The Naked Truth: Michigan is Top Spot in World to Skinny Dip

Michigan has its fair share, if not a little more, of beautiful shorelines and pristine beaches to enjoy. Some are geared to families, some are pet friendly, and some....well, are made for those who want to bare all.

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In a recent report, a site called MyDatingAdviser.com decided somehow how to figure out which are the "100 Best Nude Beaches Around the Globe" that are perfect for skinny dipping, whether legally or not. Honestly, it was no surprise to see those exotic and picturesque locations in Australia, Croatia, Greece, South Africa, and Italy top the list, especially since topless and nude beaches tend to be more popular across the pond.

Michigan Goes Au Naturel

Showing we've got what it takes here in Michigan, one of our northern beaches found itself ranking 31st as the best skinny dipping beach in the world and the 3rd best in the United States. The beach is in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The park that covers 60,000 acres is in the U.P. and is described as, a "35,000-acre old-growth forest, roaring waterfalls, miles of rivers and streams, 90-plus miles of hiking trails, a modern and rustic campground, backcountry camping, the Lake Superior shoreline”. No, there is no mention of a nude beach, so it must be a best-kept secret.

Just so we aren't called to bail you out of jail because you decided to take a naked plunge, keep in mind it's illegal to be naked in public in the State of Michigan. We did some checking and Michigan Penal Code Act 328 of 1931 lays it out stating, “A person shall not knowingly make any open or indecent exposure of his or her person or of the person of another”. Breaking this law is “punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both”. Some people just don't know how to have fun.

In case you're wondering, and we've sparked your interest, there are also quite a few beaches in Michigan where you can legally ditch the swim trunks and bikini. Otter Creek Beach near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Christmas Cove Beach, Cat Head Bay, and Good Harbor Beach are just a few that will allow you to "let it all hang out".

Check out the full list and how they determined the rankings here.

LOOK: See America's 50 Best Beach Towns

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.

LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?

Data for this list was acquired from trusted online sources and news outlets. Read on to discover what major law was passed the year you were born and learn its name, the vote count (where relevant), and its impact and significance.

Filed Under: Best of Lists, Nude Beaches, Porcupine Mountains, skinny dipping, The Upper Peninsula, U.P.

Categories: Lifestyles, Lists, Michigan News, Off Beat, Outdoors, Travel