Growing up as an Only-Child, I spent a large portion of my earlier years living a rather shy, modest, & cautious lifestyle. I did not enjoy breaking down my walls of routine & familiarity, and I absolutely dreaded anything that would require me “putting myself out there”. Today, anybody who knows me would probably take this bit of information for a surprise, as somewhere along the lines I’ve transformed into a person who represents all of the complete opposite.

Growing up as an Only-Child, I spent a large portion of my earlier years living a rather shy, modest, & cautious lifestyle. I did not enjoy breaking down my walls of routine & familiarity, and I absolutely dreaded anything that would require me “putting myself out there”. Today, anybody who knows me would probably take this bit of information for a surprise, as somewhere along the lines I’ve transformed into a person who represents all of the complete opposites.

Over the past few years, I’ve become a huge advocate for living fully, and one of my beliefs is that you can never quite embrace the full experience of living without learning to step outside of your comfort zones. ….And nothing says “stepping outside of your comfort zones” quite like visiting a Nudist Resort!

I first heard of Caliente over the summer when a friend had invited me to tag along for the experience one Sunday afternoon. Without giving it much thought, I accepted the offer as a “Bucket List” type of mission. I had no idea what exactly to expect (other than a location full of definite nudity), nor did I even really know a place like this existed in the Tampa Bay Area.

The Setting:

Surprisingly beautiful! Everything you could expect from a Luxury Resort. Caliente features a full-service spa, multiple hot tubs & pools (including a 1/4 Acre Lagoon Pool with a waterfall!), various dining/drinking experiences ranging from Elegant & Formal to Casual & Fun. Live music, special events, themed parties, and so much more. Caliente is both a spot for vacation, or residential stay, so you can choose to visit for the day, grab a room & stay overnight,…or pack up all your belongings and move right in!

The Vibe:

Totally relaxed & welcoming! Clothing is obviously optional at Caliente but whether or not you decide to stay clothed, the idea of visiting a place like this for your first time can still be somewhat intimidating. I opted with keeping my bathing suit on which (ironically) caused me to really stand out in the crowd; However, I never once felt any judgments or negative vibes from anybody, nor did anybody pressure me to undress either. I met some of the most friendly, accepting, open minde, and free-spirited individuals.

The Overall Experience:

Awesome. Fun. Enlightening. I saw nudity around every corner, in all forms, all shapes, all sizes. Initially, your mental reflexes are on overdrive. That internal sensation of noticing something shocking & the voice inside your head that’s like “Oh my goodness! Look! But no, don’t look!” is at a constant. I’d say the first 30 minutes are probably the most interesting— a time period of “noticing” & adapting. But then you do adapt. You’re no longer noticing the nudity, you’re conversing with people in the pool and you’re no longer seeing bodies. It becomes completely natural. I saw people being at complete comfort in their own skin no matter how they looked, and I saw everybody else fully accepting each other no matter how they looked — which that alone was a totally incredible and beautiful experience in itself,coming from a society that has become so focused & obsessed with false expectations on external appearances rather than loving and embracing who we are on the inside.

 When is the last time you’ve stepped outside of your comfort zone?