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A gourmet dish featuring grilled octopus served in Ringside, Cirque St. Armands newest Sarasota restaurant.

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10 Best New Sarasota Restaurants to Visit in 2025
Whether you’re a local foodie or planning an upcoming visit, this insider’s guide reveals the most anticipated restaurants to open in Sarasota, Florida, including Opal’s own Ringside restaurant at Cirque St. Armands Beachside. Read More
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Opal Sol or Opal Sands? A Guide to Clearwater Beach’s New Resort Duo
Considering a stay at either Opal Sol or Opal Sands? Here are the essential things you should know about Opal Collection’s new "sol" mate properties – including what makes each resort unique, their shared resort amenities, and which one best suits your unique stay. Read More
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Stone Crab Season in Florida: What to Know & Where to Get It
Beloved for their delicate, sweet meat, Florida stone crabs dominate minds and menus from October to May. Here’s why they’re so sought after and the best places to get your claws on, well, these delicious claws. Read More
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5 Digital Detox Retreats Designed for Distancing
We live in a noisy world with so much content vying for our attention. If you’re looking to distance yourself with a digital detox retreat, we have five worthy – and diversly different – picks in Opal destinations. Read More
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Best Beaches in Florida: Why Delray Beach Was Voted Number One in 2024
Scenic, natural, and accessible – these are just a few of the reasons Delray Beach was deservedly awarded “Best Beach in Florida” in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Read More
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10 Experiences to Level Up Your Next Opal Escape
Opal Collection resorts and hotels are more than just luxurious places to lay your head. From private chef-led culinary events to hands-on outdoor adventures you’ll be raving about for years to come, here’s how our collection can craft and connect you to indelible experiences that discerning travelers covet. Read More
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Whether you're planning where to go next or what to do on an already‑booked vacation, discover the travel destinations with Opal

A serene lake with misty mountains in the background under a soft, blue sky. The hashtag #H2OPALPHOTOCONTEST is displayed prominently across the center of the image.

Photo Contest: 2015 #H2OpalPhotoContest

Whether it’s on the lakes of New York, the beaches of Florida, or the rocky coast of Maine, on-the-water experiences are at the heart of every OPAL Collection resort and destination. So we tasked our guests with showing us their best H2Opal experiences in a photo… Read More

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A couple embraces in the ocean at sunset with sunlight illuminating them. The foreground shows clear water. Text overlay reads #OPALLOVESTORYCONTEST.

Pin to Win: #OpalLoveStoryContest

In the spring of 2015, we challenged our fans to build a Pinterest board as a tribute to their significant other, sharing what it is that makes him or her special as well as telling the story of their relationship together. See all the… Read More

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A wooden boardwalk bordered by grassy sand dunes leads to a sunny beach under a blue sky. The text #MYOPALMOMENT is overlaid in the center of the image.

Photo Contest: #MyOpalMoment

In our inaugural contest over the summer of 2014, we asked Opal visitors to capture a favorite moment from their time in that destination. Submissions ranged from pretty mountaintop views to indelible family moments. Check out the finalists. Read More

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Beers across Opal Collection

Mixing Hops & Hospitality: Top Opal Beers

With National Beer Day kicking off on April 7, now’s the ideal time for brew hounds to sample the hoppy, smooth, and unique signature brews at Opal destinations – best served with a coastal sunset of your choice. Lake Placid Lodge IPA Brewed just for the lodge by nearby Great… Read More

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Atlantic beach sunset in Florida

5 Top Attractions In Florida Vacation Destinations

Where will your Florida vacation take you? We make your decision easy by highlighting five draws at every Opal destination in the Sunshine state. Clearwater Caladesi Island State Park, voted Florida’s best beach multiple times. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, home to movie… Read More

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Key West or Lake George

This or That: Key West or Lake George

On opposite ends of the East Coast, Key West and Lake George are united in their love of festivals, museums, and attractions on the water. Easy on the Water Lake George: Kayak the Lake A paddle and kayak from Green Island’s Lake George Kayak Company, located… Read More

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