Naked resort (photos)

Some believe (wrongly) that nudist resorts are big swingers parties full of people with crazy piercings who all end up in some sort of “dungeon.” And those who run clothing-optional resorts would tell you that’s not true at all. But the truth lies somewhere in the middle. No, a nudist resort is not an orgy, and sexual contact is explicitly prohibited in public areas. But that’s not to say they aren’t popular among swingers and fetishists too. Crazy afterparties do break out, but a great number are just there to hang out and drink some naked beers. And both are perfectly fine.

One thing you hear a lot about Europe’s attitude towards nudity is that they don’t equate it with sex. A concept Americans — aside from nudists — don’t seem to understand. But once you’ve spent time at a resort you realize there is absolutely nothing sexual about ordering a hamburger when you’re naked. Nor is there anything arousing about sending emails with a bare ass. A naked day will teach you that you can interact, sans clothes, with people for a lot of things other than sex. And it reminds you that we are, in our essence, all still just animals.

For when Mr. Massa, 74, a retired Navy commander and computer science engineer from Virginia Beach, and his wife, Darlene, go on vacation, they do it in the nude. “If you haven’t tried it, there’s no way I can tell you what a fun thing it is, what an added dimension to a vacation it can be” said Mr. Massa, who has been taking “clothing-optional” vacations since 2001 and whose most recent trip was to an all-nude resort in Mexico. “I’ll never forget the day,” said Mr. Massa, recalling the couple’s first nudist vacation at a Caribbean resort. “The place was full. We went to the far end of the pool and Dar said, ‘I’m going to take my top off.’ I thought I’m not going to wear these stupid swim trunks in the pool. So I jumped in naked. She looked down at me and dropped her bottoms and we never looked back.”

And while nude resorts say they don’t pressure guests to strip, guests are expected to be mostly naked for most of their stay. “We allow for the clothing optional until they feel comfortable with their own body and are willing to be nude in public,” said Dave Landman, co-owner of Mira Vista Resort near Tucson. “If someone we get is never nude I go over and say, “why are you here?’”

Both Island House and New Orleans House have areas open to women, but restrict clothing-optional areas to men; Island House also allows female guests to stay at an adjacent guest house and utilize a nearby gym. A New Orleans House attorney said the judge’s ruling siding with Chaudhry trampled on the rights of male guests of the resort who wish to only be naked around other men.