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| SPOTLIGHT | | Tropical
beaches and jungle, Wildlife, natural heritage and sun-kissed islands. |
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| | | | Playalinda Beach | Undeveloped and undressed
Playalinda Beach (sometimes written as Playa Linda or Playa Lynda) lies along Canaveral National Seashore approximately two hours Northeast of Tampa. While nude bathing isn't legal here, this stretch of beach is secluded enough to remove your bathing suit unnoticed. Undeveloped, this paradise isn't just for nudists. Nature lovers will also enjoy its untouched beauty. To protect this fragile environment, stick to the boardwalks that run from the parking areas to the beach.
Outdoor Focus
- Canaveral National Seashore: Year-round, you can learn about the fragile eco-system and wildlife with guided walks and canoe programs.
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Area Attractions
- Mosquito Lagoon: Despite the name, it's worth a visit. You might be lucky enough to see dolphins, manatee, herons, ibis, egrets and other shore birds.
- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Spend a day wandering 140,000-acres of estuaries, marshes and coastal dunes. When you tire, take a rest in palm and oak hammocks.
Area Events
- Manatee Arts Festival (March): It's worth the drive to this two-day festival of arts and crafts. Hands-on activities make this a family-friendly activity that will entertain adults and children alike.
- Manatees at Mosquito Lagoon (mid-November to early April): Kids of all ages will catch a thrill when they spy these friendly giants. Visit the manatee viewing center for a close-up look.
Nightlife
The nightlife of New Smyrna Beach's Flagler Avenue and Canal Street offer a host of hot eateries, clubs, pubs and nightlife for every taste imaginable.
Accommodation
Backcountry camping is limited on Playalinda Beach and requires a permit. Nearby Titusville, New Smyrna Beach, Orlando and Daytona Beach offer ample accommodations for all. Nudists will be pleased to hear Daytona Beach offers some clothing-optional accommodation. The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce/Tourism Division can help with specific Playalinda lodging requests.
Need to Know
- Location:
- South portion of Canaveral National Seashore, near Titusville and New Smyrna Beach and Cape Canaveral.
- Weather:
- Average summer temperatures range from 81to 91 F.
- Average winter temperatures range from 61 to 75 F.
- Facilities:
- Lifeguards are stationed at Parking Area 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Memorial Day through Labor Day).
- Self-contained chemical toilets
- Note: No running water, showers, concessions or public telephones
Eco-friendly and clothing-optional beaches make Playalinda a nature-lover's delight. If going au naturelle turns you on | |
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Top Beaches |
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 Navarre Beach  |
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While you can depend on warm weather, the social climate changes quickly. Authorities used to turn their heads, but now nude bathers need to exercise caution. |
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| South Beach |
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The anything-goes approach to life here makes unofficially clothing-optional beaches easy to find. |
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| Hobe Sound Beach |
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A secluded spot where celebrities like Celine Dion build multi-million dollar mansions, Hobe Sound has views that outshine the glitz. Cautious naturists can catch some rays in the buff since most people come to escape the crowds. |
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| John D. MacArthur Beach State Park |
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Also known as Air Force Beach, this park hasn't been a legal nude beach since the 1980s. A sub-tropical paradise, you can usually get away without a bathing suit if you don't actually cross the park's boundaries. |
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| Playalinda Beach |
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This undeveloped beach is secluded enough to make most nudists feel comfortable. While it also draws eco-tourists with binoculars, don't worry - they come to gawk at the wildlife, not you |
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| Apollo Beach |
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While nude sunning is illegal, it's generally tolerated if you are discrete. Nearby Daytona offers naturist accommodations. |
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| Haulover Beach |
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The only legal beach on this list, this beach draws nude bathers of every age, shape and sexual orientation. The clothing-optional sections are well-marked and maintained by the county, so you can sun without fear. |
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| Pompano Beach |
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The Hillsboro Lighthouse
can be easily spotted from Pompano's ambulating roadways and paths along 3.5 miles
of golden beachfront, sounding a beacon for the millions of visitors every year
that are drawn to the excitement and accessibility of one of Broward County's
gems. |
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| Jensen Beach |
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Scuba divers can explore
shipwrecks and artificial reefs just offshore, while those wishing to stay above
water will find opportunities for fishing plentiful. |
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| Miami Beach |
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Miami Beach was an ailing
fruit farm in the 1910s when its Quaker owner, John Collins, formed an unlikely
partnership with a flashy entrepreneur, Carl Fisher. . |
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| Palm Beach |
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Summer in Palm Beach is
very quiet, and the least costly time to stay. The winter months, from November
to May, see a whirl of elegant balls, fundraising dinners and charity galas, as
well as the polo season - watching a chukka or two is the only time Palm Beach
denizens show themselves in the less particular environs of West Palm Beach (on
the mainland). |
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| Fort
Walton Beach |
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Do your loafing on the
white sands of Okaloosa Island, joined to the mainland by the high-rise Brooks
Bridge over Santa Rosa Sound. Most resort hotels and amusement parks are grouped
around the Gulfarium marine park on U.S. 98, east of the bridge. |
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| Daytona
Beach |
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Life in this down-to-earth resort now revolves around
three major festivals: February's Daytona 500, Bike Week in early March, and the
relatively new Biketoberfest. |
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| Cocoa
Beach |
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Play a round of golf at our 27-hole golf course, surf
cast from the beach for dinner or just enjoy a day at the beach where you will
likely see dolphins at play or be lucky enough to see an occasional whale in migration. |
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| Clearwater Beach |
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Clearwater Beach is a vacationer's paradise. In addition
to some of the most beautiful, broad beaches on Florida's Gulf Coast, you'll find
all the water-oriented recreation you can imagine and lots of outdoor activities
in the Clearwater area. |
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| Navarre |
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This is the longest continuous
stretch of protected beach in Northwest Florida, perfect for sun seekers, birdwatchers
and shutterbugs. |
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| Panama
City Beach |
| This beach is entirely without pretension, but it capitalizes
blatantly on the appeal of its 27-mile stretch of white sand. |
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