Nude beaches: Texas has 2 of the U.S.' best, new report says
(NEXSTAR) — Did you know there's not just one but many Texas nudist beaches? While rules and vibes will vary, the Lone Star State has several options for those wanting to feel "free" by the water.
Travel site Hotels.com recently released its 12 Best Nudist Beaches in the U.S., and two spots right here in Texas made the cut.
While the Haulover Beach Park in Miami Beach, Florida, claimed the title of "best" overall — with Hotels.com noting the attraction's 1.3 million annual visitors — the first Texas entry comes in at number 10.
Hippie Hollow
Located about 30 minutes from downtown Austin, Hippie Hollow is the Texas Hill Country's most famous clothing-optional public park. Comprising 109 acres of land and featuring areas for swimming, hiking, and other mixed uses.
Hotels.com notes that it's always important to know the rules of any nude and/or potentially nude beach you visit. Here are some of Hippie Hollow's nudity guidelines:
- Visitors must be 18 years or older to enter
- Clothing is optional — guests can keep clothes on if they prefer
- As with most nude beaches, visitors are expected to respect privacy. Don't take photos and/or videos of other guests
- "Nudity is acceptable, lewd behavior is not."
In its ranking, Hotels.com notes Hippie Hollow's budget-friendly entry fees ($8 per person for adults, $3 per person for seniors, and no charge for disabled veterans) and spacious park as its major selling points. Hippie Hollow does get dinged for its rocky — not sandy — shore, however, and beach shoes are recommended for visitors.
Hippie Hollow is located at 7000 Comanche Trail, Austin, TX, 78732. The park is open every day from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit Travis County Parks.
UFO Beach
Coming in at number 12 is UFO Beach in South Padre Island — whose name comes from a 2004 incident at the beach when an escape pod washed up on the shore, according to the Port Isabel Press South Padre. The orange lifeboat was "affectionally nicknamed the 'UFO,'" the outlet reports, and still currently sits atop the beach's sand.
Now highly graffitied, "the UFO" also indicates the fact that the beach is nudist, bearing the block letters: "NUDE BEACH."
As with Hippie Hollow, Hotels.com notes this beach is budget friendly. Although not officially clothing optional, Hotels explains that, like most nudist beaches, UFO Beach is remote. According to the outlet, UFO Beach is about 7-8 miles from the nearest town and there aren't even any paved roads nearby. While topless beachgoing is universally allowed, fully nude sunbathing is at a visitor's own risk.
UFO Beach is located on South Padre Island between mile markers no. 9 and 10, the Port Isabel Press says.
To read Hotel.com's full ranking of U.S. nude beaches, visit Hotels.com.
Nude beach etiquette
There are countless guides of Do's and Don'ts for going to a nude beach online, however, here are a few pointers from Condé Nast Traveler.
- Don't pressure clothed people to get undressed. Let everyone decide how comfortable they are for themselves
- In general, going nude at the beach isn't intended to be sexual in nature, rather, is a way for people to feel connected with nature and themselves
- No staring at anyone
- Again, no taking photos of other people
- Bring your own towels to use for sitting on any shared chairs
Nudist beaches aren't for everyone, so it's important to be sure it's for you before you go and feel uncomfortable — or make anyone else feel uncomfortable.