By ROBERT ELIAS DEATON

South Florida has some of the best weather in the world. The tropical breezes, cloudless skies, and an ocean temperature that can easily top 80 degrees in the summer. It’s little wonder then that this paradise has one of the most popular clothing optional beaches in the world—topping our list of best gay nude beaches around the world. As I write this piece, I’m sitting on this delicious stretch of oceanfront, officially called the Haulover Beach Park, Florida, USA, located south of Fort Lauderdale and north of Miami.

This is not only one of the largest nude beaches in the world, it is the earliest to reach. No rocks to scale, no fences to climb. With a wide expanse of white sand with changing rooms, food stands, and a lifeguard station, you’ll want to park at the north end of the beach parking lot (“$6.00), and walk through the tunnel clearly marked “Beyond This Point You May Encounter Nude Bathers” and enjoy. (www.miamidade.gov/parks/ parks/haulover_park.asp) Hippy Hollow, Texas, USA, is located along the rocky shoreline of manmade Lake Travis just west of Austin. Just a fifteen-minute walk from the parking lot, Hippy Hollow Park charges $12.00 admission, but is well worth the price if tipsy Texas cowboys in need of sunscreen application is your thing. Make yourself useful. (www.co.travis.tx.us)

It’s not easy to reach Sandy Bay, Cape Town, South Africa, but if you’re willing to drive 20 minutes from Capetown to Llandudno and then hike a half-hour from the parking lot, you will be rewarded with white sandy beaches, a bevy of friendly South African men, and the coldest water into which we’ve ever plunged. Gives a new meaning to “shrinkage.” (http://capetown.dj/ beaches/SandyBay/SandyBay.htm)

Canada is always high on the “cool” meter and adds it own take on the gay nude scene with Wreck Beach, Vanouver, Canada. Perched on the very tip of Point Gray, Wreck Beach is close to the University of British Columbia, so expect the college crowd in record numbers. Parts of the show are the many vendors who sell an assortment of wares including beverages, lotions, candy, and assorted narcotics. Whatever you need, Wreck Beach provides. (http://www.wreckbeach.org)

Our personal favorite of all the nude gay beaches in the world is located on Maui in Makena. Little Beach, Hawaii, USA, has all the charm of a secluded paradise with a paved parking lot to make for easy access. There is a lava outcrop to climb from the far side of the public Big Beach. Once accomplished, you’re exposed to a nudist paradise with a pristine turquoise bay and white sand. The further you walk, the gayer it gets. And make certain not to miss a side trip into the surrounding scrubland. Hanky panky is your reward. (http:// www.littlebeachmaui.com)

Robert Elias Deaton is a world-traveling epicure who enjoys the finer things in life.