Sick and tired of putting on pants before your many social engagements? You’re not alone.
Recreation events for nudists — or naturists, as they’re often called — aren’t tough to find, with nude bike rides, nude dining events and even nude cruises taking place across the country. Naturist organizations like the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) or The Naturist Society Foundation (TSNF), also frequently share news of upcoming nudist-friendly events and resorts.
“Nude recreation embraces the joy of living and experiencing nature in the most natural way possible,” the AANR writes on its FAQ page. “To relax and be nude is to let yourself be totally free.”
The “totally free” part, meanwhile, isn’t totally representative of what it’s like inside a nude-friendly venue. Most au-naturel events enforce a strict set of rules for guests, who are expected to uphold the generally agreed-upon standards of proper nudist etiquette.
Bring a towel. Everywhere.
“There’s two things [you’ll notice] when you walk into a club: You realize it’s non-sexual, and the second thing is, no matter where you go … you have to have a towel with you,” Jeff Baldasarre, the director of marketing and communication for AANR, previously told Nexstar. “That goes for the resorts or the cruises or anything else.”
Bringing a towel to sit on, naturists say, is a universal hygiene rule observed at all nudist clubs, resorts and events — even if it’s not explicitly stated.
“The rule is, when naked, you only sit on what belongs to you,” a self-described nudist once explained in an internet forum.
Some events, like the new nude dining experience offered at C.L.A.S.S. Soiree Steakhouse in Hollywood, Florida, will provide guests with options: The restaurant’s chef told Axios that staffers not only make towels available, but also seat cushions and robes.
Put the camera away
One thing you’ll need to refrain from using (in all but very specific situations) is the camera on your smartphone. A nudist retreat is a place where members expect a certain amount of privacy and discretion, and most clubs won’t appreciate — or tolerate — you snapping photos.
There are exceptions, of course. Many nude recreation facilities will allow photography in specific areas, and after everyone in the photo has given consent. The next Big Nude Boat cruise leaving from Florida in February 2027, for instance, explicitly states that guests who violate these rules will have their cameras or phones confiscated.
“People have been walked out,” Baldasarre said of folks who flaunt the camera rule at AANR-affiliated clubs.
It’s not a sexual environment
As mentioned above, nudist and clothing-optional resorts are places where naturists are encouraged to feel comfortable in their skin — and not sexualized.
“Yes, seeing others clothes-free can be pleasant; nudists should acknowledge that human adults have a sexual nature,” reads a set of guidelines posted online by the Naturist Society Foundation. “But — and this is a huge ‘but’ — nudist clubs do not exist to satisfy voyeuristic or exhibitionist tendencies.”
The aforementioned Big Nude Boat cruise also prohibits “fondling,” “overt sexual activity or any form of solicitation for sexual acts,” and “lingerie or fetish-wear” in public areas of the ship. C.L.A.S.S Soiree Steakhouse adds that diners are required to be respectful of each other, and never touch another guest without consent, lest they be denied a seat at the table, Nexstar’s WFLA reported.
That’s not to say naturists can’t meet or form romantic relationships at such events. You just shouldn’t arrive expecting debauchery simply because the place is full of naked people.
Speaking of which …
You may have to get dressed
It’s common to wear hats, footwear, jewelry and sunscreen at nudist resorts (or more, if you plan on playing certain sports). But depending on which club you visit or which event you attend, you might need to pack some actual clothes.
At clothing-optional resorts, guests are allowed to stay dressed if they prefer. Some clubs, though, may require clothing in the gym or dining areas, despite the rest of the property being nude-friendly.
The Big Nude Boat, for instance, requires clothing inside its dining areas but not at the buffet on the pool deck. Some excursions will also require clothes, and guests need to be dressed when the ship is docked at port — no matter where they are on the boat.
On the flip side, there’s usually an area at every nudist resort — clothing-optional or not — where guests need to be naked.
“The biggest rule, at most of them, is that you have to be a nudist in the pool,” Baldasarre said.
Fewer naked ambitions?
Despite continued interest in nude recreation events, today’s youth are seemingly bucking the naked trends of old. Membership to naturist organizations is dropping globally, thanks in part to younger generations seeking alternative getaways, according to those analyzing the trends.
In Germany, for instance, membership to the German Association for Free Body Culture (DFK) had fallen from 65,000 in the year 2000 to under 34,000 in 2025, The Guardian reported. Alfred Sigloch, the president of that organization, claimed some of the older members at naturist resorts continue to stubbornly insist on resort-wide rules or activities that younger members might not care for. (Sigloch pointed to “specified afternoon nap or quiet times,” the Guardian reported.)
He also said the prevalence of smartphones or drones has made more members wary of being photographed.
The AANR adds that technological advancements are also making it easier for would-be naturists to “migrate” online, where they can exhibit their nude bodies without leaving the house.
“How the next generation defines social nudity will no doubt be a little different than how it is practiced by their parents,” Gary Mussell, the founder of the Southern California Naturist Association and the AANR’s 2013 “Man of the Year,” wrote in a piece published by AANR.
But for old-school naturists, there’s still nothing that compares to the altogether enjoyment of a nude holiday among other similarly naked people.
“Anyone who goes to a club or resort for the first time to take part in nude recreation, I always hear the same thing: ‘I wish I had done this years ago,’” Baldasarre said.
by: Michael Bartiromo
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