Nude beaches in
California for clothing optional sunbathing are
extremely popular, yet extremely limited for the size of
population and penchant of international vacationers who
seek the relaxed California beach vacations.
Nude beaches are not
advertised by those who enjoy naturist activities. We
stepped onto a nude beach and broke ranks in an effort
to document the low-key scene we observed. In an attempt
to educate, rather than flaunt activities, we hope that
the
nude beach photos we took will exemplify a tasteful
method for allowing the public the freedom of getting a
tan without restriction or tan lines.
Where do nude
sunbathers go on vacation? In California, the good
news is that Palm Desert communities actually offers a
nudist hotel resort.
Desert Shadows Inn Resort
advertises that you
come to undress, de-stress and relax at this Nudist
Resort offering a beautiful clothes-free setting perfect
for the discerning naturist. The Resort has been
featured on the Travel Channel, E! Channel and MTV and
in the USA Today, Self and Vogue magazines. Home to "The
Baxandall Bridge" - the world's first nudist bridge,
there are five acres of meticulously landscaped grounds
behind secluded gates, panoramic views, full service
restaurant & bar, spa offering facials, manicures &
massages, tennis court, putting green, exercise room,
three heated pools, two outdoor spas and exquisite
waterfalls, fountains, lagoons and streams.
Accommodations include two-story town homes, one-story
villas (both have fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces,
and Jacuzzi tubs) or our luxury hotel rooms equipped
with microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker. Close to
major entertainment venues like the McCallum Theater, as
well as special events including professional golf,
championship tennis and more.
Back to the Beach: In
San Diego County, the southernmost and warmest beaches
in California, you may find some privacy and relaxation
in places such as Black's Beach. San Diego -
Black's Beach Directions - Go north from San Diego on
I-5. Take the La Jolla Village Drive exit. Travel west
about 1/2 mile and turn right on Torrey Pines Road. Just
past the Salk Institute you'll see a sign for the
Gliderport.
Turn left there and park in the lot. Take the stairs
down to the beach. The nude beach is to the right of the
trail when you get to the beach.
San Onofre Beach in
San Diego County not for from Oceanside and San Clemente
enjoys a tucked away location you must hike to.
Lifeguards do patrol and may ask people to put their
clothes on, it is reported. From Orange County to Los
Angeles, there is absolutely no beach you'll be able to
run free or go au natural. As you head north to Ventura
and Santa Barbara Counties, there also are no places
that you can count on to let your clothing down for a
swimsuit-free tan line.
San Clemente - San
Onofre State Beach
An hour north of San Diego and 90 minutes south of Los
Angeles. Many would say this is the finest nude beach in
California. Directions: Go past San Clemente on the I-5.
Take the San Onofre exit. Go into the State Beach. Drive
about two miles to Beach Trail #6. Park past the area
designated for camping. There are three trails named
Trail #6. They all lead down to the beach you want. Go
past the last Trail #6, park near the restrooms, and
walk down. It's an easy path. In fact, the trail becomes
a road used for official vehicles. When you get to the
beach go left. The nude beach begins 300 yards south of
the last lifeguard tower.
Unfortunate for
tourists and sun lovers, you have to go where the
climate's cooler to enjoy nude sunbathing on a limited
basis. When you arrive in San Luis Obispo County, there
are a couple neighborhood beaches such as
Pirate's Cove, Avila Beach, frequented mostly by
college students from
California
Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Locals
also enjoy this private location. It's really very
interesting that Hispanic fishermen go on the weekends
to fish off the cliffs next to nude sunbathers perched
on rocks above them or the beach below. It's really very
grown-up in its approach to live-and-let live. Each
seems to do his or her own thing, not paying much
attention to the other. Even the sea lions dozing on
rocks jutting out of the ocean keep a mindful eye on the
people at the beach or kayaking past nude with no
discrimination about attire as they guard themselves and
their young. What's fortunate about this location is a
reported warm zone where air currents seem to keep it
warmer than the windswept beaches nearby in Guadalupe,
Oceano and Morro Bay.
San Luis Obispo - Pirates Beach at Avila Directions: -
take the Avila road exit off Hwy 101. Head west for
about two miles. Look for an uphill road named Cave
Landing. Take that road. There is a sign that say's Not
a Through Road - No Overnight Camping. Follow the road
to the parking lot and take the trail down to this
beautiful cove.
Santa Cruz beaches
are as free spirited as Santa Cruz, itself. In Santa
Cruz, home to the Banana Slug-loving UC Santa Cruz
students, the beaches are low-key places where you can
pretty much do your own thing as long as you don't
bother anyone else or offend. Santa Cruz has always
enjoyed a spirited individualism that promotes cutting
edge ideas outside the box. Many of San Jose's
silicon-savvy thinkers who made their fortunes in the
city escaped the one million population and went over
the mountain to the beaches at Santa Cruz where they now
can work from home. Some of the beaches get a bit chilly
and in the winter, you need to seek the protected coves
for sunbathing opportunities. But you'll enjoy more than
the beaches in Santa Cruz County, a beautiful landscape
with beaches next to the Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary. Santa Cruz - Red, White and Blue Beach
Directions - 4.1 miles north of Santa Cruz. Look for a
sign or mailbox on the ocean side of the road. If the
mailbox is still there it is painted red white and blue.
Turn there and follow Scaroni Road to the entrance gate
for the beach.
Moving
north toward the San Francisco bay area, Gray Whale Cove
State Beach near Pacifica, Half Moon Bay and Moss Beach
is one of the few beaches in California officially
recognized as a naturist or clothing optional beach.
While the summer weather can be perfect, winter days are
a mix of some warm, peak hours and cool, breezy
afternoons that can chill the skin. The wonderful
aspects of this location are the rules. Nobody can
rightfully hassle you and tell you to put your clothes
on. It's your right to do what you want. The beaches of
San Mateo County, south of San Francisco, are generally
very accepting.
Pacifica - Gray Whale
Cove State Park - AKA: Devil's Slide Directions: Go
south through Pacifica and then about 3 miles south of
Denny's in Linda Mar - in the past the road has been
unmarked but now look for signs to Gray Whale Cove State
Park.
As you go north to
San Francisco, the beaches are smaller, more crowded and
full of tourists. There are, however, a few tucked away
neighborhood treasures such as
North Baker's
Beach. Directions - off Lincoln Blvd, near the Presidio
and Golden Gate Bridge.
North of San Francisco there are several nude beaches in
this area, the most popular is Red Rock Beach.
Directions: Park 1/2 mile south of Stinson Beach and
then follow the trail down to the ocean. It will take
you about 10 minutes.
Lake Tahoe is an
inland location not near the coast but it does enjoy
beaches with summer sunbathing opportunities. Secret
Cove Beach on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe is small due
to high water line. Arrive by 10 a.m. to find one of the
best sunbathing spots. Besides the beach area there are
many large boulders that surround the cove. The water in
the cove is shallow so it stays fairly warm and is great
for swimming, or just floating on an air mattress. The
beach is recognized as a nude beach and nearly everyone
is nude.
Directions: - I 80 east to Sacramento; Highway 50 exit
east to Lake Tahoe. From Stateline, take Highway 50
north to Highway 28. Go north on 28 about five miles
until you see a parking lot on the west (lake) side of
the highway. Park there. Walk south on the fire road
that begins there. Follow the trail down to the beach.
Expect a 10- to 15-minute walk. If the lot is full, you
can park on the shoulder of 28, south of the last No
Parking sign (cars on the asphalt itself will be cited).
On the west side of the road, follow signs that say
Trail to the beach path. The trail also leads to Chimney
Beach which is sometimes used by nudists, The boulders
between Chimney and Secret Cove are recognized as
clothing optional.
Entering
the Sonoma County coast, you are back in open territory.
Private little beaches and coves not directly on the
ocean are enjoyed au natural. Sonoma, Mendocino,
Humboldt and Del Norte Counties in the northern portion
of California experience cooler climate and lots of fog.
Sunbathing, let alone nude sunbathing, is not one of the
most popular recreational activities because of the
cooler climate. This area is quite popular for hiking,
fishing and kayaking. The further north you go, the less
sunbathing you'll see. There's a joke amongst locals in
places like Sea Ranch on the northern Sonoma coast. They
see tourists come in their swimsuits, bringing a blanket
or towel to sunbathe at the beach. They usually don't
stay long when they discover how cool it can be.
While most the public
beaches require clothing be worn, you'll often see girls
untie their bikini bra sashes to remove the tan lines
from the back. That can be done at most any beach you
like.
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