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Haulover
Beach
Florida |
| Haulover is
one of the best nude beaches in the USA...and it's legal, too, located right in
the heart of south Florida's vacation capital, Miami Beach. |
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 Haulover is one of the best nude beaches in the USA...and it's
legal, too. Visitors hail from the USA, Canada, Latin America, Europe and the
rest of the world. We've visited there many times and are still surprised to
meet folks we know who are from all over.
The best part: Not only is it
easy to find in north Miami Beach, it's free. Local and regional park services
manage the recreational complex while a well organized staff of volunteer Beach
Ambassadors from the South Florida Free Beaches (SFFB) non-profit organization lend a helping
hand with information booths, a friendly smile and merchandise for sale.
Today, many consider Haulover's clothing-optional beach a permanent
fixture in South Florida. More than 75% of all Haulover visitors come to use
the naturist beach, estimated between 5,000-10,000/day.
But look to
recent history and exercise caution. Virginia Key and MacArthur Beach State
Park were banned to naturist use not so long ago. Numerous traditional
skinny-dipping sites in Florida and throughout the country have been closed in
recent years. Several attempts have been made by the Florida Legislature to
enact anti-nudity legislation in recent years. More than 50 of the 67 counties
in Florida have already enacted such anti nudity legislation since 1990.
Economic clout and a well managed, consistent message to local
business owners, citizens and rule makers: That's what many of the supporters
of the South Florida Free Beaches organization used to convince the local,
county and state authorities to establish a legal nude beach at Haulover Beach,
which is only a part of the larger park complex that includes a golf course,
parking lot, marina and picnic grounds. What used to be an eyesore morphed into
an economic powerhouse for the local area and businesses nearby. To support the
cause for maintaining nude beaches in south Florida, make a contribution at:
sffb.com
In July 1991, the SFFB non-profit group self-designated the
northern section of Haulover Beach Park as a naturist family beach. Since then,
SFFB has fought to keep the beach clothing-optional by maintaining a presence
through its Beach Ambassador Program and by numerous meetings with local
government, business and civic leaders. Legal battles tested the right to nude
usage at the park and Haulover remains clothes free in designated areas of the
north beach. The result: Haulover is now widely recognized as one of the
cleanest, safest and most popular beaches in South Florida.
The
Miami-Dade County Regional Park (Haulover) is located on the Atlantic Ocean
between the cities of Sunny Isles and Bal Harbour (north Miami Beach). In
addition to the clothing-optional beach at the north end, it features a textile
beach to the south, 9-hole golf course, tennis courts, a marina, boat launch
ramp, kite store, kayak rentals and extensive picnic areas.
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South Florida is served by Miami International and Ft.
Lauderdale International Airports. From either airport, Haulover is about 30-45
minutes away by car, depending upon traffic conditions.
Haulover (the
Miami-Dade County Regional Park) is located between the cities of Sunny Isles
and north Miami Beach. For Internet map/driving direction service, the address
is: 10800 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL, 33154 as the destination for
Haulover Beach Park.
From either Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, travel on
Interstate 95, turn east toward the beaches and take 125th Street (Broad
Causeway-50 cent toll), 163rd Street or the William Lehman Causeway (SR 856) to
the Atlantic Ocean. Follow the signs to the "beaches" to reach Collins Avenue
(or highway A1A), arguably the longest stretch in Florida for glitz, glamor,
beach scenes, restaurants, hotels, motels, bars, bistros, eclectic
neighborhoods, million dollar mansions and all types of humanity in between.
All-day parking is $5/car (subject to change without notice). The
parking lots open at sunrise and close at sunset. No overnight parking is
allowed. The North Parking Lot at the northern end of the park is the first
choice for the clothing-optional beach. If this lot is full, go south on
Collins Ave. (A1A) past the entrance to the boat ramp and the Afterdeck
Restaurant to Parking Lot # 1. Park at the north end of the lot. Pedestrian
tunnels lead from the North Lot and Lot #1 under the road to the beach. Read
the signs to make sure you're at the clothing-optional section at the north end
of the beach.
TIP: The North lot closest to the nude beach usually
fills up first. If you want a parking spot there, plan to arrive before noon on
the weekends or earlier, if you have the time
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In addition to the clothing-optional beach at the north
end, Haulover includes a textile beach, 9-hole golf course, tennis courts, a
marina, a boat launch ramp, a kite store, and extensive picnic areas. Beach
chair and umbrella rentals as well as light food and beverage service are
available on the beach.
TIP: Pack in everything you'll need and plan
to pack it out. There are limited facilities on site which include rest rooms,
outdoor showers and life guard stations. Trash cans are nearby and the beach
area is well kept by the locals and visitors alike. Don't leave your trash
behind. Take it with you. Bring beach towels and a blanket, drinks, cooler,
food, sun block, sunglasses, a hat and a long sleeve T shirt in case you get
too much sun. You'll burn your butt quickly out there in the noon day sun so be
careful.
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The Afterdeck Restaurant is the only permanent dining
facility in the park and features standard American fare. South of Haulover in
the Bal Harbour vicinity, you will find numerous upscale places to park your
money as well as shop. Normalcy returns when you head due north of Haulover on
Collins Ave. where you'll find everything you'll need for your vacation
sustenance: T shirt shops, bathing suit stores (why?), grocery stores,
specialty food markets, ethnic bistros, fast food stops like IHOP, McDonalds,
Subway, hotels, motels drug stores, strip malls and more restaurants, bars and
liquor stores. Ah, civilization.
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Reserve your hotel from the list of south Florida
properties at Castaways' On Line link at the top of this Resort Report. You can
also shop and reserve your airfare there, too. If you have questions, contact
Castaways Travel for hotel recommendations, airfare and car rental
reservations.
No accommodations are available in the park itself and
camping is not permitted. Few small motels are nearby and some of them are
pretty ratty. These small properties have limited services and no restaurants
on site. What buildings you may see in photos of the beach to the north and
south of Haulover are not hotels...they're high rise condominiums with high
rise prices to match.
The beach at South Beach is topless so enjoy the
sand there, too.
If most of you readers rent a car, plan to drive a
few minutes to Haulover and park. Plan to enjoy the local area around the hotel
where you stay for the night, too. Haulover is a short drive about 20 minutes
north of South Beach (Miami Beach). Hollywood, Florida is to the north and
includes a fun boardwalk with restaurants, T shirt shops, bistros, bars, motels
and hotels. Haulover is also about 20 minutes from Hollywood, depending upon
traffic. Numerous accommodations are sprinkled throughout the area. The nicest
include Lowes in South Beach, Trump International near Haulover or the Westin
Diplomat, all located on highway A1A, Collins Blvd. Reserve your hotel from the
list of properties at Castaways' On Line link at the top of this Resort Report.
Roof Top Beach Hotel on A1A (1215 North Ocean Drive in Hollywood, FL)
promotes its clothing optional roof top heated pool and tiki bar. The hotel
attracts its own cast of characters; guests are both nudists and "players." A
friendly atmosphere to be sure, plus weekend adult parties are legend. The
drive time between Haulover (nude) Beach and Roof Top is only about 15-20
minutes along A1A. Ft. Lauderdale Airport is only about 15-20 minutes north of
the hotel, too.
TIP: Weekends can find the hotel full,
especially for parties, so plan ahead and book in advance. Winter season is
very busy so let us hear from you .....early!
Roof Top is a moderate
hotel with about 35 rooms with no restaurant; however, amenities, mixers and
snacks are provided as well as Theme Rooms for the adventurous. All rooms are
being renovated and many have already been completed....they were overdue for
an update. Hollywood Beach boardwalk facing the Atlantic is a block east but
the beach is not nude. On the boardwalk and nearby on Ocean Drive are a variety
of great places to dine and shop, all within walking distance from the hotel.
From budget, to moderate to pricy dining....you'll find it all right there.
See: www.rooftopresort.com
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From babies to seniors with most folks in their late 20s
to early 60s.
Singles: You will find other singles on the beach,
sometimes quite a few.
Check in with the Beach Ambassadors when you
arrive to say hello and find out more about beach activities.
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Haulover is a United Nude Nation. You will see just about
everyone from all over the world there and hear just about any language.
Haulover is truly a melting pot and everyone seems to get along just fine. With
the Beach Ambassadors there to answer questions and get you started, you'll
feel like you've got ready made friends.
The irony about Haulover.
Total beach length is about two miles. Only about a 1/4 mile of the beach is
nude on the north side and is packed.
What's the textile beach like?
Deserted. Go figure.
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Well, just look around.
Actually, you ladies will
find it easy to park your credit cards at the Bal Harbour shops just south of
Haulover. Guys, choose from deep sea fishing, golfing, running, cycling, in
line skating, attending professional sports like basketball, baseball and
football, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, touring the area or taking a
cruise from either the ports of Miami or Ft. Lauderdale.
Each hotel
lobby contains a rack of tourism brochures, information and maps about what to
do, where to go what to see if Haulover is not your only stop.
Surely,
you will find something to do.
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Decent hotel and motel selections within walking
distance are limited |
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If you can't afford a Caribbean vacation, at least
get to Miami Beach and choose Haulover as your nude destination |
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Only about a quarter of Haulover beach is devoted to
nude use while the textile side is virtually deserted in comparison |
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The Beach Ambassadors are a terrific group of
volunteers, so buy a Haulover T shirt from one of their stands....it's
non-profit and the proceeds go to help support the South Florida Free Beaches
organization of volunteers. |
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Help keep Haulover nude: contribute to the South
Florida Free Beaches organization at: sffb.com |
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Anytime is a great time to visit south Florida, although
occasionally the area experiences a few cool days during January and
February.
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Wish they would swap the beach designations: Make the nude
beach 3/4 of the beach park area and 1/4 for textile, clothed use.
Wish there were better motels and hotels within walking distance of Haulover.
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Click on the Photo Album
button to view personal photos of Haulover Beach. You can contribute to
this section - all you have to do is go to our
Contribute Trip Report /
Photographs page.
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We need trip reports from
from folks who have recently visited Haulover Beach. You can contribute to this
section - all you have to do is go to our
Contribute Trip Report /
Photographs page.
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