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As one ad says, "Find the Queer friendly vacation of your dreams. Without the drama!" And they're right. The abundance of gay resorts where all you need to pack is a toothbrush makes Palm Springs a naked traveler's destination of choice. Luxuriate in the sun and, well ... use your imagination. There are other things to do in Palm Springs but a naked traveler craving that au naturel experience will probably hang at the resort a good bit of the time. And it's tempting to do nothing else. There are many fine places to stay. Warm Sands is the gayest neighborhood in Palm Springs, centered around Warm Sands Drive a hop, skip and jump from downtown Palm Springs. The Desert Paradise resort (desertparadise.com) bills itself as "the most intimate getaway for gay male travelers." It's close to everything you'll want to do if you venture off the grounds. The whole place is clothing optional. Inside is tropical vegetation and a wonderful atmosphere with soft music wafting through the air. There's a large heated pool, a Jacuzzi, a sun deck and several fireplaces (it gets chilly at night in the desert). At INNdulge Palm Springs (inndulge.com) you'll find not only another Paradise for the naked voyager where clothing optional is a way of life, there's also a pool with a soft water spray to keep you cool, a Jacuzzi, spa services including in-room massage and poolside rooms. The owners aim to please and do a very good job of it, providing an onsite gym, social hours, and more. The Hacienda at Warm Sands (thehacienda.com) has all you might expect in a top notch resort and more. Of course, there's no need for clothes. You can bare yourself the moment you check in and take advantage of the sensational tropical gardens and grassy areas. There's even a Japanese pond and a Spanish-style fountain. Patios and walkways entice guests to amble about, and with no clothing required, there's plenty to catch your attention. Two swimming pools and an in-ground heated spa are for use 24/7. Continental breakfast is provided, as well as twice-weekly social hours and catered lunches which guests pre-order. The Hacienda has the highest staff-to-guest ratio of any resort and they have one touch you will find at no other: a pillow menu. Lest you think this is a menu they place on your pillow, it's not. The pillow menu is just that - a large selection of pillows. There's even a "Tummy Comforter" pillow for those who sleep on their stomachs. Seven choices in all make for a unique amenity. CCBC (ccbcresort.com) is said to be the largest clothing optional resort in Palm Springs. Along with a huge pool and 24-hour Jacuzzi, CCBC offers "The Walk," a legendary landscaped area of winding paths, seductive alcoves, babbling brooks and waterfalls, and tempting areas to meet new friends. Newly added is "The Compound," a secluded area where people gather for whatever they might have in mind. CCBC also has fun events and contests: Mr. Nude Santa, Mr. Nude 2006, Mr. Leather, Valentine's Weekend, even a Pumper's Weekend are a few. C.A.M.P. Palm Springs (camp-palm-springs.com) is a large clothing optional resort, a bit farther from downtown but close to restaurants and some of the gay bars. A large pool and 12-man Jacuzzi are set amidst the lushly landscaped grounds where guests enjoy the private atmosphere and attentive staff. As do other resorts, C.A.M.P. provides temporary day or night passes. There are other great resorts but we'll do those another time. To be sure, Palm Springs has gay night life, for those who want to don clothing. Hunter's Video Bar (huntersnightclubs.com) provides a weekly schedule of events. An underwear contest every Wednesday caught the Naked Traveler's attention, especially the prize of $100 for the winner. It's also a hot dance club with even hotter bartenders. The Toolshed (toolshed-ps.com) is the only Levi/leather bar in Palm Springs and boasts daily events and drink specials as well as activities. You might ponder entering the Mr. Toolshed contest; wear some nakedly alluring leather and you could take the crown. Other places like Sidewinders, Streetbar, and Ground Zero will give you something to do before you stumble back to the pleasures of nude sunbathing at your hotel. Palm Springs' restaurants will make your stay even more pleasant. Johannes, Peter's, the Rainbow Restaurant, and, with a name you can't forget, Blame it on Midnight are all places where you'll find good food at reasonable prices. There's more for which you'll have to pull on your clothes to explore. But you might just want to enjoy your naked time and use Restaurant Express (restaurantexpress.com), which delivers anything from the menus of more than 20 area restaurants. Eat by the pool or in your room and stay naked. There's more to do in Palm Springs - desert adventure tours, shopping, golf, water parks; and you may just want to get dressed to try them. Then again, that tropical foliage, the gurgling waters, the birds chirping, those hidden pathways, and the luscious men sunbathing may be all you need for a great naked stay.  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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