Blog Post by Linda W.
Legally recognized clothing-optional beaches are difficult to find when traveling in the United States, so when I had a chance to visit one, I was excited.
Haulover Beach came highly recommended by friends who ironically, were on an extended stay in Florida from the United Kingdom. They raved about what a nice beach it was and that on their next visit over, they would plan another trip there.
So, off we went to check out Haulover on our recent trip to Florida.
Traveling down the A1A, the closest parking lot is the Marine center. Turn right and park in the lot. As the day progresses, the parking lot fills up but there are other parking lots near the Marine center that entail a slightly longer walk to the beach. Parking is by automated machine and the cost was $7.00.
After you park, look for the tunnels under the road that take you to the beach. The tunnels are numbered so be sure to remember what tunnel you took for easy return. There are also bathrooms on the beachside just outside the tunnels so be sure to avail yourself of them before getting to the beach. You must be dressed from the parking lot until you cross into the nude area.
For reference, Haulover Beach contains a regular, public, non-nude area as well as the clothing-optional portion. The nude portion can be identified by, well, nude beachgoers, but the physical landmarks are the low bamboo-type fencing on either side and the Lifeguard towers numbered 13-16. Men seemed to gravitate to the ends of the nude area, around towers 13 and 16. Towers 14 and 15 appeared to have the majority of couples.
My husband and I were there on a Sunday and the beach was crowded which we took as a good sign.
There is ample beach to stake your claim. There is a drop-off to the water where a lot of people stroll between the sun worshipers and the ocean.
If you are on vacation and would like to go but don’t have an umbrella or beach chair, no worries as there are ones to rent for the day. A beach towel can be purchased at any one of several gift shops downtown.
We were thrilled to see people of all ages and very few clothed individuals. This is a great place if you want to have a go at social nudity for the first time. The beach seems to invite people to be nude as there is no judgment and everyone is there to enjoy the sand and surf so no one is there to bother anyone. Now, there is the public access walkway you must cross to get to any of the beaches and clothed people were walking by constantly. If you feel uncomfortable having textiles gawking at you, merely move closer to the water or nearest Lifeguard tower.
If you are a single lady who chooses to visit Haulover, I recommend sitting close to one of the Lifeguard towers. There are also Beach Ambassadors like Martin, who regularly patrol the beach looking for inappropriate behavior as well as being a great resource about Haulover and nude living.
There is also the Beach Patrol where I met Xavier and talked to him for a while about Haulover. It is a haven for people who want to enjoy a clothes-free relaxing day so if there are unwarranted activities such as sex, drinking or drug use noted, people will say something. No one wants to see it closed down for illicit behavior.
There are no pets allowed on the beach so you won’t have to fight Fido for your towel or worry about stepping in something. And if you want to enjoy a beverage, bring a plastic bottle as there is a “No glass” rule so no fear of cutting yourself on broken glass either. The beach is exceptionally clean and well-maintained which makes it a shining star among public beaches. It is consistently named in the top ten recommended nude beaches to visit and it has justifiably earned that distinction.
There was a food truck conveniently located nearby so you could get a quick snack without leaving the beach which is a nice feature as you will want to spend as much time enjoying the beach as you can.
Haulover Beach was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon and we did not want to leave at the end of the day. I recommend it to newbie nudists who want to try social nudity in a safe place to seasoned nudists wanting to enjoy the sun and sand nude. As a female naturist, I felt safe enough to walk the beach by myself without anyone hitting on me or making me feel uncomfortable. Haulover has a reputation as being a clean, safe beach and it did not disappoint. The only disappointment I have is the fact that I live on the West Coast and won’t be able to enjoy it regularly. If you are a visitor, I hope you will check it out on your next trip to Florida.
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Great article, Linda! HB sounds like a clean, safe, and friendly place to give social nudity a try. I’m glad they have people patrolling the beach.