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Naked in the great outdoors is the only way for some men. Camping (the kind with tents, sleeping bags, and flashlights) presents a traveler with lots of naked opportunities. For those of you moaning about equipment (not what you're thinking), cooking over a fire, bugs, or a hundred other obstacles to a trip like this, you needn't worry about most of that. Many of the sites around the country have ways to get around everything but the bugs. To begin with, this is not your routine Boy Scout camping experience. Many of these sites are clothing optional or have nudist sections. You don't really need camping equipment at many of these places; there are trailers, cabins and even lodges available for those who don't want to bother lugging tents, cooking equipment and other necessities. Bug spray, I'm afraid, is still a must. Trailers and cabins are usually equipped with pots, pans, and silverware. The camper opting for this kind of stay is always required to bring sheets and towels. Many campgrounds have pools and restaurants, dance halls and bars, decent bathhouses, and some even provide wireless Internet access as well as cable TV hookups. Not what you thought it would be, is it? When I got back into camping out after a long hiatus, the first place I went was Camping Plein Bois (www.campingpleinbois.com) just outside of Montréal, and quite a wonderful place it is. Many campgrounds have the same elements configured in different ways so Plein Bois can serve as a model. We opted for a primitive site - that is, we wanted to pitch a tent and have a fire to cook our meals. No electricity for us! A self-guided tour of the grounds led us into a camping world I had no idea existed. Besides the many people who had also decided to camp on primitive sites, there were quite a number of trailers which had been set up on permanent foundations. These trailers were inhabited by seasonals - people who occupy their places all season long. (Seasons usually run from April or May on through October, depending on location. Some camps are open year round.) This camp was split into two large sectors, one for nudists and the other for the rest of the crowd. Naturally, this Naked Traveler had to wander into the nudist section. Had I known the rules in advance, I'd have asked for a site in the no clothing area. Here campers are required to be nude the entire time they are encamped. (I applied for the position of Nude Checker, but haven't heard anything yet.) You're allowed to pass through this section and hike its trails while clothed. But all the nudity around you is inspiring and before long you will see any number of people dropping their shorts to frolic in the altogether. There are two pools at Plein Bois, one for those who want to wear suits and one for nude swims (no clothing allowed). Everyone is convivial and pleasant at both locations and before long, conversations start. Like many other places, this camp has a bar, and a dance hall that is usually most active on weekends though open on other nights as well. There is also a restaurant many campers take advantage of, foregoing the campfire for a table and placemats. The atmosphere was cozy and friendly at Plein Bois; the seasonals were chatty and welcomed temporary campers readily. There were "street" signs and trailers were decorated with lights. Even some trees and paths were lighted, making everything seem like a wonderful village. The other feature of just about all these places is that they have dances and entertainment every weekend (sometimes individual singers, often drag shows in which campers are encouraged to take part). In addition, there are themed weekends: leather, country-western, fantasy, bear-cub; you name it, one of these camps has added it to their schedule. At the Hillside Campgrounds (http://hillsidecampgrounds.com) in northern Pennsylvania, early each September there's a fantasy weekend. What I've observed is that lots of people have leather fantasies. A few parade around in military outfits and others just bare it all - witness to their very naked attitudes. There are leather weekends, leather contests, weekends for motorcycle enthusiasts and more at this all-male campground. A bit farther north, at Camp Oneida (www.oneidaresort.com), a lodge is an option in addition to trailers, cabins, and primitive sites. A pool, dance hall, community rooms, sauna, and more are features which make this place a great getaway. The Woods and Camp Davis round out the places in Pennsylvania that draw woodsy gay guys from around the USA and Canada. There are many other camps around the nation. Alabama has four, including Black Bear Camp (www.blackbearcamp.net), a male-only retreat featuring campsites and a large lodge with room for plenty of men. California has eight camps, two of which are men only: CCBC Resort (www.pnnpartner.com/ccbc), which bills itself as the largest clothing optional resort in the desert; and Starland Retreat (www.starlandretreat.com), which, if you are in an alternative state of mind, is the place to be. You'll undoubtedly encounter members of the Radical Faeries (yes, the group is still around) at this campground. Florida boasts five sites, like the Sawmill (www.flsawmill.com) and Camp David, where you won't find any presidential types (www.campdavidflorida.com/index.html), which sounds so luxurious and exclusive, this Naked Traveler has his equipment packed and ready to go. Sixteen clothing optional acres, three lakes, pools, hot tubs, a clubhouse, and a general store make this a nakedly recommended place to visit. Not every state has gay campgrounds but there are more than you'd expect. To find listings, try Gay Campers (http://gaycampers.com/campgrounds.htm), Camp Gay USA (www.campgayusa.com) or Gay Outdoors (www.gayoutdoors.org) for details, site prices, scheduled events, rules, and policies. The Rainbow RV Network for the gay RV and camping set (www.rainbowrv.com) provides an invaluable resource. Happy naked camping.  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 |
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