German Nudist Attitudes Explored

Author Michele Hartley on About.com provided a nice overview on German nudist attitudes here in the article "Nude in Germany - German Nudists Bare All".

Here's some of the key points relevant to Nudist Beginnings readers:

"Nudism in Germany is not shocking, it is daily life. German nudists are everyday people like you and me. The first documented nudist camp was established just outside of Hamburg in 1904 by Paul Zimmerman,..." (Michele Hartley via About.com)

That's so different from the United States nudist experience where nudism has growing acceptance but is still considered strange by many. Most American nudists keep their nudism private from coworkers and even family.

In Germany, Hartley explains, there are many opportunities for nudism.

"Freikörperkultur (free body culture or FKK for short) has a huge following with campsites and vacations spots for the entire family. Germans don't mind nudity. It is accepted and sometimes expected, as in most saunas, where bathing suits are generally verboten or at least looked upon as an oddity." (Michele Hartley via About.com)

It sure seems that Germany is a different way of life when it comes to body acceptance and freedom. According to Hartley, anyone can be clothesfree and not have to worry about being judged.

"Sunbathing in the nude is commonplace in the major city parks around Germany (including Berlin) and the beaches are very often clothing optional. Whole families (from Grandma down to toddler) frolic on the beaches naked." (Michele Hartley via About.com)

Sure makes me want to consider visiting Germany someday. I'll certainly be looking into it further and reporting more here and on my nudist travel blog.

Nudist Blogs a Good Way to Learn About Nudism

Everyone has a unique perspective on nudism just like everyone has a unique perspective on life. The point is to talk about it. Several nudist use blogs as a way to let others learn about nudism.

It's alright to think nudism is not for you. Everyone has a preference. However, if you are open to the idea of being clothesfree beyond your shower, there are some good nudist blogs out there in the blogosphere that can help you learn more about real nudism.

Here's a few to check out, though there are many others that are just as good:

The Nude Life is a new blog with several articles from an experienced nudist. He was the author of the nudist cruise series on my nudist travel blog earlier this year.

USA Nudist covers USA nudist news topics and AANR happenings.

Nudist Day covers world nudist news and travel and has interviews with nudists and more.

The Nudiarist blog has a lot of posts on a variety of nudist topics. Check out the Burqini - the opposite of being cloths-free.

Of course, there's my other blog to learn about nudist travel and naturist resorts.

Sleeping Naked: the next big thing?

Does sleeping naked lead to nudism?

The Urban Dictionary, a slang community-made dictionary, defines sleeping naked as:

• "A practice that is shunned publicly by the general populace, but privately performed by millions. Particularly enjoyable when you have satin sheets."

Great definition. I've been sleeping naked since a teenager. I enjoy the comfort. I am not alone.

This survey, though terribly unscientific, also found that 53% of people sleep naked all of the time. Another 26% sleep naked only sometimes.

The heat gets to another 7% of the participants who admit to sleeping naked only when its hot. A weird survey choice, 6% sleep naked just with their friends. This may mean only during intimate relations with partners. Who knows? I told you the survey was unscientific.

Surprisingly, only 6% of people have never slept naked. Are you one of them?

And over on 43Things and again here, sleeping naked is one of the "43 things" people want to do. One naked sleeper says "I feel so free when I sleep in the nude. It’s best when it’s hot and you sleep naked without any blankets to cover you up."

And this person on 43Things goes explained how overcoming her fears of sleeping naked were worth it:

"Ok, I have to say that I am a very paranoid person at times, and it took me a while to be able to do this. I kept thinking, “what if the house catches on fire or something horrible happens and I have to run outside!”... But then I came to this realization… SO What>>> It’s just a body>> It’s not that Serious! So I tried it, and loved it. It’s even more spectacular with someone you love lying next to you."

Right on! It's just a body. Clothes seems extraneous, don't they?

But you are still confused, right? Your mom still dresses you and tells you how to think, doesn't she? If you want to sleep naked, but don't know how, I can point you in the right direction. Here's detailed instructions that tell you everything you need to know about how to sleep naked.

Be careful though. Elsewhere on the 'net, someone jokingly says that sleeping naked leads to nudism. The horror!

"I hear sleeping naked is a 'gateway activity' that leads to nudism. Once you’re naked in the bed, what’s next? Naked in the yard?"

Yes, sleep naked and you may realize that being naked is not always about sex. You might even want to learn more about nudism. The MSN Encarta definition of nudism (naturism) is this:

"wearing no clothes as custom: the practice of going without clothes, usually in a communal setting or in designated areas, in the belief that nudity is a healthy natural state"

Next thing you know, you'll wonder what else you could do naked. You may even end up reading more on this Nudist Beginnings blog or visiting a nudist travel blog like this. Soon, you'll consider swimming naked and then visiting nude beaches or maybe even a nude resort.

You may even end up as one of those people playing naked volleyball on the beach. That's what happened to me. It ain't so bad.

Scenes from a nudist conference

In this fun video segment, HamptonRoads.tv's Brian J. Clark goes to an American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) nudist conference. The event talks place at Whitetail Resort in Ivor, Virgina. See what the resort and a nudist conference are like.

Watch video

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Inside nudist resorts: What really happens?

Check it out.

Terra Cotta Inn Clothing Optional Resort and Spa in Palm Springs, CA put out an article about the Top 7 myths about nudist resorts that people new to nudism may have. This is perfect for Nudist Beginnings readers so I though I'd pass it along:

The Top 7 Myths About Vacationing at Nudist Resorts

Vacationing at nudist resorts is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry. It is a booming niche market with over $400 million in annual revenues. A recent Roper poll showed 25% of American adults have gone skinny dipping. Maybe it is time you should too. Make your next vacation a fun one, go as bare as you dare.


Palm Springs, CA, June 13, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Those high walls and locked gates seem just so imposing. Everyone knows there are nudist colonies in America. Yet, everyone also wants to know, "what really happens inside the walls of a modern nudist resort?"

Tom and Mary Clare Mulhall, the owners of The Terra Cotta Inn Clothing Optional Resort and Spa located in sunny Palm Springs, California share some of the secrets and myths about nude resorts.

Just this March, their beautiful boutique hotel was reported by AOL.com to be one of the top 10 "world's best clothing optional resorts."

More importantly, The Terra Cotta Inn is considered the most mainstream nudist resort in America and perfect for couples trying nude sunbathing for the first time.

Once you learn about the top 7 myths about vacationing at nudist resorts, you will want to pack the sunscreen, some good books or magazines, your iPod, sunglasses, and if you have kids at home, pack them off with the grandparents. Because it will be time to experience your most fun, romantic, relaxing vacation ever.

Myth #1 All nudist resorts are the same

As experienced naturists know, all clothing optional resorts are unique and different. They have their own personality and character. Most cater to families and their kids. Many are charmingly rustic campgrounds and parks. Nicer ones that appeal to first timers like Terra Cotta are not for kids. That way you can have a nice relaxing, pampering, romantic vacation. It is very important for your first nude sunbathing experience to find the nudist resort that is right for you. If you go to the wrong place, you will probably never try nude recreation again.

Myth #2 You will have to play volleyball all day long

Yes, volleyball is the national pastime of many nudist clubs, parks, beaches and campgrounds. However, most of the more modern nudist resorts don't even own a volleyball net. And if you go to a nudist campground or beach for your first experience, don't worry, no one will force you to play.

Myth #3 You have to be a "card carrying" nudist to visit a clothing optional resort

Yes, it is true that many of the older nudist parks and clubs in America still want their customers to buy an annual membership just like you buy an annual gym membership. But, many parks allow you to visit before joining. And nudist resorts like The Terra Cotta Inn in Palm Springs have never required any of their guests to buy membership.

Myth #4 Everyone laughs at you if you have tan lines

This couldn't be further from the truth. You will see many experienced nudists have tan lines because many times they take a 1 week vacation with their kids and swimsuits and then go to a nice nudist resort for their 1 week relaxing vacation without the kids and swimsuits. Also some first timers like to try European sunbathing (also called topless sunbathing) first. That is ok at some of the nicer hotels like The Terra Cotta Inn. You must enquire first before booking your vacation. Finally, you find not all nudists like laying in the sun all day long. So there is normally lots of shade at the nicer places.

Myth #5 All nudists are aging hippies

While some nudist parks are having a hard time convincing younger couples to buy annual memberships, that is not true of all nudist venues. For instance, a recent survey published in the 2007 National Leisure Travel Monitor showed 16% of adults born in 1979 or later consider vacationing where there is access to nude or topless sunbathing desirable or very desirable.

Myth #6 Nudists have orgies

Not true. Most guests at nudist resorts are married or in long term committed relationships. There is much less sexual tension at a clothing optional resort, than there is at a regular hotel where everyone is wearing a bathing suit. Nudist resorts make you feel comfortable with your naked body and build self esteem.

Myth #7 You need to lose weight before vacationing at a nudist resort

This is the biggest myth of all. Many people think nudists are all models and body builders. Where in reality, they are regular normal people. They are tall and short. They are thin and not thin. They are all ages from 20's to 70's. They are all professions. And they are democrats, republicans, and nonvoters. Everyone vacations at nudist resorts, and so should you.

So make this the year for you to have a great vacation. Find out for yourselves all the fun that goes on behind those mysterious, high walls.

If you want to say goodbye to your tanlines forever, give the Terra Cotta Inn in Palm Springs, California a call at 1-800-786-6938.
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So that's what Terra Cotta Inn has to say. Yes, there's some salesmanship in the article, but to be honest, Terra Cotta is worthy of consideration for first-timers and even experienced nudists who want to try something different. Read this Terra Cotta Inn review to learn more.

Speaking of nudist myths, several nudist myths have been discussed here on Nudist Beginnings. Here's 3 more nudist myths that may be interesting:

1. Nudist Myth Busting: "Crazy things go on during nude cruises"
2. Nudist Myth Busting: Clothing is Required
3. Nudist Myth Busting: Nudist beaches are full of naked people with perfect bodies

Get Outside and Get Naked!

If you need a reason to try nude recreation, look no further.

The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and The Naturist Society (TNS) are teaming up this summer to encourage Americans to take off their clothes during the annual Nude Recreation Week celebration, held July 9-15, 2007. Nude Recreation Week gives first-timers the chance to give clothes-free recreation a try at home or at one of the many AANR-affiliated clubs that open their doors to the public during this week.

• Nudist Beginnings Tip: I highly recommend trying it at home first. If you are a couple, make a date out of it and do a nude dinner at home. Strange at first, you will both be surprised how natural being naked feels. The awkwardness goes away eventually. It took my wife and I a while to get up the nerve to try nude dining at a nudist resort. Now, we won't pass up the opportunity.

“A national study* found that 15 percent of Americans are looking for a nude recreation experience; however, sometimes taking the initial 'plunge' can be difficult for newcomers,” John Kinman, President of AANR explained. “Nude Recreation Week gives the public an opportunity to try something new while at the same time allowing nudists across the country to celebrate the freedom of clothes free travel and recreation, in appropriate settings.”

This annual celebration is open for individuals - and families - to visit one of the hundreds of clothing-optional clubs affiliated with AANR or TNS, and experience firsthand one of the fastest growing trends in both travel and recreation. Many of the 267 AANR-affiliated clubs have activities and events planned throughout the week – such as open houses, “canude” nude canoing trips, sports and poker tournaments, “bare buns fun run,” health screenings, fine arts shows and more.

Or, for those looking to try something new in the comfort of their own home, AANR and TNS recommends these “fab five” activities:

1. Cool off: skinny dip in your backyard pool
2. Make housekeeping fun: shed those clothes, turn on some music and get out the mop
3. Get in touch with nature: garden nude
4. Exercise in the buff: hit the treadmill or dust off one of those workout videos
5. Telecommuting in the nude: working from home-- in the nude--is actually increasing in popularity!

• Nudist Beginnings Tip: Don't forget the beaches! There are some very nice beaches to visit. However, beaches are not as regulated (not gated) as a nudist organization affiliated resort.
  

“We would like to spend this National Nude Recreation Week celebrating the nude human form as inherently wholesome and natural,” explained Nicky Hoffman, President of TNS. “We realize that nude recreation may not be for everyone, but we urge you to give it a try. You just might like it!”

First-timers are invited to don their birthday suits at home or at a nudist resort and experience the personal liberation, stress-relief, and simple comfort of nudism.

AANR’s mission is to advocate for nudity in appropriate settings as well as educate, and inform the public about its value through ongoing membership growth. It is the oldest and largest organization of its kind, representing nearly 50,000 members and their families, who enjoy clothes-free recreation throughout North America. Nude recreation has experienced tremendous growth and popularity over the last several years and has become a $400 million niche segment within the travel industry.

For the club nearest you, and to find out more about its Nude Recreation Week schedule of events, log onto the association’s Web site at www.aanr.com, or call 1-800-TRY-NUDE.

Parties interested in visiting one of AANR’s clubs during Nude Recreation Week should call the resort in advance to make a reservation and find out the rules of the resort.

Related Links:
- American Association for Nude Recreation
- The Naturist Society:

*Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell/Yankelovich Partners 2006 National Leisure Travel Monitor

What do nudists do?

This video provides a brief introduction to nudism and explains what nudists do while at a nudist destination.

The speaker asks questions about the nudist lifestyle to an American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) representative.



The video mentions AANR's 50,000 members.

50,000 is just the tip of the iceberg. Think of all the people in the US who are not members, either because of lack of awareness or interest in joining an organization.

Looking at the number of people at nudist beaches, there must be a significant number of people who enjoy the clothes-free outdoors regularly.

Words from a naturist

Judy Williams of the Wreck Beach Society, an organization dedicated to keeping Wreck Beach in Vancouver clothing-optional, talks to a reporter about the Bare Buns Run.



More about Wreck Beach here and here.

Nudist Myth Busting: "Crazy things go on during nude cruises"

Nope. True nudist/naturist cruises are not sex-charged places. They are human places. Nudist cruises are about real people on a cruise ship who just happen to be more comfortable without clothes. And with that, they form a common bond.


To get a feeling about what a nude cruise is really like, read the daily trip reports from a nudist aboard a Caribbean nude cruise with 1,200 other nudists.

There is one rule that must be followed for this nudist myth busting experiment to be true. The nudist cruise event must be held in positive regard by members of AANR, the International Naturist Federation, or any of the other wholesome nudism focused organizations, you can be assured the cruise is a good one.

When selecting a destination, reading the genuine nudist forums is a good place to start. A good one with a loyal following of "clothes-free people" is ClothesFree forums.

Nudist Myth Busted. Nude cruises provide a friendly, respectful vacation environment when properly selected.

Complete list of reasons to wear clothes

After hours of research on this April 1st, I am pleased to present the Complete List of Reasons to Wear Clothes:

1. Clothes are good when the weather is too cold to be comfortable.

2. Clothes are good for the safety of construction workers, race car drivers, etc.

3. Clothes are good for sterile environments like hospitals, medical labs, and research centers.

4. Clothes are good for graduation ceremonies (with nothing under the "cap and gown" required).

5. Clothes are good for religious ceremonies for symbolism.

There you have it, the complete list of 5 reasons. This was more difficult than I originally thought.

Competing with the 205 Arguments in Favor of Naturism appearing in The Naturist Society's (TNS) N magazine in 1996 is just not possible. The list of arguments was compiled by K. Bacher from various sources.

Here's a sample of the arguments:

15. Children are not born with any shame about nudity. They learn to be ashamed of their own nudity.

21. Many indigenous tribes go completely naked without shame, even today. It is only through extended contact with the "modern" world that they learn to be "modest."

29. Nudity is not, by itself, erotic, and nudity in mixed groups is not inherently sexual. These are myths propagated by a clothes -obsessed society. Sexuality is a matter of intent rather than state of dress.

33. Studies have demonstrated that countries with fewer hangups about nudity have lower teen pregnancy and abortion rates.

45. Naturism is the antithesis of pornography.

101. Clothing is produced by environmentally irresponsible processes from environmentally irresponsible sources.

205. One of the most important arguments in support of nudism is personal experience.

Trying nudism before you die

43things.com is a cool website with a "1,000 things to do before you die" theme. People contribute what they want to do, what they have done, get ideas from other people and share experiences.

Some people want to try nudism and others have already. I'm just browsing through the 43things website and so far it is fun.

I tried to contribute to one person's Thing: "my strange desire to visit a nudist colony"

Other people want to get nude on a nude beach, visit a nudist colony (nudist resort/campground) and others talk about positive experiences. Yet others want to go nude more, having tried it a liked it, and another has lived in a nudist resort.

Nudist Myth Busting: Clothing is Required

Humans need clothing, don't they? Let's dispel the myth of clothing. A brief sampling of works by other authors makes it clear that living nude is more common than you may think.

In the recent and recommended book "The Complete Guide to Nudism and Naturism" by Liz and James Egger, the husband and wife nudist authors of 30 years provide some interesting facts and evidence why clothing is not a physical requirement for survival.

They point out that the natives in Tierra del Fuego in South America's southernmost region have lived nude in a climate with 43F (6C) degree average weather. Charles Darwin is among the people to document this.

The Egger's go on to say "The difference is that [the natives] had never felt the need for clothing, and so their bodies had adapted to the cold."

NUFF, the Naturist UK Fact File, is compiling a list of many existing and extinct nude cultures around the world. The list is surprising. Did you know that the peoples of the indigenous tribes of the Caribbean, the Caribs, were usually nude at the time of discovery by Christopher Colombus?

In a 1927 book entitled "Studies in the Psychology of Sex: Vol. 1" by Havelock Ellis, the author examines many cultures whose people do not normally cover themselves with fabric. The book is dated and relative, but points out many cultures where nudity has been the norm:

"The Mandurucu women of Brazil... are completely naked, but they are careful to avoid any postures which might be considered indecorous..."

"The semi-nude natives of the island of Nias in the Indian Ocean are "modest by nature," paying no attention to their own nudity or that of others,..."

And then there are cultures where clothing is restrictive:

"In [1927] England, the regulations of the Swimming Clubs affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association, require that the male swimmer's costume shall extend not less than eight inches from the bifurcation downward, and that the female swimmer's costume shall extend to within not more than three inches from the knee."

Living naked is a way of life in many cultures. Myth busted.

Clothing, nudists and the self

How does colored fabric change who we are? Researchers says clothing has an impact on how you perceive yourself.

In a University of Michigan study entitled "Clothing in the Self-System of Adolescents" (1997 - view), researchers explored the cultural impact of clothing in relation to the self during those developmentally important adoloescent years.

The researchers explain how clothing and the self are linked:

"If adolescents regard clothing as a tool for validation of the self or inclusion in social interaction through which the self can be established, they may value clothing more than other objects as part of the self. They may perceive clothing as central to the self and psychologically become linked to clothing. The centrality and psychological linkage of the person to clothing is what is meant by the psychological closeness or proximity of clothing to self."

What does this mean to nudists? Well, except for the lucky few who live on nudist resorts, most nudists I know wear clothing for work, for shopping, and even around the house. During these times, clothing may impact our self perception.

When we finally are in a nude, we have no fabric to define us. We have the freedom of our own skin.

The impact of clothing

John Veltheim wrote an interesting article called "Naked beneath your clothing" a while back. I won't claim to agree with every last point, but he presents a lot of good thoughts.

Here, he provides an argument about the negative impact of clothing on our body and mind:

"When people use clothing as a means of shutting out the world and covering up to stop the world from seeing their distorted inner self image, they create a tragedy of immense proportions. When hiding behind clothes, people are closing down their body energically and psychologically. A healthy body has its energy, nervous system, and life forces flowing freely throughout it. When shut down psychologically and physically, the body energy shuts down, distorts and flows abnormally. This manifests major kinks in spiritual, emotional, mental and physical growth."

He seems to be saying that clothing is preventing humans from reaching their full potential.

Nudists on the Family Guy

I stumpled upon this clip on YouTube - a funny clip showing the Family Guy family visiting a nudist family home.

This is the family's first time learning about nudists and they are a little shocked.

I debated about linking to this video originally. Some people think Family Guy is tasteless and crude.

Though the scene is littered with traditional Family Guy humor, the writer's portrayal is not anti-nudist. It seems more to be making fun of the situation of a clothed family encountering a nudist one for the first time. Nothing more.

Despite the normal Family Guy non sequitors, the Family Guy family gets along fine with the nudist family, sitting down for dinner and "trying" to enjoy hot dogs.

Nudist on TV: Talk show interview with a naturist

This interview with 18-year old naturist (nudist) Leah appeared on the British talk show "The Trisha Goddard show", a very popular program in the UK and beyond.

Trisha's openness to the concept is impressive as is the audience's acceptance. No gasps and awes are visible in the audience. The bloke (man) who stands up to ask a question seems positive about nudism.

14 pages of first-time experiences with nudism

Of course "first-time" is a misnomer. If you can read this, you were probably born nude.

Hearing real stories about first-time experiences with nudism is both entertaining and a great first step for those interested in trying nudism.

Though second nature in many European countries and other parts of the world, trying nudism takes a lot of courage given the historical misperceptions in American culture. Reading real stories exposes the truth about the freedom of being naked outdoors.

This 14-page forum thread provides many insights into first-time nudist experiences, from experiences at resorts and beaches to how significant others react to their first-time.

View the post.

The one downside of being naked

This is a funny video (no nudity) about the one downside of being naked.

Better public speaking advice than "imagine everyone in the audience naked"

Worried about speaking in front of a crowd?

The classic advice for overcoming stage fright when performing in front of a crowd is to "imagine everyone in the audience naked".

I'd like to suggest new advice for all nervous public speakers:

"Imagine you are performing in front of a nudist audience."

Why is my advice better? Your average audience is going to be uncomfortable naked – that's the way culture is around most of the world. The average audience will be jittery and anxiety-ridden sitting there naked with friends around them. That does not make for a good speaking experience.

In contrast, nudists are at least as comfortable nude as they are clothed. Better yet, the nudist culture is known for its open-mindedness. They make the perfect audience.

Learn about an instance where 2 clothed entertainers performed in front of an audience of nudists and how it all worked out.

How to be nude in 5 easy steps

All nudist beginnings start with removing clothes. Here's how:

1. Remove shirt
2. Remove shoes
3. Remove pants
4. Remove underwear
5. Remove socks

If you followed the above instructions, you should now be nude. If not, try again.

Practice over and over until you can remove your clothes as fast as the amazing guy in this video clip:

Nudist Myth Busting: Nudist beaches are full of naked people with perfect bodies

When I used to go to "bathing suit required" beaches, much time was spent worrying about appearance. I usually ended up skipping the beach because I didn't look as good as the guy on the cover of Men's Fitness magazine.

America, land of the free, Paris Hilton idolatry, and millions of bathing-suit-wearing beachgoers worried about how they look.

Enter nudists.

...naked on a beach..., originally uploaded by Marco Ammannati.

Most nudists see the beach as much more comfortable and natural without clothing. Looks are not going to stop an experienced nudist from returning to the beach.

"Without clothing, you are who you are," they say.

Nudists are people in every shape and size. Nudists are real people - representative of the population at large. Real people - without shame. (I have yet to see a supermodel though.)

I'm sure there are real people "on the fence" about trying nude beaches and nudist resorts. When I first learned about nudism, I was on the fence too. But perfect bodies at nude beaches turned out to be a myth.

In fact, body imperfections are ignored and seem to be irrelevant in a nudist environment. No one stares at a scar.

I saw a nudist amputee about 30 minutes into my first time trying social nudism. I was surprised that no one paid any attention. That proved to me that body acceptance among nudists really is the norm. Years later, this still seems true.

Myth Busted. Nudists are in every shape and size.

What kinds of people are Nudists? Another nudist definition.

According to Liz and James Egger, authors of the "Complete Guide to Nudism and Naturism" (2006), nudists are "normal, morally responsible respectable citizens - singles, couples and families - who just happen to share a passion for wholesome social nudity."

The book is a great introductory resource to the modern situation of nudism. I'm sure I'll refer to the book again.

The authors also provide a concise definition of naturism/nudism:

"Naturism is the enjoyment of getting as naked as possible, wherever appropriate, alone or with others, just for its own sake"

It's a nice definition. Clear and to the point.

The book is available here.

South African Nude Safari to open in March 2007

Nudist Day had an interesting post about a new South African nude safari and this should be very exciting news for nudist travelers!

At 95 sq. miles, Kudumanzi Nudist EcoPark is the largest nudist resort in the world! To walk across the property would take weeks. In reality, the accommodations are limited - only room enough for 16 or so people, but who can complain on nude safari.

The wilderness here is really wild. According to the Kudumanzi Nudist EcoPark website, wildlife includes the animals you'd only see in zoos in the United States: giraffes, kudus, rooiboks, zebras, crocodiles and all kinds of exotic birds. Visitors may even see cheetahs, but don't let the cheetah see you!

As stated on the website: "The area is also completely malaria free!" Nice! Nobody wants to catch malaria while naked on a safari.

More about the park:

"The NudistEcoPark™ is located in a protected Game Farm and Ecosystem and provides a perfect backdrop for Naturist and Nudist activities. It is also totally secluded and private, and will allow you unfettered nude roaming of a large Game Farm type environment." (Source: Kudumanzi Nudist EcoPark website)

The park offers a lot of fun, one-of-a-kind activities:

- Guided nude game drives
- Nude walking trails and hiking
- Nude quad riding via rentable quads
- Nude eco hunting (groups only) which doesn't appear to be real kill-the-animal hunting, but more of a safari experience, but I could be wrong.
- Nude personalized picnics at various waterfall sites in the park.

This sounds like a great experience! I wouldn't recommend this for a first-time experience for north american residents. I'd recommend trying an American Association for Nude Recreation affiliated nudist resort which provide an ideal first-time environment. Get some experience first before making an investment.

Nudist Travel Guide Blog temporarily blocked

Unfortunately, for some weird reason, my other blog about naturist travel is temporarily not allowing posts, so I'll have to post some travel news here until that can be fixed.

The error I get is "This blog has been locked by Blogger's spam-prevention robots." However, the blog is anything but spam. All posts are original and it usually takes several hours to do the research and writing required to do a post.

I must thank Blogger for providing a free tool to create blogs. I hope others will use Blogger to share their nudist experiences. Blogger is a great tool.

I respect Blogger's desire to prevent junk blogs, but their spam-prevention robots made a mistake. I hope they can fix this soon. It has been blocked for 2 weeks now.

Nudist Rights Organizations: Naturist Action Committee

The Naturist Action Committee (NAC) is a non-profit political adjunct to The Naturist Society (TNS).

NAC is one of the organizations that works hard to preserve nudist freedom. NAC's mission:

"NAC exists to advance and protect the rights of naturists throughout North America. NAC supports the responsible recreational nude use of public lands."

One great tool NAC provides online is a guide to laws concerning naturist rights.

Local lawmakers, trying to do the best they can for the community, sometimes create ordinances in their towns in an effort to keep sexually-oriented adult entertainment clubs out of town or away from residential areas.  

Sometimes these laws have a negative impact on  non-sexually oriented naturist rights.   NAC is among the organizations that try to create awareness about how naturism is completely different and how lawmakers can be more accommodating.

Do nudists have a word for people who wear clothes?

Yes, anyone who is not a nudist is called a "textile". The word textile refers to the non-nude person being clothed with textile materials (i.e., cloth is a textile).

As I understand it, textile is not a derogatory word in any way. Nudists are the most accepting groups of people on the planet.  The nudist may even have remorse when using the word.  "Those poor textiles, they do not know what they are missing."

Sometimes, when nudists are not nude, they may call themselves "textile" as in "While at work, I am a textile, but at home I an a nudist."   Or, "When the weather is too chilly to be nude, I am happy to be a warm textile."

Make sense?

"Nudism" is a world-wide phenomenom

In english, nudism may be called naturism or clothes-free.

The word "nudism" is common to many languages, reflecting its importance to those communities:

• Dutch: nudisme
  
• French: nudisme
  
• German: Usually called FKK for Freikörperkultur, also called Nudismus, Naturismus
  
• Greek: γυμνισμός (gymnismós)
  
• Italian: nudismo
  
• Latin: nudismus, gymnismus
• Spanish: naturismo
• Portuguese: naturismo
• Simplified Chinese - 裸体主义
• Traditional Chinese - 裸體主義  
  
  
  

What is "naturism"?

"Naturism" is considered to be the same as "nudism" by most people in the US and Canada. Some regions and countries tend to use "naturism" more than the word "nudism". The nature part of the word reflects the "harmony with nature" aspect of being nude.

The MSN Encarta definition of naturism is this:

wearing no clothes as custom: the practice of going without clothes, usually in a communal setting or in designated areas, in the belief that nudity is a healthy natural state

The Encarta definition mentions the social setting aspects of naturism. However, solitary nudist hiking qualifies as naturism just as much as riding a bike in the nude with nudists for a cause.

Nudism not so strange after all

According to a 2006 study by the Naturist Education Foundation/Roper Poll, 54% of Americans support having public land set aside for nude sunbathing. (View nudist research here)

The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) has over 50,000 members.

The AANR has 270 affiliated clubs and resorts where you can take your clothes off.

As I wrote in Nudist Travel Guide Blog, there are a lot of good fun activities at these types of clubs and resorts including:

1. Lounging on the beach or by a pool

2. Swimming / skinny-dipping

3. Picnics at nudist campgrounds and dining at resort restaurants

4. Hiking naked

5. Camping au naturel

6. Nude petanque

7. Nude volleyball

8. Nude ping-pong

9. Nude tennis

10. Dancing at dance night at a nudist campground

Welcome to Nudist Beginnings

Nudist Beginnings is a blog full of resources for people considering nudism.

This blog will help you understand what being a nudist is all about. A good first step is the definition currently on Wikipedia:

The meanings of naturism and nudism are very similar, and refer to a cultural and political movement practicing, advocating and defending social nudity in private and public spaces. Several other terms ("social nudity", and recently: "clothes-free") have been proposed as a replacement of these terms, but none has yet found the same wide-spread acceptance as the older terms naturism and nudism.

Nudist Beginnings

This is the new Nudist Beginnings website.