Getting Nude Where You Can

Soaking au' natural in a Boise, Idaho motel's hot tub.

On the road in the middle of wintry blizzard conditions (it was minus 14 F in Pocatello for a few days), there are not too many opportunities to enjoy being nude.  But one I found at almost all of the motels and hotels I stayed at over the course of the past two months, is that of the hotel spa / hot tub.  Underutilized, tucked away in alcoves at the far reaches of the pool area and, in most of cases, out of direct or indirect observance from the staff or hotel guests.

A hot soak at the end of a day of working outside in subzero temperatures was frequently soothed by a late-night relaxing soak in the hot tub . . . often sans that pesky ole swimsuit (of which I don't own one, a towel suffices to get me back and forth, and cover up if need be.)

I did make one attempt to visit a hot spring . . . Skinny Dipper Hot Spring (aka Milepost 4 HS) north of Boise, but that trek was cut just short of the hot springs by the need to help an injured hiker back down the mountainside.  Hot springs would have been preferential over the heavily-chlorinated waters of a hot tub!

On the easier part of the scramble up to
Skinny Dipper Hot Springs (the springs are
tucked in that ravine just behind me.)

The Richmond Retreat is a clothing optional spa and retreat center located just north of Seattle in the Richmond Beach area of Shoreline Washington. It features an in-door pool, hot tub, sauna, separate quiet/social room, and private sunning lawn & patio. All areas have a spectacular view of the Puget Sound and the shipping lanes.

Outside the glassed-in pool area during an earlier swim.
Panoramic views of Puget Sound from this grassy area.

 More from the Richmond Retreat blog:

The recently renamed Richmond Retreat is, so far as I know, the only facility in western Washington which is open throughout the year to the area's nudists and/or naturists for clothing optional swims.  Yes, it IS possible to swim and hang out while being both naked & warm in the winter! 

 . . .

As of  January 1, 2011, The Richmond Retreat will open as a day spa on selected week day afternoons and will be available for group and club swims on the weekends.  Admission will be by appointment only and will be open ONLY to current members of:

•  The American Association of Nude Recreation (AANR)
•  the Naturist Society (TNS)
• OR any AANR recognized landed or non landed club (FS, LARC,  Bronson, SLUGS, Sun Meadows etc)

I hope to have a website and Facebook page open soon, but in the meantime, you can check back here, call Larry at (206) 369-6116 or email us at therichmondretreat@gmail.com for more information.

  

The Added Value of Club Membership: Nude Swims

Cooling off from a hot tub soak with a stroll
around the manicured grounds

Club membership has more value than just the fellowship of other people who enjoy naturism as you do . . . there are some real tangible benefits. Landed clubs have their swimming pools and they are available to guests who are AANR or TNS members. But did you know that most non-landed clubs . . . the travel clubs . . . also make arrangements to offer nude swims for their members at rented or donated facilities?

Poolside in the large, 80F facility, with gorgeous scenic views over Puget Sound
(Note: I obscure the faces as a matter of policy . . . unless
explicitly asked to do otherwise. We take our members
privacy and comfort levels seriously)

Such is the case with the SLUGS where we have the use of a luxurious, private facility for monthly swims over the cooler autumn, winter and spring months. Our last swim for this season was on May 3rd and we really appreciate being able to enjoy some nude time outside of the drab weather we are still experiencing here in Seattle.

Soaking away in the hot tub and enjoying good conversation

The facility we are blessed to use is graciously offered to the SLUGS by one of our members . . . with a slight charge to offset costs. Besides the large pool and hot tub, there is a great sauna (my favorite place), changing rooms with showers and even hairdryers, a great room with TV, beverage and snack bar, and a music room. The facilities are offered clothing-optional and within reason you can wander the grounds and enjoy panoramic views from bluff-side of Puget Sound.

Now, that benefit is worth the already low cost of my SLUGS membership already!!!

BFC Nude Swim Night, May 10th, 2008 at Seattle's Ballard Pool

Just in from Daniel;

Good news folks!

I just got word today that we are a go for having the last BFC Swim Night of the 2007/2008 Season:

Sat night, May 10, 2008, 8-10 PM Ballard Pool

Weather forecast for Saturday = Rain! Perfect excuse to attend!

March's swim was a blast! Thanks to all of you for showing the City of Seattle that you support using public facilities for family-friendly skinny dipping!

In addition to enjoying the hot tub, diving board, water slide, swimming pool and rope swing, we also invite participants to share food and/or beverages in our monthly potluck! (Don't forget to help us clean up afterwards by taking your remaining food items home).

PLEASE HELP! We would like to request that everybody bring exact change when possible. We are modifying the way we collect money at our events. Please remember to bring your BFC Swim Nights participant card and have it ready when you arrive.

BFC Swim Nights are private events for active and contributing members in good standing of the local skinny dipping community. Please see our web site for details about how you can join in the fun! Prospective participants should contact me preferably a week beforehand. BFC Swim Nights participant cardholders can bring a guest for only $12!

More info:

http://naked.wikia.com/wiki/BFC_Swim_Nights

Thanks!

Daniel Johnson
BFC Swim Nights

BFC Nude Swims in Seattle

The Body Freedom Collaborative (BFC) is going forward with these dates and times for its 2008 BFC Swim Nights season:

• Sat, Jan 12, 2008, 8-10 PM Ballard Pool
• Sat, Feb 09, 2008, 8-10 PM Ballard Pool
• Sat, Mar 08, 2008, 8-10 PM Ballard Pool

From the BFC Swim Nights Naked Wiki:

To gain admission into their first BFC Swim Nights event, individuals must bring their up-to-date membership card from any recognized naturist/nudist organization, or be recognized as an active participant in a Seattle-area event promoting non-sexualized social nudity, or be a guest of one of the former. They will then purchase a participation card (see sample images on the right of the page) for the BFC Swim Nights for $5. The BFC Swim Nights participant card (along with a photo ID) will allow access to any of the 2007/08 NBFC Swim Nights. Each swim costs an additional $10 per person. Thus if you were to go to all six swims, it would cost $5 for the swim card and $60 for all six swims. If you go to one swim, it would cost $5 for the swim card and $10 for one swim.

Directions to Ballard Pool

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