Florida clothing optional beach - advice for enjoying Playalinda beach sans suit

Clothing Optional Beach

Clothing optional beach Canaveral National Seashore Playalinda Beach, Florida I offer this advice on how to enjoy the Playalinda Beach and make life long memories there. Remember, this article is provided from my perspective and includes details on how to enjoy this from a healthy and happily married couples point of view.

Playalinda Beach is managed by the federal government, therefore it is not advertised as a clothing optional beach but it is used that way. The reason is there are no federal laws prohibiting this kind of activity. The local governments that have jurisdiction over this geographic area are not staffed for nor are they interested in spending a great deal of time and resources to enforce as well as prosecute under their public decency laws on federal property. Therefore, as long as people don't abuse the privilege and follow my basic guidelines for non-offensive conduct than the use of Playalinda as an awesome beach sans bikini can continue.

From Playalinda Beach you can see NASA's Space Shuttle on the launch pad.

Keep in mind that Playalinda is part of a National Wildlife Refuge so fees are involved. There is a $5 fee per car to enter the area from the city of Titusville on beach road and then you will drive some 20 miles through wild untamed forest, scrub bogs, swamps, alligator-infested lakes, streams, muddy banks, hiking trails, and past NASA's vehicle assembly building and shuttle launch facilities. At the beach there are no concession stands, no water facilities, stores, restaurants, or hotels. There are, however, a couple of outhouse toilet facilities. It's a long way to travel to this beach, so prepare and follow my instructions for a good experience.

Clothing optional is tolerated at the FAR NORTH area of the Cape Canaveral side which is closer to New Smyrna Beach. You can also hike from the FAR NORTH coming from New Smyrna Beach but this article does not cover this tactic. If you want a parking spot, and you want a parking spot, then you have to be the early bird so get there between 7-9 am. During the busy season and holidays drive in with a normal sized vehicle, no buses, rv's, trailers, or any other vehicle that cannot fit in a normal parking spot are allowed. The parking lot at the far north end only holds about 30 cars and there are no accommodations for parking on the shoulder or outside of a designated parking spot. If you get there too late with plans to use this special section, and the parking lot is full, you will have to turn around and drive back to one of the other parking lots. The later in the day that you arrive the more difficult it will be to get a spot and the further away you will have to park. Each parking lot is another 1/2 to 1 mile further from the clothing optional sunbathing area which means that you will be walking in and out at the end of the day carrying all your gear.

Once you are parked at the very north end there is one toilet for men and one toilet for women but no running water. You can change clothes and go potty but that is it. I highly suggest that adults do NOT bring children to this portion of the beach. If you want to take children to Playalinda park at one of the southern parking spots, the first ones you come to when entering. These parking lots can accommodate smaller rv's and buses. You can enjoy a great, pristine, Florida beach without seeing people without clothing.

Once you go over the boardwalk you will immediately see 20 to 200 totally exposed sunbathers. Mostly men, probably about 70% nude sunbathers here are men. Everybody is completely set up with the typical beach gear like umbrellas, tents, lawn chairs, blankets, fishing, and people playing volleyball and Frisbee. If you plan on sitting with these people then bring all the stuff you can carry. My wife and I do not. We walk past them and continue North in search of privacy.

If you intend on going North through the clothing optional section and into the totally private areas like we do then do yourself a favor and leave the nonessentials at home. Do not pack heavy and bulky items like coolers, surfboards, toys, and umbrellas because they will not return as much value as not having to carry them in the first place. We walk north from 1.5 - 4 miles until we haven't seen a soul in 20 minutes. Once that is established then we can disrobe and enjoy the day without interruption.

The walk through the sand will be easier if you wear sneakers and socks and a cool loose fitting shirt and shorts over your swimsuit. EACH person should have at least two bottles of water, a beach towel, lots of sunblock in the 30-60 SPF range, some fruit, sunglasses, and a hat or visor. If you feel squeamish about being out in the middle of nowhere without your cell phone connectivity then carry a little protection, I carry an aluminum baseball bat.

It is rare but occasionally you will see or hear an engine. If you keep a lookout you might see a ranger heading your way on a four wheel off-road ATV. Technically they can't do anything but we put on our shorts and shirts anyway because we are not interested in sharing our physique with others. Once in while we will see someone who is interested in privacy as we are, or who is hiking all the way through to the New Smyrna beach side (15+miles). The beach is so beautiful and clear that we can see them 20 minutes before they get to us and so we can cover up without a problem, until they pass.

The only negative experiences we have had is a couple of times a man has walked all the way to where we were in an attempt to find out if we are interested in a conversation with him. At this point we covered up and I simply made no eye contact with him or I said "we are out here to be alone, good-bye". They have always immediately turned around. Twice in about 10 years there was a little tar in the sand that had to be removed using Vaseline.

Do not underestimate the difference of tanning a part of your body like your leg, that may get sun all the time, and tanning some other part of your body, that never sees the sun. Nothing will ruin the rest of your week like a serious blistering sunburn in an area of your body you normally sit on. If you overdo sun exposure then you won't be able to sleep, walk, sit or bath without tears for days.

Depending on the season you can watch sea turtles in the water as well as nesting onshore, dolphins, large fish hitting schools of bait fish, seagulls, rare white pelicans, crabs, jellyfish, stingrays, horseshoe crabs, vultures, American bald eagles, hawks, wild pigs, manatees, and shorebirds.

Playalinda is a pristine and gorgeous wildlife sanctuary and it's right here in sunny Florida, complete with beaches and forests and nearly zero development. If you want to enjoy a fantastic, romantic private getaway, cheaply and easily, right here in America then don't miss Florida's Playalinda clothing optional beach.

Visit Cape Canaveral for more information.

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