Bowmans Beach

I havea question about Bowmans Beach thatI have been arguing about with my GF.

Is topless sunbathing legal on Bowmans Beach? Or, I have heard that it happens quite regularly there, is that true? Also, (I promise this is the last question) do people often sunbath nude there aswell?

Please help.

Bowmans Beach

This topic came up in a discussion last year. Some local Sanibel experts made it very clear that nude sunbathing is not legal in any public beach area on Sanibel.

Bowmans Beach

Bowman beach is one of the few public beaches on Sanibel, so this is were many families not staying on the island bring thier children...

So in a nutshell, nude or topless sunbathing is not allowed.

For what it%26#39;s worth, nude and topless sunbathing is against the law and since Charley knocked down what little privacy was available, and an unfortunate incident occured on the beach a few years ago, the police do enforce it.

The folks who live on and visit Sanibel are modest folk and often extended families and most do not take kindly to people who want it to be South Beach.

Before Charley, you could rent a house on Captiva with enough privacy that nude or topless sunbathing was possible, but I%26#39;d say no longer. Some folks get charter captains to take them out to more remote beaches for %26#39;au natural%26#39; swimming. The captains love it when it%26#39;s a bunch of young folks, especially females. I understand the local police have put a stop to a growing %26#39;naturalist%26#39; beach on the out islands. You will see it on some of the boats you pass.

Florida plays host to a number of clothing optional resorts near Orlando. And of course, the east coast has a number of nudist or clothing optional beaches, as does Key West. What would be unremarkable on SoBe would cause a stir on Sanibel and Captiva. Many Europeans are mystified by it, but there it is.

The Tampa Area has several new, and hip nudist resorts.

Try: http://www.calienteresorts.com/

We have been going to Sanibel for many years and during the early-mid week we have gone to Bowmans and been the only ones there. Still, the threat of arrest keeps us from walking the beach nude, even at the far ends. Laying in the sun does allow for a long view for any oncoming people. Never had a problem but we%26#39;ve never pushed the issue with others around.

Such a shame the local laws haven%26#39;t adapted to include the growing naturalist society.