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Arizona is hot! This is not news to anyone who lives here but the rest of the country may find it Nakedly surprising news. Far from being a retiring place (pun intended), Arizona has lots for everyone, including gays and Naked travelers. The heat is no illusion and visitors should be prepared. Naked travel is no problem as long as you bring plenty of sunscreen. Phoenix, state capital and one of the fastest growing cities in the USA, is a popular destination and one that no gay tourist should miss. There's something for everyone here, much of which is centered around the downtown Civic Plaza - a huge area with restaurants, nightlife, bars, clubs and more. Phoenix attracts people from around the country with its dry heat and almost unending sunshine. There is lots in the way of scenic pleasures, cultural activities and historical sights. But what is there for the naked Traveler? Where can you show your flesh or see some? There are more than a few gay resorts, hotels, and B&Bs in the Grand Canyon State. The Arizona Royal Villa (royalvilla.com), located in Phoenix, is an all-male resort where clothing is optional and nakedness is king. Every room (there are 19 of them) is nonsmoking and beautifully appointed. You'll probably want to relax around the pool or hop into the hot tub. And relaxing is key. "We're a place to stay," says owner Doug Shaw. "We don't want to do everything here because we're so close to the bars and everything else downtown." He prefers to concentrate on helping his guests relax. Arizona law permits nude relaxation but no hanky panky out-of-doors. If you don't want to stay overnight, Royal Villa offers day passes for the pool/hot tub and will soon offer day lockers. Two more Phoenix establishments cater to the clothing optional crowd: The Arizona Sunburst Inn (azsunburst.com), is a quiet retreat that allows you to luxuriate in the sunshine. There's a laid back atmosphere here and it's located in one of the nicer neighborhoods in Phoenix. With seven rooms, the intimacy and peace this inn provides are second to none. The pools are inviting and the rooms are well kept, clean places to set your Naked body. The other place to shed your clothes is Larry's Bed and Breakfast (602-249-2974). Advertised as "a gay place to stay" this cozy B&B might be just the place for you. Traveling to Tucson? The Tortuga Roja Bed and Breakfast (tortugaroja.com) is the clothing optional place for you. Located on four acres north of the University of Arizona, this men's retreat boasts a pool, hot tub, and plenty of naked men to fill them. More intimate than many other resorts, Tortuga's adobe house and cottage afford three large spaces which will fit lots of guests. If you're looking for a nakedly peaceful time, this is the place. Bars and clubs abound in this state. Phoenix has the lion's share of watering holes, but other cities have their set of places to go. Once a week, Apollo's (apollos.com) offers one of my favorite forms of entertainment: strippers. These demigods are a sight not to be missed. And even better for some, there's free high speed Internet access. You know what to do: just plug in and click. The Bunkhouse Saloon (bunkhousesaloon.com), a fitting name, each week has a night of Scary-oke. This Naked Traveler hasn't attended but then, plain ol' karaoke is scary enough. There are many more. Take a look at azgays.com, visitgayarizona.com or gayarizona.tribe.net for lots of inside information. Tucson has a nightspot you won't want to miss. It's 'Bout Time (ibts.net). Thursday is the night to treat yourself to a Nakedly fun time with their go-go boys. Should bars and clubs and city life not appeal, Arizona has a wonderful gay campground, David's Oasis Camping Resort (azgaycamping.com), a gay camp located in Sulphur Springs Valley near Bisbee. A 120-acre ranch, this resort is equipped for both the casual camper (cabins and such) or the hardcore camping enthusiast. The clothing optional pool area is a place the Naked Traveler will want to explore. Arizona boasts three gay nudist organizations, TNTucson Men (tntucsonmen.com), ANDES (aznudedudes.org) and Naturally Yumans (www.groups.yahoo.com/group/naturallyyumans). And let's not forget the Rodeo. There is a gay rodeo circuit (certainly not the circuit you may be used to). The Arizona Gay Rodeo Association (agra-phx.com) will fill you in on all the events they host or attend. There is a full complement of activities and this year, for the first time, they ran a rodeo school with roping events (some people will go to any lengths to get a man), rough stock riding, chute dogging (I didn't dare ask), speed events and others. If you're so inclined, this is the group for you. Arizona is pleasantly surprising and wonderfully diverse. Art festivals, an annual lesbian and gay film festival, Out Far! (outfar.org) and other ways to have a gay time. You couldn't ask for a better place to spend a vacation or make a home.  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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