Opal Gems Archives - Page 2 of 28

A Mote Marine Lab scientist studies the coral fragments being grown at Reefhouse Resort & Marina.

Mote Marine Laboratory’s Coolest Conservation Projects Across Florida

Mote is more than just an aquarium headquartered in Sarasota, Florida. It’s a world-renowned marine research lab, boasting cutting-edge conservation projects from coral cultivation to blasting and burying red tide cells to amazing aquaculture innovations. Read More

All About ‘Tom’s Blueberry Muffin,’ Opal’s Most-Loved Breakfast Staple

With a recipe that dates back to the late ‘60s, Opal Collection’s blueberry muffin has been a longtime breakfast staple, loved and devoured daily by guests. Now, this handheld treat will be that much easier to recreate at home. Read More

A person with blonde hair and a white outfit stands under a wooden canopy, facing a building with a red door. Rustic benches and a large branch chandelier decorate the space.

From the Source: The Artisans Behind the Lake Placid Lodge’s Handcrafted Decor

The rustic elegance of Lake Placid Lodge can’t be found at any other resort. Meet a few of the local craftspeople responsible for the Lake Placid Lodge’s one-of-a-kind features and furniture. Read More

Why Sandpearl Resort is the Perfect Green Getaway

Clearwater’s exclusive Sandpearl Resort is the perfect combination of luxury and eco-friendly. Here’s why the resort’s initiatives, from a geothermally heated pool to ozone-assisted laundry, make it the perfect green getaway. Read More

A detailed sand sculpture depicting a mermaid surrounded by sea turtles. The mermaid is reclining with flowing hair, and the turtles appear to interact with her. The sculpture is set indoors near stairs.

Who’s Behind the Elaborate Sand Sculptures at Hutchinson Shores?

At the resort’s signature poolside bar, McKee’s Tiki Bar, just steps away from the bay, you can relax and unwind after a long day of adventuring with a refreshing tiki-inspired mocktail — all the fun and flavor, with zero of the booze. Read More

A group of baby turtles crawling on sandy beach. Some are grouped together while others are scattered, all making their way towards the top of the image, possibly heading for the ocean. Sand grains are visible around them.

Visiting During Turtle Nesting Season? Here’s What to Know

Throughout the spring and summer, thousands of sea turtles enact a 100-million-year-old ritual, crawling onto the beaches at night to lay clutches of eggs. Here’s how you can play a part in clearing the way for their survival. Read More

A person with a backpack hugs a tan dog on a rocky hilltop, overlooking a vast landscape with a river winding through dense green forests under a colorful sunset sky.

Meet Finn, West Street Hotel’s Mascot Dog!

The West Street Hotel has a beloved mascot, an English lab by the name of Finn! His best trick? Wooing and befriending every guest. Here are some of Finn’s favorite things, from treats to toys and activities he woofs very much. Read More

The Hotel Today: Part 2

Simultaneously, while Belleview Inn’s restoration was being done, master Florida artist Christopher Still was conducting his own elaborate history project to create these commissioned works for the hotel. Read More

A large, elegant resort-style hotel with green roofs and white exterior sits behind a serene pool. Palm trees flank the building, and lounge chairs are arranged around the pool area under a partly cloudy sky.

The Hotel Today: Part 1

While the hotel is obviously not the same as it was when it was first built in 1897, there are so many preserved portions and unique nods to the past scattered throughout. You just need to know where to look. Read More

A grand hotel with multiple gables and white facade stands behind a pool area. The pool is oval-shaped with a smaller circular pool in the center. Palm trees and lounge chairs surround the pool, and the sky is partly cloudy.

The Project

Before the crumbling Hotel Belleview could be renovated and reborn as Belleview Inn, she needed to be moved to her new foundation. So how do you move a 1,750-ton structure the distance of roughly the length of a football field? Read More

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