<strong>Clothing optional: </strong>Although still taboo in many places, casting aside your clothes at the shore has become a customary practice around the world in recent times. See 15 beaches to go and bare it all.
Clothing optional: Although still taboo in many places, casting aside your clothes at the shore has become a customary practice around the world in recent times. See 15 beaches to go and bare it all.
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<strong>Black's Beach, La Jolla, California: </strong>Located beneath the 100-meter-high cliffs of Torrey Pines, this secluded section of beach was the first legal nude beach in the United States.
Black's Beach, La Jolla, California: Located beneath the 100-meter-high cliffs of Torrey Pines, this secluded section of beach was the first legal nude beach in the United States.
Denis Poroy/AP
<strong>Little Palm Beach, Waiheke Island, New Zealand: </strong>Although nude bathing is technically allowed on any beach, there are some designated clothing-optional locations. Reaching Little Palm Beach entails a 40--60-minute ferry ride from Auckland, a taxi or rideshare to the island's north shore, and then a short downhill hike.
Little Palm Beach, Waiheke Island, New Zealand: Although nude bathing is technically allowed on any beach, there are some designated clothing-optional locations. Reaching Little Palm Beach entails a 40--60-minute ferry ride from Auckland, a taxi or rideshare to the island's north shore, and then a short downhill hike.
KerryKissane/iStockphoto/Getty Images
<strong>Lady Bay Beach, Sydney, Australia:</strong> Perched inside the South Head of Sydney Harbour, this small and narrow beach, which was first granted legal status in 1976, is incredibly secluded considering its city location.
Lady Bay Beach, Sydney, Australia: Perched inside the South Head of Sydney Harbour, this small and narrow beach, which was first granted legal status in 1976, is incredibly secluded considering its city location.
Evelyn Proimos/Flickr
<strong>Metsoke Dragot, Israel: </strong>Perhaps the only place in the Middle East where any kind of public nudity is tolerated, Metsoke Dragot is located about an hour's drive from Jerusalem and requires a short but rough drive along an unpaved road to reach the shoreline.
Metsoke Dragot, Israel: Perhaps the only place in the Middle East where any kind of public nudity is tolerated, Metsoke Dragot is located about an hour's drive from Jerusalem and requires a short but rough drive along an unpaved road to reach the shoreline.
Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
<strong>Buhne 16, Sylt, Germany:</strong> While all of the beaches on Sylt are technically clothing-optional, Buhne 16 was the first and is still the best place to cast your clothes aside along the German shore.
Buhne 16, Sylt, Germany: While all of the beaches on Sylt are technically clothing-optional, Buhne 16 was the first and is still the best place to cast your clothes aside along the German shore.
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<strong>Moshup Beach, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts: </strong><br />Located right below an ancient lighthouse, Moshup lies beneath rust-colored sandstone cliffs that were declared a National Natural Monument in 1966. It's free of charge to anyone who wants to take their clothes off.
Moshup Beach, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts:
Located right below an ancient lighthouse, Moshup lies beneath rust-colored sandstone cliffs that were declared a National Natural Monument in 1966. It's free of charge to anyone who wants to take their clothes off.
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<strong>Wreck Beach, Vancouver: </strong>One of the world's longest nude beaches at 7.8 kilometers long, Wreck Beach is located near the University of British Columbia, meaning a steady stream of students and teachers have shed their clothes here since the early 1970s.
Wreck Beach, Vancouver: One of the world's longest nude beaches at 7.8 kilometers long, Wreck Beach is located near the University of British Columbia, meaning a steady stream of students and teachers have shed their clothes here since the early 1970s.
Darryl Dyck/AP
<strong>Red Beach, Crete, Greece:</strong> Named due to its ocher-colored sand and cliffs, Red Beach (or Kokkini Ammos) can be accessed via a 20-minute hike from Matala or a very short boat ride from the village waterfront.
Red Beach, Crete, Greece: Named due to its ocher-colored sand and cliffs, Red Beach (or Kokkini Ammos) can be accessed via a 20-minute hike from Matala or a very short boat ride from the village waterfront.
Alamy
<strong>Anse de Grande Saline, St. Barts:</strong> While nudity is prohibited in St. Barts, nude sunbathing is tolerated on this secluded stretch of sand that takes it name from the nearby large salt pond.
Anse de Grande Saline, St. Barts: While nudity is prohibited in St. Barts, nude sunbathing is tolerated on this secluded stretch of sand that takes it name from the nearby large salt pond.
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<strong>Platja des Cavallet, Ibiza, Spain:</strong> Located a short drive from Ibiza Town, this official nudist beach has several areas including a beach club party section and a more secluded section where the clothing-free crowd can be found.
Platja des Cavallet, Ibiza, Spain: Located a short drive from Ibiza Town, this official nudist beach has several areas including a beach club party section and a more secluded section where the clothing-free crowd can be found.
Alamy
<strong>Little Beach, Maui, Hawaii:</strong> Part of Makena State Park on the island's southeast coast, this clothing-optional beach overlooks a national marine sanctuary famed for its sea turtles, dolphins, whales and tropical fish.
Little Beach, Maui, Hawaii: Part of Makena State Park on the island's southeast coast, this clothing-optional beach overlooks a national marine sanctuary famed for its sea turtles, dolphins, whales and tropical fish.
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<strong>Cap d'Agde beach, Agde, France:</strong> Known as the "Naked City," Cap d'Agde Naturist Resort is the world's largest clothing-optional beach resort, and the area attracts around 40,000 visitors each day during the summer.
Cap d'Agde beach, Agde, France: Known as the "Naked City," Cap d'Agde Naturist Resort is the world's largest clothing-optional beach resort, and the area attracts around 40,000 visitors each day during the summer.
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<strong>Mpenjati Beach, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:</strong> South Africa's only official nude beach, positioned in the Mpenjati Nature Reserve south of Durban, was awarded official nudist beach status in 2014.
Mpenjati Beach, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: South Africa's only official nude beach, positioned in the Mpenjati Nature Reserve south of Durban, was awarded official nudist beach status in 2014.
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico:</strong> Featured in the 2001 Mexican movie "Y Tu Mamá También," Playa Zipolite stretches across two kilometers and is accepted as a clothing-optional beach (though it isn't legal here.)
Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico: Featured in the 2001 Mexican movie "Y Tu Mamá También," Playa Zipolite stretches across two kilometers and is accepted as a clothing-optional beach (though it isn't legal here.)
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<strong>Praia Massarandupió, Bahia, Brazil:</strong> Situated a two-hour drive north of Salvador, this beautiful Brazilian naturist beach flanked by coconut palms, rolling dunes and perfect waves.
Praia Massarandupió, Bahia, Brazil: Situated a two-hour drive north of Salvador, this beautiful Brazilian naturist beach flanked by coconut palms, rolling dunes and perfect waves.
Fred Schinke/Flickr
<strong>Spiaggia de Guvano, Vernazza, Italy:</strong> Located on the Cinque Terre, this primo Italian nude beach can only be reached via an abandoned railway tunnel on a path from Corniglia village and has no facilities at all.
Spiaggia de Guvano, Vernazza, Italy: Located on the Cinque Terre, this primo Italian nude beach can only be reached via an abandoned railway tunnel on a path from Corniglia village and has no facilities at all.
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<strong>Haulover Beach, Miami, Florida:</strong> Stretching across 99 acres of sand on a shoal between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, Haluover is the most public nude beach in the US.
Haulover Beach, Miami, Florida: Stretching across 99 acres of sand on a shoal between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, Haluover is the most public nude beach in the US.
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