9. Hippie Hollow: Austin, TX<\/strong><\/h3>\nAmerica’s mid-section is modest compared to its coastal counterparts\u2014and to be fair, also lacking in coastline\u2014so it’s a bit of a surprise that the Lone Star State even has a clothing optional beach. Nevertheless, it’s\u00a0suns out, buns out at beloved Hippie Hollow. Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Travis, about 40 minutes from downtown Austin<\/a>, Hippy Hollow is less a beach than it is a series of tiered, limestone rocks cascading toward the water (making for some slippery situations for\u00a0skinny dippers). A paved path, which is also clothing optional, leads the way to the areas where folks\u00a0can strip down and the very end is popular with gay sunbathers.
\nPros:<\/strong>\u00a0Sunny wand warm\u00a0year round, social atmosphere, well maintained
\nCons:<\/strong> No sand, only accessible via\u00a0car, parking fee, cramped\u00a0on busy days<\/p>\n![\"Get](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/kehena-beach-big-island-hawaii.jpg\")
Get cheeky at Kehena Beach | Flickr CC: Eli Duke<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n8. Kehena Beach: Big Island, HI<\/strong><\/h3>\nMillennials leaping naked into the surf from a giant rock might be the first thing to come into sight at this gorgeous black sand beach tucked away in the steamy jungle of the Big Island<\/a>‘s Puna District\u2014a haven for artists, free spirits, adventure seekers and yogis on retreat. Sparse in population, the remoteness of the region means there’s hardly ever a large crowd at this secluded stunner where the sand is literally obelisk black, dolphins sightings are common and the water inviting (but beware a serious\u00a0undertow). The Sunday drum circle, however, packs the beach by the hundreds\u00a0and likely to leave seekers of solitude a little, dare we say, testy?
\nPros:<\/strong> Stunning scenery, social atmosphere, warm water
\nCons:<\/strong> Out of the way, rough undertow, rocky in parts,\u00a0frequently rains<\/p>\nRELATED<\/u><\/b><\/span>:<\/strong>\u00a0How to plan your\u00a0Big Island road trip<\/a><\/p>\n7. Marshall Beach: San Francisco, CA<\/strong><\/h3>\nA series of three smallish coves, Marshall’s fame has skyrocketed in recent years thanks to a footpath that has made the beach more accessible to visitors. About as close to the Golden Gate Bridge as a person can get without standing directly underneath it, many tourists\u00a0to Marshall come\u00a0to snap a pic before toddling off to the next tourist attraction. Insiders, however, know this to be the best place in SF<\/a> to strip down and take a naked selfie with the bridge\u00a0as a backdrop. Downright treacherous in high tide, Marshall manages to pack ’em cheek to cheek (pun intended!) on hot weekends and the furthest cove enjoys a\u00a0celebrated following\u00a0among gay men.
\nPros:<\/strong> Secluded, stunning views
\nCons:<\/strong>\u00a0Cold water, cramped on weekends, unpredictable weather<\/p>\n6. Wreck Beach: Vancouver, BC<\/strong><\/h3>\nSo laid back are the denizens of Vancouver<\/a> that you could ask your hotel concierge for directions to this massive nude\u00a0beach near the University of British Columbia and the likelihood of her even batting an eyelash is slim. You may actually need a concierge’s navigational skills as Wreck is a bit of a trek from downtown. The best way to reach it is either via\u00a0a lengthy bus ride or Uber, but it’s worth it. The closest thing to Burning Man you’ll see at a nude beach, the hippie, communal vibe at Wreck includes vendors peddling items like hand-crafted jewelry, sarongs, food, beverages and more.\u00a0The water is freezing so instead try joining\u00a0a nude guitar jam.
\nPros:<\/strong> Social atmosphere, lots of amenities
\nCons:<\/strong> Out of the way, freezing water, short season<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Haulover-Beach.jpg\")
Flickr CC: osseous<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n5. Haulover Beach: North Miami, FL<\/strong><\/h3>\nIf there’s one thing nude beaches have in common\u2014aside from sunburnt buns\u2014it’s that they’re often off-the-beaten-path and difficult\u00a0to reach. Not so at Haulover, a sprawling, sun-drenched patch of coastline\u00a0whose easy accessibility may have something to do with the region’s abundance of retirees. Located in\u00a0Haulover Park, a mere stone’s throw from the literal northern tip of Miami Beach<\/a>, Haulover offers changing facilities (not that anybody needs them), paved walkways and plenty of parking. The vibe is chill and the calm, turquoise waters are warm and ideal for skinny dipping. Most folks strip down and those who don’t may feel like an, ahem, boob.
\nPros:<\/strong>\u00a0Easy access, abundant parking, changing areas, food trucks, warm water
\nCons:\u00a0<\/strong>Not as social\u00a0as other nude beaches, not particularly scenic<\/p>\n4. North Baker Beach: San Francisco, CA<\/strong><\/h3>\nSan Francisco’s famously liberal\u00a0vibe reaches its apotheosis at North Baker, a\u00a0beach with\u00a0both clothed and nude halves. Folks of all ages, races, genders and sexual orientations mix and mingle at this tolerant beach\u00a0(this was the original site of Burning Man from 1986-1990) while soaking up both rays and\u00a0stunning Golden Gate Bridge views. While the famously cold water will make you shiver (and shrivel) most months\u00a0of the year, Baker is nevertheless a convivial place to sun and socialize in a relatively secluded and gawker free environment.\u00a0There’s no ifs ands or\u2014dare we say it\u2014butts<\/em> about it, North Baker\u00a0is a great nude\u00a0beach for first timers.
\nPros:<\/strong>\u00a0Fun atmosphere, beautiful scenery
\nCons:<\/strong> Parking lot fills up fast, unpredictable weather, cold water, no facilities<\/p>\n![\"Gunnison](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/gunnison-beach-sandy-hook-new-jersey.jpg\")
In case you miss the sign at Gunnison Beach | Flickr CC:Jackie<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n3. Gunnison Beach: Sandy Hook, NJ<\/strong><\/h3>\nJersey might seem an unlikely destination for one of the busiest nude beaches in the U.S., but packed Gunnison is as much a hangout for New Yorkers as it is for residents of the Garden State. Part of the the stunning and remote\u00a0Sandy Hook National Recreation Area,\u00a0folks reach cramped Gunnison either by car (the parking lots fill up very quickly on weekends) or via Manhattan<\/a> ferry. The latter is the preferred choice for New Yorkers who are then bussed for free to clothing optional Gunnison. Most folks go completely naked and on weekends the beach packs ’em in booty to booty. Check out the\u00a0unobstructed, or shall we say full frontal, skyline\u00a0views.
\nPros:<\/strong> Fun and lively, calm waters, facilities nearby, food trucks on weekends, picturesque views
\nCons:<\/strong> Parking lots fills up fast, very cramped<\/p>\n2. Little Beach: Maui, HI<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhere there’s a Little Beach, there must be a Big Beach, right? Indeed there is although the two couldn’t be anymore different. Located in serene Makena State Park, just south of all the fancy resorts in Wailea<\/a>, Big Beach is family friendly (not that Little Beach isn’t) with\u00a0stunning scenery and inviting waters. But walk to the far north end of the beach, climb a little cliff and\u2014voila!<\/em>\u2014everyone is naked. The beach is compact and cozy and the surf is perfect for swimming. But Little Beach’s claim to fame is its Sunday sunset in which hundreds gather for a drum circle (once famously led by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler) and accompanying fire dancing.
\nPros:\u00a0<\/strong>Easy to reach, good for swimming, convivial crowds
\n Cons:\u00a0<\/strong>Parking is tight on busy weekends, beach is smallish<\/p>\n![\"On](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/blacks-beach-san-diego.jpg\")
On the way to Black’s Beach | Flickr CC: Bill Coons<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n1: Black’s Beach: San Diego, CA<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe best nude beach in North America is an expansive,\u00a0perfectly sun-kissed stretch of sand in sunny, San Diego<\/a>. It’s quite the hike down a very steep bluff (one entrance to the beach does include steps), but its remoteness is also its charm. Black’s guarantees relative privacy for nude sunbathers and elbow room for all given that the clothing optional portion stretches more than a mile end to end. Body surfing is the norm\u00a0as\u00a0the waves are generally strong without being overpowering and the waters temps just right between\u00a0July and September. Weekdays are quiet,\u00a0but numbers swell well past a thousand on holiday weekends.
\nPros: <\/strong>Social, roomy, good for swimming, lifeguards on duty
\nCons:<\/strong>\u00a0No amenities, hard to reach, occasional stingrays<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nPros:<\/strong>\u00a0Sunny wand warm\u00a0year round, social atmosphere, well maintained
\nCons:<\/strong> No sand, only accessible via\u00a0car, parking fee, cramped\u00a0on busy days<\/p>\n
Get cheeky at Kehena Beach | Flickr CC: Eli Duke<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Millennials leaping naked into the surf from a giant rock might be the first thing to come into sight at this gorgeous black sand beach tucked away in the steamy jungle of the Big Island<\/a>‘s Puna District\u2014a haven for artists, free spirits, adventure seekers and yogis on retreat. Sparse in population, the remoteness of the region means there’s hardly ever a large crowd at this secluded stunner where the sand is literally obelisk black, dolphins sightings are common and the water inviting (but beware a serious\u00a0undertow). The Sunday drum circle, however, packs the beach by the hundreds\u00a0and likely to leave seekers of solitude a little, dare we say, testy? RELATED<\/u><\/b><\/span>:<\/strong>\u00a0How to plan your\u00a0Big Island road trip<\/a><\/p>\n A series of three smallish coves, Marshall’s fame has skyrocketed in recent years thanks to a footpath that has made the beach more accessible to visitors. About as close to the Golden Gate Bridge as a person can get without standing directly underneath it, many tourists\u00a0to Marshall come\u00a0to snap a pic before toddling off to the next tourist attraction. Insiders, however, know this to be the best place in SF<\/a> to strip down and take a naked selfie with the bridge\u00a0as a backdrop. Downright treacherous in high tide, Marshall manages to pack ’em cheek to cheek (pun intended!) on hot weekends and the furthest cove enjoys a\u00a0celebrated following\u00a0among gay men. So laid back are the denizens of Vancouver<\/a> that you could ask your hotel concierge for directions to this massive nude\u00a0beach near the University of British Columbia and the likelihood of her even batting an eyelash is slim. You may actually need a concierge’s navigational skills as Wreck is a bit of a trek from downtown. The best way to reach it is either via\u00a0a lengthy bus ride or Uber, but it’s worth it. The closest thing to Burning Man you’ll see at a nude beach, the hippie, communal vibe at Wreck includes vendors peddling items like hand-crafted jewelry, sarongs, food, beverages and more.\u00a0The water is freezing so instead try joining\u00a0a nude guitar jam. Flickr CC: osseous<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n If there’s one thing nude beaches have in common\u2014aside from sunburnt buns\u2014it’s that they’re often off-the-beaten-path and difficult\u00a0to reach. Not so at Haulover, a sprawling, sun-drenched patch of coastline\u00a0whose easy accessibility may have something to do with the region’s abundance of retirees. Located in\u00a0Haulover Park, a mere stone’s throw from the literal northern tip of Miami Beach<\/a>, Haulover offers changing facilities (not that anybody needs them), paved walkways and plenty of parking. The vibe is chill and the calm, turquoise waters are warm and ideal for skinny dipping. Most folks strip down and those who don’t may feel like an, ahem, boob. San Francisco’s famously liberal\u00a0vibe reaches its apotheosis at North Baker, a\u00a0beach with\u00a0both clothed and nude halves. Folks of all ages, races, genders and sexual orientations mix and mingle at this tolerant beach\u00a0(this was the original site of Burning Man from 1986-1990) while soaking up both rays and\u00a0stunning Golden Gate Bridge views. While the famously cold water will make you shiver (and shrivel) most months\u00a0of the year, Baker is nevertheless a convivial place to sun and socialize in a relatively secluded and gawker free environment.\u00a0There’s no ifs ands or\u2014dare we say it\u2014butts<\/em> about it, North Baker\u00a0is a great nude\u00a0beach for first timers. In case you miss the sign at Gunnison Beach | Flickr CC:Jackie<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Jersey might seem an unlikely destination for one of the busiest nude beaches in the U.S., but packed Gunnison is as much a hangout for New Yorkers as it is for residents of the Garden State. Part of the the stunning and remote\u00a0Sandy Hook National Recreation Area,\u00a0folks reach cramped Gunnison either by car (the parking lots fill up very quickly on weekends) or via Manhattan<\/a> ferry. The latter is the preferred choice for New Yorkers who are then bussed for free to clothing optional Gunnison. Most folks go completely naked and on weekends the beach packs ’em in booty to booty. Check out the\u00a0unobstructed, or shall we say full frontal, skyline\u00a0views. Where there’s a Little Beach, there must be a Big Beach, right? Indeed there is although the two couldn’t be anymore different. Located in serene Makena State Park, just south of all the fancy resorts in Wailea<\/a>, Big Beach is family friendly (not that Little Beach isn’t) with\u00a0stunning scenery and inviting waters. But walk to the far north end of the beach, climb a little cliff and\u2014voila!<\/em>\u2014everyone is naked. The beach is compact and cozy and the surf is perfect for swimming. But Little Beach’s claim to fame is its Sunday sunset in which hundreds gather for a drum circle (once famously led by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler) and accompanying fire dancing. On the way to Black’s Beach | Flickr CC: Bill Coons<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n The best nude beach in North America is an expansive,\u00a0perfectly sun-kissed stretch of sand in sunny, San Diego<\/a>. It’s quite the hike down a very steep bluff (one entrance to the beach does include steps), but its remoteness is also its charm. Black’s guarantees relative privacy for nude sunbathers and elbow room for all given that the clothing optional portion stretches more than a mile end to end. Body surfing is the norm\u00a0as\u00a0the waves are generally strong without being overpowering and the waters temps just right between\u00a0July and September. Weekdays are quiet,\u00a0but numbers swell well past a thousand on holiday weekends. <\/p>\n8. Kehena Beach: Big Island, HI<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nPros:<\/strong> Stunning scenery, social atmosphere, warm water
\nCons:<\/strong> Out of the way, rough undertow, rocky in parts,\u00a0frequently rains<\/p>\n7. Marshall Beach: San Francisco, CA<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nPros:<\/strong> Secluded, stunning views
\nCons:<\/strong>\u00a0Cold water, cramped on weekends, unpredictable weather<\/p>\n6. Wreck Beach: Vancouver, BC<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nPros:<\/strong> Social atmosphere, lots of amenities
\nCons:<\/strong> Out of the way, freezing water, short season<\/p>\n5. Haulover Beach: North Miami, FL<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nPros:<\/strong>\u00a0Easy access, abundant parking, changing areas, food trucks, warm water
\nCons:\u00a0<\/strong>Not as social\u00a0as other nude beaches, not particularly scenic<\/p>\n4. North Baker Beach: San Francisco, CA<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nPros:<\/strong>\u00a0Fun atmosphere, beautiful scenery
\nCons:<\/strong> Parking lot fills up fast, unpredictable weather, cold water, no facilities<\/p>\n3. Gunnison Beach: Sandy Hook, NJ<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nPros:<\/strong> Fun and lively, calm waters, facilities nearby, food trucks on weekends, picturesque views
\nCons:<\/strong> Parking lots fills up fast, very cramped<\/p>\n2. Little Beach: Maui, HI<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nPros:\u00a0<\/strong>Easy to reach, good for swimming, convivial crowds
\n Cons:\u00a0<\/strong>Parking is tight on busy weekends, beach is smallish<\/p>\n1: Black’s Beach: San Diego, CA<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nPros: <\/strong>Social, roomy, good for swimming, lifeguards on duty
\nCons:<\/strong>\u00a0No amenities, hard to reach, occasional stingrays<\/p>\n
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