8/01

My wife and I recently spent a few days at the Sanibel Harbor Resort, Florida (not on the island - immediately before crossing the bridge to the island). We were away for a few days of sunbathing for her and some quiet reading time for me. We stumbled into a very international/European convention at the hotel. Our first morning, by 9:00 am, on the small and secluded beach of the resort we were met by many topless sunbathers. All ages, all shapes, families, mothers with children, everyone relaxed and enjoying the day. While somewhat shy, my wife has spent her entire life in the sun - life guard, park/resort manager, etc., but as is the "American way" had never considered sunbathing topless, but did so every day of our vacation and had a great time.

--Brian

7/00

Seeing that one report has already been submitted regarding topfree sunbathing at Ft. Myers beach, I just wanted to add that I have observed many ladies, including my wife and several of our friends, being topfree at Sanibel Island and Captiva Island beaches for many years. I think this is due to the influx of European visitors that the Ft. Myers area of Florida has witnessed during the past decade. Having been a resident of this area for some time, I have never seen or heard of any news accounts where anyone was cited for going topfree on the beach. Let me add that the people I have seen, are generally sunbathing, but not parading up and down the beach, or playing in the water. Total nudity is not accepted, but I have seen people shed their swimsuits, and put on other clothes while in full view of the public.

--Roger, Ft. Myers, Florida

12/99

My wife and I go to Fort Myers, Florida every February to visit my parents. A couple of years ago we saw 3 women sunbathing topfree on the main part of Ft. Myers Beach in front of the bathhouse (2 were together, 1 was with her boyfriend a fair distance away). We asked one woman about the policy and were informed that the police acted only if someone complained. In such a case, if the woman put her top on when asked, that would be the end of it. She said that she usually got a couple of hours of sunning, often the whole day, before anything happened. My wife and I have worn thongs, and more recently g-strings (yes, me too) on Ft. Myers Beach for years but hadn't seen any topfree women before 1997. Since then she's been going bare-breasted on and off - sorry for the pun. We've never been hassled about our nearly nude appearances. The best spot is in front of the Lani Kai hotel. One caution: women always put tops on to go swimming or walking. We've never seen a woman get off her blanket or chair without a top, and my wife doesn't want to be the first to do so.

--Paul, Massachusetts