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A holiday-themed cocktail part of Opal's seasonal cocktail program.

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6 Top Holiday Cocktails You’ll Want to Sip in 2024
These holiday cocktails – part of Opal’s specialty holiday cocktail program – aren’t just complex symphonies of flavor, they’re liquid works of art. And we’ve got the recipes for you to recreate during your own holiday festivities. 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

Lake Placid Lodge

Truly Unique: Lake Placid

Lake Placid’s pristine wilderness and isolation from the busy digital world make it the perfect escape, and these four attractions are unique to the rugged region. Authentic Adirondack Furniture Anyone can say that they have rustic decor, but can they say that their furniture was both inspired by and built in the… Read More

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Sagamore Resort credit Elaine Heintz

Our 2015 #H2OpalPhotoContest Grand Prize Winner

The photographer behind the 2015 #H2Opalphotocontest grand prize-winning shot sheds some light on the “happy accident” she captured at The Sagamore Resort. We received hundreds of entries – and many were downright amazing – but this image Elaine Heintz took at The Sagamore Resort two years ago of… Read More

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florida panther viewing guide

Finding a Phantom: The Endangered Florida Panther

Catching a glimpse of an endangered Florida panther is no easy feat, but you’ll be better equipped after reading our guide to the feline phantom, its growing population, and where to find it. There are now an estimated 100 to 180 Florida panthers living in the wild, compared to just… Read More

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Where to Stay: Opal Sands Resort

Situated on Clearwater Beach’s promenade halfway up Florida’s Gulf Coast, the brand-new Opal Sands Resort is mixture of calming ocean-inspired decor and sleek, modern luxury. So close to the gulf that you’ll feel practically suspended over it, the hotel has everything guests could ask in a Florida beach resort, including direct access to the white sand beach rated by USA Today as the “Best Beach in Florida.” Read More

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Persephone's Harvest The Artisans Restaurant Lake Placid Lodge

The Rustic and Culinary Treasures of the Adirondacks

At The Artisans at Lake Placid Lodge, Executive Chef Mark Hannon has embraced the farmed and foraged spoils of the mountains to create dishes distinct to the Adirondacks. Hannon has traveled the world, serving as the culinary mastermind for hotels and restaurants in Chicago, New York City, Australia, and Thailand,… Read More

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Camden, Maine and Delray Beach, Florida

This or That: Camden or Delray Beach

Despite being separated by more than 1,600 miles of Atlantic coastline, Camden, Maine, and Delray Beach, Florida, share beautiful beaches, thriving arts communities, and a treasured small-town feel. Best Glimpse of History Camden: Camden Opera House This 500-seat gem, built in 1894, boasts the stellar acoustics of a Victorian-style… Read More

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Lido-Beach-Resort-Sunrise-Aerial

Where to Stay: Lido Beach Resort

Situated on Sarasota’s exclusive Lido Key, Lido Beach Resort is the epitome of coastal cool. Step inside, and you’ll see a seaside motif, with weathered wood floors reminiscent of a ship’s deck, oars as wall decor, ocean tones as far as the eye can see, and plenty of natural texture. A 300-foot stretch of powder-soft white sand beach runs along the Gulf of Mexico, with private cabanas at the ready for some serious beach relaxation. Sarasota – known as Florida’s “cultural coast,” even with its own era of modern architecture – is then a directly across the John Ringling Causeway. Read More

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Jupiter Beach Sunset

Meet Our 2015 #H2Opal Photo Contest Finalists

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 it’s little surprise our #H2Opal photo contest saw us flooded with great entries. After careful consideration,… Read More

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Treasure Island Beach

Lay of the Land: Treasure Island, FL

The aptly named Treasure Island is home to sparkling beaches, one of the best Cuban sandwiches in Florida, and a classic beachfront bar scene you won’t find anywhere else. Orientation Between the Gulf of Mexico and Blind Pass, eight miles west of St. Petersburg. Nearby Shell Key Reserve, St. Petersburg, and… Read More

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National parks for kids

Our Picks: National Parks For Every Child

Inspired by the National Parks Service’s new “Every Kid in a Park” initiative that grants free access to parks nationwide for every fourth-grader in America, we share our picks for the best natural wonders around for every family. Acadia National Park [Bar Harbor, ME] Best for Families looking for a National… Read More

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