By: Kara Franker
With warm, sunny weather year-round and miles of pristine beaches, it’s only natural to want to bare a little more skin when you’re in Miami. Topless sunbathing is customary on nearly every beach in Miami, especially in South Beach, in large part because of the melting pot of international visitors and residents. Following these few guidelines will help make for a perfect day in the sun for you and your fellow beach-goers.
HAULOVER BEACH
If you have an exhibitionist streak or you simply want to eliminate tan lines altogether, there’s a welcoming stretch of sand at Haulover Beach that’s clothing optional. Located just north of Bal Harbour across a small causeway and inlet, Haulover Park and Beach, which is known for being especially welcoming to the LGBTQ community, spans approximately 1.5 miles nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. The northernmost half-mile of Haulover Beach is designated clothing optional.
In addition to the aquamarine ocean and white sandy beach, you’ll also find shaded picnic facilities, concession stands, beach chair rentals and sand dunes. This part of the beach is also popular among surfers, thanks to the waves produced by the inlet.
Haulover’s nude beach is welcoming to people of all walks of life and often sees as many as 7,000 people on its sands in a single day. Since it’s simply clothing optional, it’s also welcoming to anyone in your party who prefers to keep their swimsuit on.
Nude Beach Etiquette
Whether you’re a committed nudist or a curious first-timer, you should be aware of the social etiquette and expectations that come with a day at a nude beach. For many, it’s a time to unwind with an expectation of reasonable privacy. A good rule of thumb is to keep a friendly distance from your fellow nude sunbathers and be mindful of everyone’s comfort levels.
Be courteous of your fellow sunbathers and do not take pictures, gawk or do anything that would make anyone feel uncomfortable. A comfy beach towel is even more important at a nude beach. From lying on the sand to sitting on public benches, always put a towel between your body and any surface.
Lewd behavior of any sort at any of Miami’s beaches, clothing-optional or not, is against the law, and violators will be subject to arrest.