There are a lot of assumptions about who actually visits clothes-free resorts. Some think that those places are full of models, showcasing their bodies as if they are in a nude photoshoot. Others think the opposite, that it’s all about people who don’t care about their bodies. And then there is also the stereotype of the elderly naked white man with a beer belly.
When people ask us who naturists or nudists really are, we often advise them to go to the local supermarket and imagine everybody naked. That’s because you’ll find all kinds of people at supermarkets, young and old, in different skin colours and body shapes, with different backgrounds, jobs, and life goals. You’ll find the average person and all of them qualify to visit a clothes-free resort. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if some actually went to one from time to time.
View this post on Instagram
There is truth in stereotypes
We don’t want to get sucked into another long conversation about gender imbalances and discrimination of single men, but every stereotype does have some truth in it. Generally speaking, men are more represented in social nudity than women, to the extent that some resorts take measures to maintain a gender balance.
Naturism has historically been more prevalent in white regions, particularly in Western countries where the movement originally gained momentum. However, we are now seeing a more diverse range of participants embracing naturism worldwide. In recent years, there has been notable growth in black naturist communities, as well as increasing interest in social nudity across Latin America and Asia. While the majority of naturists today may still be white, the future appears to be becoming more globally representative.
Age-wise, it is a fact that generations over 50 seem to be more represented. Some say that this is because they have gotten to an age when they care less about what other people think, but we doubt that this is the reason. Social nudity has seen huge growth between the late sixties and early eighties, which is typically when these generations were young. That could be a reason, another one is that you may have more time to engage in new things once you get to a certain age.
And then there is the beer belly. This is the part of the stereotype we disagree with the most. In our experience, clothes-free resort visitors come in all shapes and we’ve met many who take very well care of their bodies.
View this post on Instagram
Do you need to be a naturist to visit a clothes-free resort?
In the previous paragraphs, we’ve used the words “naturists” and “nudists”. To be honest, we have a love-hate relationship with those words. As they are well-known terms, it makes it very easy for us to describe who we are talking about: People who engage in non-sexual social nudity. But we also feel that these terms are becoming more and more restrictive.
The other day, we met someone on a nude beach and asked if she had visited any of the resorts in the country. She replied: “Oh no, I’m not a naturist”. To us, it feels very strange to hear a naked person on a nude beach say that she’s not a naturist, but in her mind, apparently, she didn’t feel like she belonged to the naturist community. Or didn’t want to be a part of it.
We’ve heard naturism and nudism being described in a million different ways. Depending on whose definition you heard, it may seem like something very liberating or something very restrictive. In reality though, whether a resort calls itself naturist, nudist, or clothing-optional doesn’t matter all that much. You’ll always be welcome if you’re planning to spend some time in the nude. No matter which label you decide to give or not give yourself.
View this post on Instagram
Where did the naked families go?
In the past, we often frowned when we heard people say that family naturism is dying. What did they mean? If you go to any of the larger resorts in southern France or Spain during the summer, you’ll find a lot of naturist families. Only when we started to spend a lot of time outside Europe, we noticed that there may be some truth in this.
The introduction of the smartphone and other miniature cameras may have something to do with this. Nobody wants to see their naked kid appear on dubious websites on the dark web. This is a fear that we find largely ungrounded. You can’t eliminate all risks, but in our experience, clothes-free resorts are very safe places where both the staff and the guests really look after one another.
A reason that’s not mentioned often is that many children these days get a say in where to go on holiday. We imagine that quite some of them will prefer Disneyland over a clothes-free resort. This also explains why Europe doesn’t see such a decline in family naturism, there are just more resorts that actively cater to families and have more facilities and entertainment for children than the everyday holiday park.
View this post on Instagram
It’s a couples thing
Whether you take your children to a clothes-free resort or not is completely up to you, and those who decide not to, seem to discover the naked life after all. Some call it the empty nest syndrome or a midlife crisis, in any case, we met a lot of couples who had their first visit to a clothes-free resort once the kids were out of the house. For them, it’s just something you do between partners.
If you didn’t bother bringing your own kids, you often don’t really want to spend your time among those of other people. This has created an uprise in adults-only clothes-free resorts. In the past, the term “adults-only” had a bit of an undertone, referring to the section behind the curtain in the video store or to the dark sauna around the corner. Today, however, these places are just like any other clothes-free resort, except that everyone is above the age of 18 or 21.
View this post on Instagram
Why would you go to a clothes-free resort?
We love hearing first-timer stories. For us, curiosity was the main driver behind visiting our first clothes-free resort. We were intrigued by the idea that stepping outside our comfort zone could lead to new and enriching experiences. For others, it’s the connection to nature that inspires them, the realization that clothing creates an unnecessary barrier between themselves and their surroundings.
We’ve also met people for whom naturism provided a deeply personal solution. Some sought refuge from past struggles, like obsessive relationships or negative body image issues. At first, the idea of baring it all might seem counterintuitive for those with low self-esteem. Yet, many have found that a clothes-free environment has helped them rebuild confidence and self-acceptance.
Liberation is another powerful motivator. For people coming from restrictive or conservative backgrounds, social nudity becomes a symbol of freedom. It offers a way to break away from societal expectations and reclaim ownership of their identity.
What kept us involved in naturism, however, was the comfort it provides. Being without clothes makes life more enjoyable, not just physically, but mentally as well. Back in the early days, we didn’t label ourselves as naturists or nudists. We simply went to clothes-free places. This could be you too, or anyone really. Any reason not to try it is just a restriction of yourself.
Support Naked Wanderings
Do you like what we do for naturism and naturists?
Did we make you laugh or cry?
Did we help you find the information you were looking for?
Then definitely join our Patreon community!
My wife and I are American baby boomers. I was born in 1956, which was right around the mid-point of the post-war baby boom. When we first started going to nude venues in the U.S. in the late 1990s (when I was in my early 40s), I would say that most of the attendees looked to be within ten years of my age, one way or the other. In other words, they were mostly boomers like us. Some 25 years later, I’ve noticed that most people at U.S. naked venues still look to be within ten years of my age — except instead of being in my early 40s, I’m now in my late 60s. So, yeah, still mostly a boomer pastime (in the U.S. anyway), but with the boomers being a lot older than they used to be.
I’m not sure why that is. But it’s a pity that more Americans in generations X, Y and Z haven’t (yet?) discovered the joy of a warm, sunny day in the buff.
RR
We have a theory that the clubs/resorts have gradually evolved together with their members/visitors. When everyone was in their 40s, they catered to that age group. When everyone turned 50, they catered to that group, and so on. But when you’re catering to people in 60s, 70s, or older, it becomes significally harder to attract people in their 30s or 40s.
When visited first time a naturist resort , it was more of an adventure , experiment and curiosity ! After that it is mainly for liberation, freedom and great experience ! In this part of the world, it is seen through the corner of the eye but I really love it being in other shores !
Awesome!