The hardest part is just trying it. Once you’ve gotten over the first “can I do this” hurdle, it’s really easy after that.

Naked Time is Summer Time: Five Answers to Your Concerns about Getting Naked

May 28, 2016January 24, 201712 Comments

tumblr_nu4qhiE6rh1sjx31vo1_500 — What’s the most comfortable bathing suit on the beach? No bathing suit!

I’ve always loved summer time, but the older I get the more summer means getting naked and spending time with my wife outdoors. Honestly there is nothing better than feeling the sunshine on your skin and a warm breeze cooling your body. After 45 years, I can honestly say being naked outside on a warm or hot day is the best. Sound like something you and your spouse or special friend might want to try? There is no better time to be naked than summer time.

Our blog is about encouraging couples to try social nudity. For my wife and me, we’ve found it to be a wonderful bonding point. We are not nudist. We live very normal lives in the suburbs. Most days were are getting our children off to school and working long hours at our jobs. We don’t stand around naked in the kitchen or garden in the backyard nude. We’re just like you. Except that we have discovered how wonderful it is to spend time together naked outside. I’m not talking about sexual intimacy. We are not touching each other. That’s not appropriate outside of the privacy of your bedroom. We are just spending time and hanging out with other naked couples who like to do the same thing.

This summer, we invite you to discover the joys of spending time with your spouse or special friend naked because there is no better time to be naked outdoors than when the days are sunny and warm.

So what’s stopping you? Here are five answers to most couples biggest concerns about trying social nudity:

Will we stand Out? Every couple who hasn’t experienced social nudity believes when they are naked everyone will stare at them. The only time you are noticeable at a nude club, resort or beach is when you’re clothed. Once the clothes come off, you look like everyone else… naked.

What if we see someone we know? This was my wife’s biggest concern and one reason we didn’t got to a local nudist club until we were in our mid-30s. Privacy is a big part of nude establishments. It is expected that you will never ask anyone their last name or where they are from. You share only as much information as you would like. While we’ve never run into any friends or even acquaintances while naked, we’ve met several other couples at nudist clubs, beaches and resorts that we’ve become good friends with since meeting. The most important thing to remember if you see someone you know is that they enjoy being naked too. That’s all.

What if we don’t want to be naked around other people? As couples are getting used to social nudity, often they don’t want to be social. That’s okay. This is your time together naked so spend it as you would like to. We’ve seen two types of couples; The ones who want to be social and are playing volleyball in the pool or talking at the bar. They have lot of friends and like to talk. The other group find their own space and relax. Maybe their next to everyone at the pool but just reading books and talking to themselves. Or maybe they’ve found their own space on the beach.

Will someone hit on me or make a romantic or sexual advance? This is a real concern and for us, and it’s never happened. If anyone is making you uncomfortable, tell someone at the club, resort or beach. Nudist clubs, resorts and most beaches have zero tolerance for unwanted sexual advances. When you’re naked, you’re exposed and vulnerable. Nude clubs and resorts do a lot to make sure the environment is safe. Cameras are not allowed. At a nudist club, you will have to give them your driver’s license for a background check. Some nude resorts ask guests sign a code of conduct. I know that it happens but simply telling someone that you’re not interested should be enough.

What if my body doesn’t look good enough to be naked around other people? It’s sad, but this is probably the biggest reason couples don’t try social nudity. In the years since we started this blog, we have received a lot of questions about the “right body” for a nude beach or club. The right body is your body. Your first time nude will be an interesting experience. Yes, there will probably be some good looking people there, but honestly, most people are wonderfully average. No one stands out. Do not be concerned with scars or surgery marks. Do not be concerned about stretch marks or bellies. Do not be concerned about your breasts being too big or too small or one being bigger than the other. Do not be concerned if your penis is too small or too large. Do not be concerned with private tattoos or piercings. Do not be concerned about birthmarks. Do not be concerned if you are completely shaved and without pubic hair or natural or somewhere in between. When you’re naked, you’ll be around some of the most unjudging people ever. Perhaps one of our biggest discoveries was that when you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to be ashamed of or anxious either.

So what other questions do you have? Should you go to a club or a beach? What can we do while we’re there? (check out our blog on what we like to do) What about kids? If you’re going to a club, call ahead. Let them know it’s your first time and ask them what you should expect and what they expect from you. If you’re going to a public beach like Haulover in Miami, Wreck in Vancouver or Black’s in San Diego, read up online to hear where to go and what to bring.

Most of all, enjoy the time together with your spouse. We find our time naked together to be relaxing and recharging. Enjoy!

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