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Stitch.net - Online community for travel, romantic and activity companions over 50

7/27/2016

Stitch.net
Online community for travel, romantic and activity companions over 50

By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong

Many travelers over the age of 50 understand the challenges of traveling alone. A new website named Stitch.net is helping mature travelers overcome those challenges and reach their travel goals.

We spoke with Marcie Rogo, the Co-founder and Head of Customer Success for Stitch.net about their website.

In one sentence, what is Stitch.net?

Stitch.net is the largest online community for connecting travel, romantic and activity companions over 50.

Why is Stitch.net an important asset for senior travelers?

Stitch.net is an important asset for senior travelers because we serve only their needs and understand the difficulty and expense of traveling solo in mature years.

Because of this, we put every effort into making sure our members don't miss out on a trip they want to take, whether that be one organized by Stitch, voted on by our members, or just connecting individuals across the world for the travel opportunities they have been dreaming to take.

What are some of the challenges of travel over the age of 50 and of solo travel?

Traveling over 50 can be extremely challenging for several reasons. Now over 50% of people over 50 are single, which means that solo travel becomes the only option (and many that are married don't have a spouse that can or wants to travel).

Solo travel is difficult because often, friends, family member, etc. don't have the same budget/destination preferences, or time off that you do, so you're left to travel on your own.

Then, another barrier comes when the single supplement is priced. This is the extra, usually several hundred or even thousand dollars, that is charged per person who is not sharing a cabin or room on an organized trip.

And even if you can afford that, going solo can be very lonely, especially on a medium or large cruise or trip where there are mostly couples.

Where do Stitch.net members travel?

Stitch.net members travel to really any destination you can think of! We've had groups go together on larger cruises down the Danube River, the Australian East Coast, to Mexico, and soon Norway!

We also organize Stitch-only, special trips! For example, in May 2016 a group of 18 Stitchers had a blast going to Cuba with one of our travel experts. The single supplement was only $150, which is the lowest they had ever seen. All were solo travelers so there were no cliques or groups and everyone got to enjoy getting to know one another in the small and friendly group.

Later this year, a bunch of members have decided to meet up in Las Vegas for a fun weekend trip.

How does Stitch.net work?

Stitch members can plan travel in several ways. Anyone can suggest a destination and the members (all verified and vetted to be over 50) can discuss the destination and indicate their interest. If enough members are interested, Stitch can tap the shoulder of one of our vetted travel vendors to plan a custom journey.

On a smaller scale, Stitch members can indicate that they are already going on or are interested in sharing a room on an existing trip and invite other members to come along to coordinate together.

Furthermore, we have existing partnerships with special senior-friendly vendors like Road Scholar and Journey's International with special discounts for our members.

Even better, Stitch is an international community so you can get travel advice or tips for almost any destination in our online Discussion Forums! If we don't have members from there, there are always people who have been and who are happy to give advice, and have even offered their guest rooms or couches for fellow Stitch members traveling through the area!

It's really a wonderful community of (mostly) single, mature adults who don't want to miss out on the travel they planned on doing in these later years.

For more information, visit www.Stitch.net

Article by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
Copyright 2016 Sunny Harbor Publishing
PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32955
Phone: 321-446-7552
Email: SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com
Website: www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org

Keywords: Stitch.net, travel companions, activity companions, mature travel, mature dating, senior travel, senior dating, Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong, NudeVacationInfo.com, nudist, naturist,

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Cypress Cove Nudist Resort

7/14/2016

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Cypress Cove Nudist Resort

The Orlando area's most peaceful, welcoming and natural resort

By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong

A record 62 million people visited the Orlando, Florida area in 2014. Orlando has even surpassed New York as the top tourist destination in the United States. Why? Central Florida has year-round ideal weather, world-class entertainment, professional sporting events, beautiful scenery, theme parks galore and the most peaceful, welcoming and natural resort you will find anywhere - Cypress Cove Nudist Resort. Whether you are a first-time nudist or a lifelong naturist, this upscale yet laid-back 300-acre property just minutes from metro Orlando is a favorite destination of nudists and naturists from around the world.

Located in Kissimmee, Florida, Cypress Cove Nudist Resort was founded by Jim and Lyda Hadley in 1964 - years before the theme parks arrived. Cypress Cove is still run by the Hadley family today.

“My grandfather bought this property in 1962. A lot of it was originally orange groves. We opened in 1964. We have residents that have been members for 50 years and a lot of our residents have been here over 20 years,” Ted Hadley, one of Cypress Cove Resort’s current owners, told us.

As we strolled the grounds ourselves, we were greeted with smiles, waves, handshakes and complete strangers inviting us to join them for activities such as pickleball, tennis, swimming and karaoke.

We asked Ted Hadley if this friendliness is normal for Cypress Cove.

“Most people comment about how friendly people are here. You can sit next to a banker and a trucker and never know who is who. The real attraction to nudism for many is the social element. It's all about friends. When you visit Cypress Cove, you instantly become part of the group. Even as you walk down the road here, everyone waves, smiles and says hello to you. In today's world, people don't socialize like they used to. It's different here. People here really want to hang out with each other,” Hadley said.

Whether you want to have fun with a group of friends or find a quiet place alone for peace and tranquility, Cypress Cove has just what you are looking for.

For those wanting a little solitude, the resort offers a 50-acre lake and 130 acres of protected wetlands. The lakefront view is known for its quiet, natural beauty and wildlife. Complimentary kayaks, pedal boats and paddle boards are available to get away from it all with a peaceful ride to the middle of the scenic lake and back.

Are you ready for a little fun in the world-famous Florida sunshine? Cypress Cove has two heated pools and two hot tubs with Afternoon Pool Parties every weekend during the summer.

For guests who enjoy a little exercise on their vacation, Cypress Cove offers tennis, volleyball, pickleball, petanque , a 9 hole chip ‘n putt golf course and a large, modern fitness center. Various exercise and dance classes are offered during the week.

Nature Hair and Silver Lining Massage spa services are located right next to the pool.

Activity options are an important part of the Cypress Cove experience.

“Many other clubs have activities organized by a committee of volunteers. We believe activities are important to our guests so we have four staff members just in our activities department. We offer an incredible amount of activities and clubs. We have a camera club, a singing club, a remote control yacht club, cards clubs and more. We have clubs for just about everything,” Hadley said.

The Activities Department schedules live music and entertainment up to five nights a week as well as regularly scheduled costume contests, karaoke parties and dances with a live band or professional DJ.

As their website states, you can be as “active or as relaxed as you choose!”

Finding something good to eat is never a problem at Cypress Cove. The Lakeside Restaurant, Scuttlebutts Lounge and Cheeks Pool Bar offer quality food and drinks so you never have to leave the resort if you don’t want to.

Cypress Cove has a variety of lodging options for just about any traveler’s need or desire.

Lodging options include:

* Remodeled Villa Apartment

* Remodeled Villa Hotel Room

* Remodeled Villa King Room

* Villa Apartment

* Villa Hotel Room

* Villa Parlor Room

* Villa Pet Rooms

* Campground / RV Park

Campground facilities include:

* 100 amp electric service (2 x 50 amp connections, a 30 amp and a 20 amp)

* Complimentary wireless internet & cable TV

* Concrete pad on all Full Hook-up sites

* Convenient laundry & bath house facilities

* Tent & Dry Camping on the Lakefront (no hook-ups)

We asked Ted Hadley if everyone who visits Cypress Cove is comfortable participating in so many activities while nude.

“Visitors often discover how liberating it can be to not worry about how they look or dress. Our goal is to maintain a safe, welcoming environment where our guests can truly relax and feel comfortable. I've had women tell me that the most important thing for them is body acceptance. They say that the body acceptance here has changed their lives. It is incredibly liberating to be accepted just as you are,” Hadley said.

We enjoyed every minute of our stay at Cypress Cove Nudist Resort. It truly is the Orlando area's most peaceful, welcoming and natural resort.

Cypress Cove Nudist Resort is located at 4425 Pleasant Hill Road, Kissimmee, Florida 34746.

Their phone number is 888-683-3140

For more information, visit their website at http://www.cypresscoveresort.com

The Orlando Convention and Visitor's Bureau offers a dedicated webpage of local events, clubs and attractions at http://www.visitorlando.com

Video provided by Cypress Cove Nudist Resort.

Photos provided by Cypress Cove Nudist Resort.

Article by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong. Copyright 2015 Sunny Harbor Publishing. Contact Us: Sunny Harbor Publishing, PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956. Phone: 321-446-7552. Email: SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com

Keywords: Cypress Cove Nudist Resort, Cypress Cove, Nudist Resort, Orlando, Kissimmee, cypresscoveresort.com, nudist, naturist, Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong, FL, Florida, Florida nudist, Florida naturist,

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Haulover Beach - South Florida's World Famous Clothing Optional Beach

7/14/2016

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Haulover Beach
Sunny Isles, Florida

South Florida's World Famous Clothing Optional Beach

By Steven Skelley & Thomas Routzong

Haulover Beach in South Florida is a) one of the most beautiful beaches in the world b) one of the most popular of Florida's many beautiful beaches c) a huge income source for the Miami Dade Park system and d) legally clothing optional!

Nude recreation is nothing new. Canadians, Europeans and South Americans have had clothing optional beaches for decades. Historians attest that the Olympics were originally contested in the nude.

More than twenty years ago, the Miami Dade park system responded positively to resident and visitor requests for a clothing optional beach at Haulover. The decision to designate Haulover Beach as clothing optional was a good one. Haulover Beach has been listed as one of the top ten beaches in the world by numerous travel publications.

South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association, Inc. founded the clothing optional section of Haulover Beach Park in Miami in 1991 and mentors it through its volunteer Beach Ambassador program, establishing the model for an urban nude beach.

Though local officials originally balked at allowing a clothing optional beach, the South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association, Inc. was able to prove public support, the legal right of beachgoers to equal access facilities for clothing optional recreation, and millions of dollars in unused funding that was specifically designated for the beach park. The efforts of the South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association, Inc. resulted in huge financial and tourism gains for South Florida - Haulover Beach is the most visited tourist attraction in South Florida!

On some days, Haulover Beach draws as many as many as 10,000 beachgoers - that's with a $6.00 parking fee per car! Parking fees alone bring in more than $1,500,000 annually. Tourists coming to Haulover Beach spend an estimated $500,000,000 in South Florida during their visit. How many other Florida beaches generate that kind of income just by being open-minded and responding to the desires of residents and vacationers?

Haulover Beach is just yards from the busy traffic of A1A and yet it is completely unnoticeable because of foliage and sand dunes. Visitors park on the west side of A1A and walk through a tunnel under A1A to the beach. There is ample parking but the beach is so popular that it may be difficult to find a space on weekends or holidays.

According to the Miami Dade Parks Department, Haulover Beach has "pristine white sand shores, open ocean surf, various shaded picnic facilities, beautifully landscaped sand dunes, and concession stands. The beach is ideal for surfing as well as swimming...The entire beach is guarded by well trained lifeguards, who will inform beach patrons of existing weather and surf conditions. Across the street from the beach, Haulover Park has a full-service marina, tennis courts, sundries shop and kite shops."

Why kite shops? There is an annual Kite Festival! According to the Miami Dade Parks Department website, "Kites of all shapes and sizes from around the world will fill the sky for this...annual seaside kite festival... featuring food, music and activities for kite-lovers of all ages, including kite competitions, kite-building classes and kites for purchase. Festival Admission is FREE. Parking is $6."

The clothing optional section of Haulover Beach is clearly marked with signs stating, "Beyond this point you may encounter nude sunbathers." There are multiple, manned lifeguard towers for swimmers' safety. Vendors selling food and renting beach umbrellas and beach chairs line the rear of the beach area. Volleyball courts are available and beachgoers of all ages, sizes and shapes join in impromptu volleyball games more for fun than competition.

The North and South sections of the clothing optional area of the beach are separated by a lifeguard tower. Traditionally, couples and families seem to set up their blankets, umbrellas and chairs to the South of the lifeguard tower while GLBT beachgoers seem to set up just North of the lifeguard tower.

Everyone is welcome to sit wherever they like though and people from all backgrounds, ages, races, sizes and shapes walk the shoreline and talk freely. One beachgoer told us, "It is a very liberating feeling. Everyone is the same here. People don't hide behind their clothes or judge anyone because of their clothes here. People just walk up and start a conversation. I wish there were more places like this!"

Michael Kush of South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association, Inc., believes that nudity has been a part of civilized human culture for thousands of years. "The Greeks held the willingness to appear nude as a hallmark of 'civilized' culture.Greek historians Herodotos and Thukydides state unequivocally that the Olympics were held in the nude. It is widely attested by ancient sources that both the athletes and their coaches were required to be nude for the Olylmpic events," he said.

Haulover Beach is located at 10800 Collins Avenue, Miami, FL. For more information visit - http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/parks/haulover_park.asp

Parking is free for those who display a Handicap placard.

The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau welcomes LGBT travelers. Their website states, "Miami has a thriving Gay and Lesbian Visitors Center that promotes Miami as a year-round, gay and gay-friendly tourist destination. One of the world's hottest gay destinations, Miami Beach is high-energy and high fashion with exciting nightlife and 7 signature events throughout the year."

They offer a webpage dedicated to LGBT travelers at http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/camp/lgbt11/index.asp?ucid=MM2011-000332

For more information on South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association, Inc., visit - http://www.sffb.com

Directions to Haulover Beach:

From the North:

Take I-95 south
Exit East (left) onto Ives Dairy Rd. Go 1.2 miles to Biscayne Blvd. (Use right lane because there is a barricade separating the right turn lane).
Turn South (right) onto Biscayne Blvd (US-1). Go 2.2 miles.
Turn East (left) onto SR 826 Sunny Isles Blvd. Go 1.6 miles.
Turn South (right) onto Collins Ave Rt. A1A. Go 0.8 mile to first parking lot on right.

From the South:

Take I-95 or US-1 north.
Exit East (right) onto NW 125 St (SR 922) across Broad Causeway to Collins Ave.
Turn North (left) onto Collins Ave (Rt. A1A). Drive 1.4 miles through Bal Harbour and cross bridge to Haulover Parking Lot.

Haulover Photograph by Albert Pantaleon - Courtesy of South Florida Free Beaches/Florida Naturist Association, Inc., http://www.sffb.com

Article by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong. Copyright 2011 Sunny Harbor Publishing. PO Box 560318 Rockledge, FL 32956. Phone: 321044607552. Email: SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com

Keywords: Haulover Beach, Haulover, naturist beach, nude beach, nudism, Florida nude, Florida nude beach, gay, gay beach, gay Florida, Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong,