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The most comprehensive guide to nude beaches and recreation is Lee Baxandall's World Guide to Nude Beaches and Resorts available from Amazon.com.  Just click on the cover illustration to order at a good price. Other useful guides are listed further down the page. If Dr. Leisure has a question about a nude beach this is where he looks first for the answer.

  Changes in the perceptions and treatment of Little Beach by the media in Maui is an interesting study in itself. The following is excerpted from the new book from Dr. Leisure entitled: The Mostly True Life Adventures of Dr. Leisure - Volume II.
 
 

   Shift in Visitor Channel Presentation The changing attitudes regarding nudity at Little Beach on Maui can be effectively summarized by looking at how the visitor channel describes and portrays Little Beach. Following is a verbatim report of the Visitor Channel presentation as it appeared in December of 1993:

"At the North end of the Big Beach lies Little Beach, or Pu`u Olai. This is not a beach for everyone, as you will see, there is sunbathing in the buff. To get there you must climb over this hill, a feat much easier said than done, believe me. But if you are determined to worship the sun au natural, be warned! The local authorities still frown on sunbathing in the all together, no matter how far removed from civilization." The Visitor Channel, Paradise Television, Lahaini/Maui

Note the reference to "local authorities still frown on sunbathing in the all together..." The implicit message is that the activity is illegal when in fact it was not at the time. But nevertheless with the choice of words a slight scare could be given to the tourist. Perhaps that heightens the desire for some to go to the nude beach. I am sure that for others it probably was an effective deterrent.

About two years later the same visitor channel reported the following on January 2, 1996. Again this is the entire verbatim message about Little Beach:

"Over this hill from Big Beach, like a smaller or more intimate beach is Little Beach. And the name tells more than you think. You see sun bathers at Little Beach wear very little, or well, nothing at all. If you decide to worship the sun Au- Natural. Remember what we said at the beginning of the program, wear sunscreen."

This narrative was accompanied by a brief (about ten seconds) reverse zoom of the beach. The camera pulled rapidly back from a walking nude female to show much of the beach with obviously nude sunbathers scattered about. Albeit they were very small nude sunbathers (seen from a distance type small).

Note there is not even a veiled reference to the idea that there is anything wrong with nude sunbathing! The print media has also followed suite. There are numerous tourist publications on Maui and two that I have followed over the years include Maui Gold and This Week. At one point a few years ago when both went to new maps, Little Beach was marked as nude on both. Currently only in This Week is that designation still carried. I have no proof but wonder if it is a matter of where the documents are published. Maui Gold appears to originate on the island while This Week appears to be sent over from Oahu. It is clear historically that there was a time when it was not politically correct to acknowledge that Little Beach was and is a nude beach. And for some few remaining on Maui that is still probably the case. However, things are changing and of this there can be no doubt.

   Another source for information on nude beaches in Canada is the Clothing-Optional Beaches in Canada page of the Federation of Canadian Naturists web site. Click the highlighted page to link to that site.The Federation also publishes a guide The Canadian Guide to Naturist Resorts & Beaches by Paul Ritchi, David Basford, Stephane Deschenes, and Paul Rapoport. Click on the title or the cover picture to order this book from Amazon.com.

From Portland, go 10 miles northwest on US 30. Turn right over Sauvie Island bridge. Buy a parking pass at the store at the bottom of the bridge, then continue beyond the store for 1.8 miles. Turn right on Reeder Road and go 10.7 miles until it becomes gravel (passing Reeder Beach and Walton Beach, both clothing required.). About 0.3 miles on the gravel road, watch for signs on the right, "Collins Beach, Clothing Optional Area, Nudity on Beach Only."  (WG page 100) Lee Baxandall's World Guide to Nude Beaches and Resorts available from Amazon.com.

From the Northeast: off Highway 41 to right on Route 26, Right on Route 151, and continue south to Sun Prairie. Here turn on Route 19 west to Route 12. Turn right (north) for 9.1 miles to County Y. (It's really Y only if you get to the top of the hill before turning left.) On County Y drive west and north exactly 5.2 miles, and turn right on blacktop Laws Road, which leads left in 1/2 mile onto gravel Conservation Road along the Wisconsin River. Park in the lot and take the short path to the beach. At the beach , go left (downstream) and proceed to the southern-most part of the beach which is clothing-optional. Lee Baxandall's World Guide to Nude Beaches and Resorts available from Amazon.com.

   North from Kailua on the "airport" road. Or south from Keahole Kailua-Kona airport. Turn to the sea on the Honokohau Harbor Road. Now keep bearing right until you dead-end, more or less, on a bumpy dirt road just past Kona Marina. Follow the main road circumventing the marina. A sign points to the beach as well as "NB" painted on rocks along the road. Park, lock, and take the grassy trail that leads north to the beach. (WG page 65) Lee Baxandall's World Guide to Nude Beaches and Resorts available from Amazon.com.

Most all of the beaches selected have been personally visited by Dr. Leisure or have been recommended by web page readers and have passed the test for excellence. Some of the criteria is friendly and fun to be with people, natural splendor, and no hassle. A great place for the compulsively laid-back.

Hippie Hollow (Austin, Texas) used to be high on the list. Given the current hassle by county officials making it a crime to be nude with your children Dr. Leisure can not recommend this site for the time being.

From routes 2222 and 620 northwest of Austin, go west (left) on 620. Turn right at the Comanche Trail/McGregor Park Hippie Hollow signs. Go 2.2 miles to parking lot, pay fee, park and lock car. Walk down the paved trail in the southwest corner of the parking lot to any of the several cliffside paths that lead to the beach. When leaving dress before reaching the parking lot; remove litter. (WG page 108) Click the cover illustration to order from Amazon.com.
 

 GAY MAN LOOKING FOR NUDE RECREATION?   Dr. Leisure has just become aware of the book Naked Places,  Guide for Gay Men to Nude Recreation and Travel by Michael Boyd. Avialable from Amazon.com it appears to be just the ticket for the gay man. There are 375 listings for nude beaches, hot springs, and other natural areas across the globe popular with gay men. Some 250 resorts are profiled. Check it out by clicking on the title.

SOME HOT SPRINGS GUIDES:  These are some of the guides Dr. Leisure recommends. Clearly hot springs are best enjoyed nude!  All these titles are available from Amazon.com. Click on the title or cover illustration to order direct from Amazon.com.

   A personal favorite with Dr. Leisure. Used exclusively when Dr. L is motoring around the mainland.
Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Northwest by Marjorie Gersh-Young   Available from Amazon.com click on the title or cover illustration.

The companion to the Northwest.  Dr. L suggest having the set!
Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Southwest by Marjorie Gersh-Young    Available from Amazon. com, click on the title or cover illustration.

Great Hot Springs of the West: Arizona California Colorado Montana Idaho Nevada New Mexico Oregon Utah Washington Wyoming by Bill Kaysing and Ruth Kaysing  Available from Amazon.com. Click on the title or the cover illustration to order.
 

 RECREATIONAL NUDITY AND THE LAW
If you are interested in the legal aspects of nude beaches or nudism, the book to check out is Gordon Gill's Recreational Nudity and the Law. It contains 101 abstracts of cases dealing with recreational nudity over the years.Click the title to order from Amazon.com. Now available in less costly paperback. A fun read from Dr. Leisure.