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Top Topless Beaches
I found it rather odd that a stuffy business publication such as Forbes actually
publishes a list of the world’s best topless
beaches. I suppose successful businessmen need to get their thrills in one form or another; they may as well
have such a list handy when considering possible locations for that upcoming executive retreat.
Nonetheless, the list is a bit of a scam. First off, to rationalize its place in a serious business magazine, and to give it an air of authority (instead of the T&A piece it really is) the writer made sure to interview consultants from Lodging Investment Advisors and Hospitality Advisers—both of whom had wise business-like things to say about nudity and beaches.
Secondly, more than half of the beaches listed are in Europe where, you guessed it, EVERY beach is a topless beach. Other than Europe, the list includes Anse du Gouverneur (St. Barts, French West Indies), Clifton Beach (Cape Town, South Africa), the curiously named Manly Beach (Sydney, Australia) and of course the venerable Copacabana Beach (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The lone American choices are Blacks Beach in San Diego (actually a full nudity beach), and South Beach in Miami.
So, if you’re looking to cut down on your firm’s travel experiences, you’d best opt for Miami or San Diego.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mickey Mouse Apr 10th 2006 3:51PM
Topless beaches. Bare skin. Big deal. Let's not be so moralistic.
hughes Apr 10th 2006 4:53PM
WHY IS PARTIAL NUDITY ALMOST INTERNATIONALLY ALLOWED? ie: topless women, but not nude men? What's the big deal? It' all natural!? Get a life.! if you don't want to see nudity, Don't look.!! A tan is a tan, top or bottom. Get over it. It's not always sexual!!
Stay Fit Apr 10th 2006 6:46PM
I like an active topless beach..
Monty Apr 10th 2006 6:47PM
The tone of this article is hardly surprising given the apoplectic outrage over the Janet Jackson farce. Maybe if we weren't so hypocritical in our quest for puritanism, we would understand that the baring of bits on a beach is NOTHING to do with "T&A". As long as articles like this are written, we will continue to live in a society that thrusts scantily clad breasts at the televison viewer at every opportunity but perish the thought that an educational program that might show an elderly woman having a breast scan, just in cases the masses are driven to a masturbatory frenzy. GET REAL Mr. Woodburn.
GI jane Apr 10th 2006 6:53PM
Face it nudity is apart of life.
Ed Apr 10th 2006 6:55PM
There are dozens of nude beach in the great San Francisco Bay Area -- or maybe I should say in Northern California -- The San Francisco Bay Guardian (a local weekly) publishes, or at least used to publish, an annual list with descriptions.
Nicole Apr 10th 2006 7:08PM
I live near south beach, and we are confronted with another contradiction. while you are allowed freely to be topless on the sand, the moment you step off the beach, women must be 'topped' and thong bottoms are strictly prohibited. i have seen police wait around for topless women to walk off the sand with their tops on and thong bottoms so they can arrest them! while i do not expect it to be ok to be topless on the street, it seems unfair that people can see these women from both places yet one is acceptable, and the other lands you in jail. if you straddle the sand and the sidewalk, do you only have to cover up one breast?
SKIP Apr 10th 2006 7:15PM
PEOPLE CARE WAY TO MUCH ABOUT WHAT THE OTHER PERSON IS WEARING...LIKE IN CHURCH.....WHAT IS SHE WEARING..LOOK AT WHAT HE HAS ON...I SAY BULL-SHIT....WEAR WHAT GOD GAVE YOU....YOU CAME IN THE WORLD ONLY ONE WAY AND YOU WILL MEAT YOUR MAKER THE SAME WAY.................ENJOY LIFE..........SKIP
brett pulito Apr 10th 2006 7:30PM
WHAT ABOUT ORIENT BEACH...ST>MAARTEN
The Best one there is!!!!!!!
Ask anyone who has been there!!! #1
Neil Apr 10th 2006 7:32PM
Thanks for all the great responses. I think you some of you, however, may have missed the point of my post.
Because of America’s puritanical sense of public nudity, topless beaches are alluring in the same way that Playboy Magazine is alluring to high school freshmen. Since it is forbidden, we seek it out. Since it is taboo, it grabs our attention. The marketers at Forbes are no idiots. They’ve stooped to a Janet Jackson stunt by forcing a topic like Topless Beaches into a business magazine where it really doesn’t belong. I haven’t seen the print edition, but I’m sure it trumpeted something about topless beaches on the cover and I’m sure it sold more than last month’s cover touting stock dividends. A magazine trying to pump circulation in Europe with the same “tantalizing” headline would get laughed off the shelves because topless beaches are EVERYWHERE and therefore nobody cares. Let’s face it; we in America have a strange relationship with sex and nudity. If you disagree, ask yourself why YOU clicked on this link. We’re no idiots at Gadling either. This post has received more traffic than anything else we’ve posted in a long time. And, whether you’re prude or liberal, you came here to check it out.
Neil
Orlando Apr 12th 2006 12:24PM
In my humble opinion, your article does appear to be written from the prudish standpoint, and in response to your retort, I clicked on this site to see where the beaches are as your article is titled - "Top Topless Beaches". But you did little to mention them as opposed to your distaste for the fact that they were in Forbes magazine.
I, along with my wife, prefer nude beaches, preferably isolated areas as we don't much care for crowds.
Ricky Apr 20th 2006 12:36AM
In Texas, there is an old law that allows a woman to go naked in public but not a man. However, if someone complains to the authorities, then the woman must cover up. About 1999, in downtown San Antonio, Texas, this law was tested by a beautiful woman willing to go naked (except for her shoes). Observers were interviewed by the one of the local TV stations and the men thought it was great. The women did't seem to object but weren't sure about it. Eventually, a puritan surfaced and complained and police came and required the woman to cover up. The law is still in the books.
Ross Apr 21st 2006 1:55AM
I remember going to Black's Beach in San Diego several years ago....after a long - mile or so - hike down an empty beach, I came to a sign stating "Swimsuit Optional Area" About 200 yards away was a similar sign pointing the other way....and in between, I could barely find a spot to put my towel.....kinda funny, really.....I was arrested for "public nudity" at a Leucadia beach in 1973.....you had to walk up a narrow path to a secluded spot in order to see anyone...but the sheriff would make that trek in the hope he could catch some pervert sun worshiper.......I would think that more than thirty years later, people would have grown out of this fear of public nakedness........guess not...
aurelia royal Apr 24th 2006 4:48PM
This, like many other subject matters,goes to show the vality of one of the"rule of thumb" that I applied while raising my children. Nothing is a big deal unless you make it a big deal.
Charlie Apr 24th 2006 5:42PM
dont get your hopes up for blackbeach...its only naked old men
sherry Apr 24th 2006 5:42PM
It makes me angry as a women that we cannot go topless anywhere, while men are not required to wear a shirt walking dowm the street, at the beach or in their own yard. In my opinion any woman is much better to look at than a man in a speedo with a beer gut and half of his "men" hanging around for the world to see. Women only have breats to feed babies. So what if some are bigger.
Carson Guy Apr 24th 2006 6:16PM
I'm worried about the guy who wrote about "meating" his Maker. Sounds slightly pornographic to me, and quite inappropriate for a business publication. On the other hand, nothing wrong with nude beaches. Bring 'em on!
QLS Girl Apr 24th 2006 7:09PM
Orient Bay (Orient Beach) is the best nude beach in the world. Not to many rules to follow, and the people are on the beach because they want to be nude, not to look at everyone. Granted it has become a little crowded at times. But you can not go wrong having a vacation on St Marrtin.
On South Beach you have to many people who are there just to look at the naked people. Not to enjoy being nude to some point. A big difference
Dick W Apr 27th 2006 2:36PM
I guess the writer doesn't know about the "clothing optional" beach at Sandy Hook State Park, New Jersey.
Stan Apr 27th 2006 3:37PM
Let's no forget New Jersey folks. One of the best clothing optional beaches around,Sandy Hook.If you whom indulge in the way of nudity and are in the area, I suggest the trip, its great.