One of the owners of one of the places I wrote about got upset with me. It was one of the many pieces of hate mail I received while there (you’d be surprised how many people are offended by things featured in a magazine with photos of naked men and articles on happy stuff like love and sex). But this nudist colony owner was offended because Playgirl was a magazine about sex and nudists aren’t about sex, they are about being naked. And he felt I smutted up the good name of nudists.

I see the difference. I get it. But the celebration of being naked sometimes merges with the act of sex. And the freeing nature of being nude is often only done by those who are comfortable with their sexuality. So while not linked directly, there is a connection. A connection for me anyway. And it’s not like I was saying, “Get your freak on at these nudist colonies.” Now that I think about it, I should be mad at the nudist colony guy for thinking I was a pervert.

And here I am again. Writing about getting nude, but not in the name of sex, this time in The Stir’s Love & Sex channel. Why? Because today is National Nude Day!

Lucky for me, I work from home today. So I will be in the buff celebrating the beauty of going au naturel.

Have you ever done it? I know it’s hard with kids around, but if they are in school or at grandma’s, have you tried being in the buff? Or maybe you don’t have to wait until the kids are away. Maybe it’s a family activity. A lot of nudist colonies are family-friendly. Though most of society will probably think that’s creepy.

Did you ever venture out into your yard without anything on? Maybe even rode the NYC subway during No Pants Day? (No sitting!) It’s all a form of freeing ourselves of the confines of our clothes, to be who we are as we were born. Naked. Natural.

I am going to make the distinction this time, not that I implied it when I worked for Playgirl, but nudist colonies aren’t sex colonies. Getting naked doesn’t mean you have to have sex. Okay? No hate mail this time please!

But if you want to celebrate National Nude Day today by getting nude and then having sex with your partner, then please … do just that. Because if all holiday celebrations ended in sex, would we all be happier?

Happy Nude Day!

Last year naturists lost a fight to keep Corton beach a designated naturist beach, however by-laws do not prohibit nude sun-bathing on the beach.

Police said there had been reports of a man “deliberately exposing himself” and other obscene acts.

Suffolk Police said action would be taken against anyone who caused harassment, alarm or distress.

Officers said this also included anyone who was abusive towards naturists using the beach.

The sands at Corton in Lowestoft have eroded since the naturist beach was established by Waveney District Council in the mid-1970s.

The council said it was forced to close it but pledged to look for a permanent alternative for naturists.

About 30 naked cyclists took part in World Naked Bike Ride Day Saturday, featuring unclothed riding in cities around the world, including six in Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

The Halifax ride was held in coordination with the Bluenose Naturist Club, the CBC said.

Organizer Tom MacDonald said the ride was intended to highlight bicycling as an alternative to cars and other oil-consuming methods of travel.

Doing it naked generates attention, he said, and makes people feel good at the same time.

“There’s nothing like it,” MacDonald said. “It’s the wind on your face, the realization that your body is beautiful, no matter what it looks like, and that everyone will accept you for what you look like.”

World Naked Bike Ride day has been observed in Halifax for the past three years, the CBC reported.

“He brought me to the club at this time of year when all the bluebells were out and it was lovely.

“I thought… I could use that pool.” She hasn’t looked back and after just six months of joining the Blackthorns Sun Club, became a public relations officer along with her husband.

Founded in 1959, the club has been developing its current site near Sharnbrook since 1969 and it now boasts more than 114 units of members (individuals, couples and families).

Its popularity has increased over the years, to the extent where some people have even moved nearer to the club to enjoy more time there.

Roni puts it down to the community feel, social environment and of course… the pool.

“Our members are all ages and come from so many different walks of lives. We have plumbers, doctors and even a 94-year-old who have joined.

“It’s a good mix of people who come together who wouldn’t necessarily normally meet up.

“People are interested and intrigued about it.” Deane, who joined back in 2000 after finding the club on the Internet, enjoyed being naked from a young age.

He said: “Back in the 70s I didn’t really know about naturism but streaking was going on at the time and I tried it with a friend and it felt nice.” He also enjoys the equality of the club.

“You don’t have to dress to impress.

“The social barriers disappear and so you know if somebody’s a dustman or a lord.

“People think that when you are taking your clothes off it’s sexual but it’s not.

“In fact when people put their clothes on they say they find people more sexual.” As well as the social benefits, the club also offers wonders for your health.

‘Anyone for miniten?’ A game unique to naturistsRoni, who often goes there after a hard day at work to unwind, says: “It’s very destressing and not to mention the amount of vitamin D you get.” There is a range of sports played on the site including Miniten – a version of tennis and exclusive to the naturist world.

The rules are the same but the court is much shorter and narrower than a full-sized tennis court and instead of a racquet, players’ use a ‘thug’ which is a wooden box with an internal handle.

As well as hosting the National Miniten contest next month, the club holds the National Petanque tournament every four years.

Petanque is a form of French boules where the goal is, while standing with your feet together in a small circle, to throw metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball, and is very popular at naturist clubs. Over the bank holiday weekend at the beginning of May, 52 couples from all over the country came to the Sun Club to compete.

Like the sports that it plays host to, the club appears to be just like something else (a holiday camp) but it has a twist – everybody at the holiday camp likes taking their clothes off, weather permitting of course.

Once you get past the initial shock of seeing so many naked bodies, you realise what a relaxing and enjoyable retreat the club is.

So the next time the sun is shining, just think you could be catching an all-over tan next to… an outdoor pool.

The walker had refused to pay a 100 franc fine after a woman complained about him walking naked along a path near Herisau.

Unlike Appenzell Inner Rhodes, naturist walkers are not banned in Appenzell Outer Rhodes.

The state will have to pay the 2,000 francs in court costs.

You put up a profile, send messages and join groups, just like Facebook. But there’s one tiny exception — everyone’s naked.

Moderators do, however, try to keep it clean.

Members aren’t allowed to have headless torso shots, and are encouraged to boot out any “creeps or voyeurs.” Rude comments are also banned.

25-year-old co-founder Karl Maddocks tells Time Magazine only 10 percent of the 200 or so people who try to sign up each day are accepted. That’s due to the x-rated nature of some attempts.

The average member age is between 35 and 40 — and falling — while nudist club members are often 60 and older.

Maddocks says he got the idea after bumping into friends on a clothing optional beach. They were embarrassed to post the pics just anywhere, so they created Skinbook.

So far, the site has about 9,000 members and its Facebook fan page has over 2,600 followers.

Guests at Sunny Rest, a clothing optional resort, don’t have pockets, but they do bring money. Sunny Rest grossed $1 million during its four-month season last year, the best in its 65-year history. Typically 500 to 600 guests visit on the weekends. The Fourth of July is busiest, with 1,200 guests.

“You’re going to love happy hour at the bar. I’ll be there,” promoted the friendly, clothed man in the gate house. Guests would see more of him later. Sunny Rest became the first nudist resort in Pennsylvania to get a liquor license in 2008.

To the uninitiated, a different culture is behind the gate. Naked people walk casually around the grounds, some pausing in circles to chat. A group of old friends sit nude, visiting around a table.

Couples stroll hand in hand, children splash in the pool and a long, naked line forms at the check-in counter where the jump ropes and Sunny Rest T-shirts were not selling on Friday.

Nudes linger at the bar and listen to open-mike night performers.

No one seems alarmed or even interested that their clothes are missing. That is actually the point.

Like kicking off a tight pair of shoes, nakedness is less restricting than being clothed. It is secondary to the usual resort activities.

While most resorts have a transient population, Sunny Rest has many repeat guests. They get to know each other and build close friendships.

Sunny Rest co-owner Irving Mesher, 85, first spent a weekend in the buff in the 1960s.

Mesher wore uniforms all his life; Navy uniforms in World War II, show costumes as a professional trumpet player, and a chief’s uniform from the New York Fire Department. Mesher wanted to shed his uniform and the reaction it got from people. He and his wife went to a nudist camp for the weekend. The next weekend, the couple returned with their children, ages 6 and 8.

The family became seasonal residents at Sunny Rest and in 1978 took the resort over from former owner Wally Rogers. Irving Mesher co-owns the resort with his daughter-in-law Myra Mesher.

Sunny Rest originally opened Memorial Day 1945 on rolling farm land owned by Reed and Jeanette Suplee. It has always been a clothing optional resort.

In past years, people were more secretive about visiting nudist resorts. Jack Strum, 71, and his wife, a retired kindergarten teacher, kept their trips to Sunny Rest quiet in early years so her job would not be jeopardized. In 1986, they built a house at Sunny Rest and became the first of 28 year-round residents.

Today, guests talk about it on Facebook, said Halsie Shoemaker, Sunny Rest marketing manager and Mesher’s granddaughter. Shoemaker will own Sunny Rest one day. She hopes to make the resort year-round eventually to accommodate the many people who request rooms after skiing at Blue Mountain.

Sunny Rest’s 65th anniversary reunion is Memorial Day weekend. Day passes are available.

Not only was the city bathed in glorious sunshine, but it meant they could make full use of the liner’s nudist deck.

In another first for Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal, m/v Aura yesterday brought the German habit of stripping off at the first sign of sun rays to the city.

Whether other passengers wanting an all-over tan will be quite so lucky with the weather during Aura’s next three visits is unknown.

But her arrival in the city from Hamburg via Dublin was a great triumph for Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal staff and the city.

She was the second ship to include Liverpool on four round-Britain repeat itineraries.

Aura, owned by Aida Cruises, followed in the wake of Princes Cruises’ third season of four similar voyages from Southampton, with megaliner Crown Princess due in on June 27.

Angie Redhead, Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal manager, said: “So many of Aida Cruises’ passengers requested Liverpool was included on cruises they added us to their itineraries.

“They are already so pleased with the response that they will visit 12 times in three years.”

Carrying 1,300 passengers, m/v Aura, 42,300 gross tons, was built in 2003 and has a distinctive livery, with giant lips and eyes painted on her bow.

This is not the first time the hard working crew on the landing stage have been exposed to such bare-faced German cheek.

The deluxe cruise liner Deutschland boasts an aft-end sauna for passengers, whose users let it all hang out over the stern.

Deutschland is the next cruise liner visiting the cruise terminal when she returns for an overnight stay on June 2-3.

If you’re looking to ease your way into the naturalist lifestyle, nudist resorts and topless beaches are available that offer a slightly less adventurous experience. However, our top five best nude beaches are the “Full Monty,” so proceed with caution!

While many of the world’s best nude beaches are located outside the United States, there are several beaches across the nation that encourage visitors to bare all. However, not all of these nudist havens are created equal.

Whether you’re looking to get an even tan, meet people who share your naturalist values, or just let it all hang out, these are America’s top five best nude beaches.

America’s Best Nude Beach No. 5 – Black’s Beach – San Diego

Who says size doesn’t matter? Located between La Jolla and Torrey Pines, Black’s Beach is the largest nude beach in North America and a popular destination for surfers and naturalists.

Whether you’re looking to ride a big wave or just even out your tan, this nude beach is known for being safe and clean.

Nestled against high rock cliffs on the San Diego coastline, Black’s Beach is deceptively intimate. However, nude newbies beware, the massive waves and relaxed atmosphere draw large crowds, so be prepared to have an audience.

Also be careful to watch for signs at Black’s Beach, because not all areas of this sandy hot spot are nudist-friendly.

America’s Best Nude Beach No. 4 – Little Beach – Maui, Hawaii

If you’re looking for a place to bare all in America’s 50th state, Little Beach at Makena is the place to go.

While nudity is not generally allowed on Hawaiian beaches, the courts have agreed to look the other way in the case of Little Beach, making it Maui’s unofficial clothing-optional destination. This beautiful strip of sand was a favorite of the hippie population during the 1960s and remains a popular destination for naturalists from all over the United States.

The swimming and snorkeling are reported to be sensational at this popular sunbathing spot. However, Little Beach is inaccessible by car, so be prepared to park at Makena (Big) Beach, and hoof it from there.

Another insider tip: Take your valuables with you or leave them at home, as theft from cars is common at Big Beach.

America’s Best Nude Beach No. 3 – Gunnison Beach – Sandy Hook, N.J.
New Jersey might not seem like the ideal place to drop your drawers, but the nude beach at Sandy Hook draws up to 5,000 sunbathers on any given summer weekend.

The beach takes its name from Gunnison Battery, a military fortress built by the government in the 1800s. The remains of the battery are still seen today, overlooking the beach. Army soldiers stationed near the battery used the beach for skinny-dipping, and when the beach eventually opened to the public, clothing remained optional.

Because Gunnison Beach remains governed by federal law, it is the only legal nude beach in the state, where nudity on state beaches was banned in 1999.

As an added bonus, if you need a little liquid courage in order to drop trou in front of thousands of strangers, alcohol is also allowed at Gunnison Beach.

America’s Best Nude Beach No. 2 – San Gregorio – San Mateo, California

Another California hot spot, San Gregorio beach is the oldest nude beach in America.

Founded in 1967, this popular nudist destination in San Mateo offers two miles of soft sand and beautiful cave cliffs. Much less populated than some of our other top spots, roughly 100 sunbathers visit San Gregorio on any given summer day.

Because San Gregorio is privately owned, expect a small admission charge. Due to strong surf, swimming is not generally recommended, but other activities are offered, including tide-pooling and surf-fishing. San Gregorio is popular with the gay community, who tend to congregate on the north end of the beach.

Regardless of sexual orientation, nude beach-goers want to avoid straying north of the “Hazardous Surf” sign, which signals the end of the clothing-optional portion of the beach. Past this point, park rangers may cite visitors for nudity.

America’s Best Nude Beach No. 1 – Haulover Beach – Miami
When people think of hot sun, hot sand and hot bods in the U.S., Miami is likely the first location that comes to mind. If you thought a typical Miami beach was hot, then get ready for scorching!

Popular with both nudists and more modestly attired beach-goers, Haulover Beach is known for having soft sands, crystal-clear waters and tons of fabulous amenities.

Due to immense popularity, lifeguards are present to keep visitors safe, and from sunrise to sunset, beach-goers enjoy amenities such as shower stalls, food and drink vendors and barbecue grills.

If catching a tan isn’t your idea of a day at the beach, visitors can keep active with volleyball games and surfing competitions.

There you have it, folks, the top five best nude beaches in America. Wherever your adventures take you, be sure to read up on nudist laws and etiquette, which vary from one beach to the next.

Adaburnu Gölmar Hotel’s foreign marketing representative Ahmet Koşar said the legal documents issue broke out April 30.

In order to be granted the establishment license that allows the company the run a hotel, the architectural project must comply with the original sketches permitted to housing authorities. Due to slight differences in the original plans, authorities rejected a housing license, which is a precondition for acquiring an establishment license, according to legal practice in Turkey.

Ahmet Koşar said: “We corrected the changes demanded by the housing authorities. Provided that we apply for our housing license, we will be able to apply for a tourism facility license.” However, because of the ongoing procedures of the housing directorate, the hotel administration could acquire neither the tourism facility license nor the establishment license. The lack of these resulted in the order from the district’s Governor’s Office for the termination of all activities.

District Gov. Mustafa Kaya said the hotel should not have been allowed to host customers without completing their legal documents. Datça Mayor Şener Tokcan said their office could not grant the establishment license only due to the lack of a housing license. Koşar said the hotel would appeal.