Past Articles From C.A.N.S. News

INN PLACES - Worldwide Gay & Lesbian Accommodations lists places to stay throughout the United States as well as much of Europe with even a few in Africa and Asia. A paragraph describes and then follows a list of pertinent information: address and phone, number of rooms, rates per season, parking, particular facilities available, location of nearest swimming and sunbathing (if not available on the premises), whether nudity is permitted, nearness to gay bars and entertainment. Each place is also classified as being (1) Gay friendly, (2) Gay-lesbian, or (3) Male only (0r Women only). So there will be no mistake.

During the year I visited five of the places and found them all very satisfactory, though they were by no means all equal. And the welcome at each was truly warm and genuine, the room and atmosphere pleasant, the breakfast ample and tasty.

New Jersey lists two, and though very different, I liked what both had to offer. At The Pillars in Plainfield I found a wonderful Victorian mansion near to but outside of New York City. Arriving a little after noon, I seemed to be alone and immediately disrobed and descended to the grand parlor to curl up with a book in a sunny bay window. My friend Ken bussed over, thus saving my driving into Manhattan. When he arrived, I greeted Ken at the front door in the nude, and he gasped: "Whatever are you doing? This place is not nude! Are you mixing it up with tomorrow night in Atlantic City?" To save face, I marched right upstairs and straight into my clothes, or at least a roomy caftan. My host was apparently as nonplussed as I. That's what I call hospitality. Plainfield was settled a century ago by the barons of industry desiring suburban homes. We took a long walk up and down streets lined with the grandeur of another era, under mighty maples and oaks shedding the remnants of their red and brown autumn leaves.

The next day after an unhurried full cooked breakfast and another walk, we continued on to Atlantic City. Our destination, Ocean House (men only) is in a quiet lane only a block off the Boardwalk and next door to the Taj Mahal. The private parking lot was much appreciated in this congested location. Accommodations here are considerably more humble; actually it resembles an aging bathhouse. But we were the only guests so we disrobed and had the run of the place, complete with ample videos and magazines. A fire burns continuously in the cozy front room. Marty the host was very accommodating to our need and desire. No breakfast here, but coffee and teas were always available. We enjoyed the excellent buffets at several of the casinos. And the rates were accordingly very reasonable.

Last October found us re-enjoying the homely ambiance of Ocean House for another rendezvous before ferrying across to Rehoboth Beach and Silver Lake (this one Gay-Lesbian.) Traveling during the week, we found ourselves again the only occupants. So, having the upper floor of ten rooms all to ourselves, we could be nude all the time with door open and the little kitchen down the hall readily available. The second night two women occupied another room; they were a delightful couple even if it meant we dressed for breakfast. The two male hosts recently retired from other careers and now take pleasure providing a home away from home for the gay wayfarers who have come to enjoy the seashore. Rehoboth Beach is a weekend retreat for gay Washington, Maryland, and Virginia.

Continuing down the coast, we took delight in our room at Charleston Beach B&B at Folly Beach, ten miles outside of the historic district (Gay-Lesbian). The room was decorated à la Hemingway with rattan furniture and an abundance of pictures, pillows, and books. And in the secluded overgrown garden a pool and hot tub. After watching Casablanca on video one evening, we strolled down the dark garden lit with low lamps along the paths and relaxed long and nude in the pool and tub. But no stars tonight; a storm was brewing, no doubt about that. And sure enough, during the night Josephine hit with a vengeance. My first experience with a hurricane, and at no extra charge. I slept through most of it, but Ken spent some time mopping up the upper hall after a porch door was blown open. Electric wires were down, and so breakfast was cold that morning.

But my car survived, and we headed south for Florida's Haulover Beach. Miami was warm but very gray and windy in our three days there. Inn Places lists several places in the area, but we opted for the Ocean Palm Resort Hotel, (recommended by Nude & Natural) three doors north of the nude beach, so we could walk to the nude areas and also save the cost of parking. Excellent location, adequate accommodation with breakfast included, and very reasonable off-season rates. But the wind those three days was so strong that we sat with our backs to it as long as we could stand it and told ourselves we were enjoying it, weren't we? Needless to say being alone on the beach, we hardly knew we were on Florida's recognized nude beach.

Arriving in Washington, we headed a second time to a favorite find, Capitol Hill Guest House (gay friendly), very conveniently situated in a Queen Anne brownstone a few blocks behind the Capitol. Take along the title to your car, and your host will obtain a parking permit from the police. We always found a place on the street. We ask for Room 9 in the basement (there is one other room on that level along with the laundry and bathroom.) If Room 10 is unoccupied, we regard the floor as ours and declare it a nude area. Tea and coffee are available all day long in the formal parlor. A breakfast of delicious muffins and juice is enjoyed in the round alcove. Overseas visitors have found this place; we hear little English. But what really makes this place stand out is that you can easily walk to all the major sites. The weather being balmy one time, we even walked all the way to DuPont circle just for an evening meal. Ken as a New Yorker is quite used to walking -- I am learning to keep up with him.

We are heading to the Southwest next fall with the book. I expect to find there many places where nudity is the norm, thus saving me from having to set nude policies of my own.