Known as "The First American," Benjamin Franklin is certainly one of the most revered figures in American history. From his many inventions including bifocals and the lightning rod, to his accomplishments as a politician and diplomat, and as a Founding Father of the United States of America, Franklin lived a colorful and highly influential life.
But the folks at the American Association for Nude Recreation (http://www.aanr.com) want the public to know that this revolutionary man was also fond of spending time in the nude as part of his daily routine and health regimen. In a 1927 article "The Air Bath" published by Gerald B. Webb, MD, of Colorado Springs, it is noted that Franklin wrote the following to a medical friend in 1750:
"You know the cold bath has long been in vogue here (London) as a tonic, but the shock of the cold water has always appeared to me as too violent, and I have found it much more agreeable to my constitution to bathe in another element, I mean cold air. With this in view I rise almost every morning and sit in my chamber without any clothes whatever, half an hour or an hour, according to the season, either reading or writing..."*Benjamin Franklin is only one of a number of famous nudists (or naturists) in history. Others known to have enjoyed skinny-dipping or other nude activities include John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau. In popular culture, Helen Mirren, Drew Barrymore, Alanis Morissette, Elle McPherson, Alicia Silverstone, Woody Harrelson, Heidi Klum and many others have indicated that they too enjoy shedding their clothes.
Today, nude recreation is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. The American Association for Nude Recreation is the largest, most long-established organization of its kind in North America with roots dating back to 1931.
You, too, can enjoy an "air bath" just as Benjamin Franklin did 260 years ago, not just in your own backyard and pool, but also at over 260 AANR facilities. There are AANR clubs to fit your needs from upscale resorts with all the latest amenities such as fitness centers, pools, hot tubs, restaurants and Wi-Fi, to rustic campgrounds for that back to nature experience. The AANR website www.aanr.com also has a section for finding legally sanctioned nude beaches where you can experience the joy of clothes-free recreation.
So what are you waiting for? It's Benjamin Franklin's birthday on January 17, go ahead and honor his life and legacy by spending some time in your own birthday suit!
American Association for Nude Recreation
1703 N. Main Street, Suite E ▪ Kissimmee, Florida 34744 800/TRY-NUDE ▪ 407-933-2064 ▪ Fax 407/933-7577
E-mail try-nude@aanr.com ▪ www.aanr.com
About AANR: AANR is the credible voice of reason on issues relevant to nude recreation and Nakationing in appropriate settings, serving more than 213,000 individuals who enjoy clothes-free and clothing-optional recreation throughout North America. Download the new AANR iPhone application found in the Lifestyle category of the iTunes App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/aanrmobile or on the AANR website at http://www.aanr.com, and join the AANR community on Facebook. To learn more about nude recreation and clothes-free vacation opportunities, call 1-800-TRY-NUDE (879-6833); or visit www.aanr.com. AANR is your passport to fun, and can be had for less than the cost of a bathing suit.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Carolyn Hawkins, AANR
PubAffairs@AANR.com
1-800-TRY-NUDE
Or
Mary Jane Kolassa, MMGY Global
MKolassa@mmgyglobal.com
407-838-1803
* Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2262299/pdf/tacca200046-0040.pdf
