|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
Two men lay naked and asleep on poolside lounge chairs. Three nude men playing in the pool turned in my direction as I passed through to my hotel room. The lush tropical plants, the clear blue sky, the stately palms - everything, especially the men, was easy on the eyes. I knew I'd made the right decision. Ft. Lauderdale is a valentine I intend to give myself frequently. With more than two dozen choices of hotels (many of which are clothing optional) for gay men, a beautiful stretch of beach, and gay bars aplenty, Lauderdale life couldn't be more gaily pleasing. Or, more fitting for the naked traveler. Lest you think that the Naked Traveler is just looking for titillating experiences while on the road, let me explain. Naked travel is more than seeing or showing flesh - though that is certainly a big part (no pun intended). Traveling naked is also a state of mind and an attitude. This column hopes to bring you the good, the bad, and the beautiful of naked travel. Places to go to be naked, to see naked, and to experience that naked state of mind during travel, from diving into unknown situations, to dealing with the unexpected, to using that naked attitude which will make your trips more exciting. As a naked destination, one of the nice features of Ft. Lauderdale is its clothing optional opportunities which include hotels, beaches, and more. One of my favorite gay hotels in Ft. Lauderdale is the Windamar Beach Resort, a block from the beach and usually filled to overflowing with men of all ages. Relaxation and homey comfort are the hallmarks of this hotel. Michael, the general manager of this property (who also oversees several other Lauderdale hotels) wants his guests to feel at home and, of course, to return. "This is my home. I live in this hotel so I want people to feel as if they are relaxing with me at home. And I don't want anything to go wrong," is part of Michael's philosophy. Michael is more than just a manager, he's also a consummate concierge, recommending restaurants, arranging taxis, or finding other accommodations when the Windamar is booked solid and you want to extend your stay. And, like any gracious host, he's around to chat and make you feel at home all through the day and night. From the breakfast bar, to the wonderful 24-hour pool, to the video room and DVD library (sign them out in the office and have a ball), to the tropical landscaping, the Windamar Beach Resort is a place lots of people enjoy. So many guests with whom I spoke said they'd stayed at the hotel before and it has become their place of choice. The Windamar is also an easy place for people to meet. This February, one group of people who have met over the years is booking the entire hotel for two weeks. The atmosphere, Michael's attentiveness, and the location are among reasons that bring people together and keep them coming back. Another favorite is the Palm Plaza, in the same area. (There are quite a few gay resorts/hotels located in this neighborhood.) The Palm Plaza is smaller than the Windamar but also has a loyal clientele. The pool is surrounded by lush palm trees and exotic plants, and one has the feeling of being in a very private place while here. One feature of this clothing optional playground is the hammock - a rather large one, secured between two towering palms. The fun is watching one or sometimes two naked men trying their best to get into the hammock. And there's even more fun watching them try to get out. The owners/managers provide in-room breakfast, a sparkling pool, occasional cocktail parties, and more. For a somewhat more luxurious stay, the Villa Venice - again in the same neighborhood - will make you sit up and take notice. The pool area is an Italianate dream: golden brown tiled floors, a long deep pool with a rocky fountain feeding it at one end, palm trees and lush tropical plants. All of it creates a relaxed state of mind and being and allows you to open up to the naked experiences waiting just across the courtyard in the five-man Jacuzzi. Breakfast, well appointed, large rooms, and a variety of activities, including parties, all make the Villa Venice another destination favored by quite a few guests. A number of these places are opening themselves up to day visitors, with passes good for using the pool and other facilities. Go to www.southfloridafun.com for more information. Those are just a few of the places you can be naked while here. There are also places where you can see naked, as well as those where you can see and be naked at the same time. Another time, I'll lead you to some of the more intimate night spots in Ft. Lauderdale, a few more of the gay hotels, and to the largest nude gay beach I've ever seen. In later columns I hope to reveal some of the sexier travel choices a naked traveler can make.  Joe DeMarco's latest projects include The Lavender Raven, an online GLBTQ mystery & more journal, at www.lavenderraven.com, as well as Mysterical-E, www.mystericale.com. Joe's website is www.josephdemarco.com Top |
|
||
| ||||
){kind=link}
){kind=link}