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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

cardio workout vacation

Vacations with a Cardio Workout

We’ve got a great list of outdoor activities that will get your heart pumping and get you to some of the best sights of Opal destinations at the same time. Hiking Lake George [Lake George, NY] For one of the highest and closest around Lake George, Black Mountain Loop is the… Read More

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palm beaches

Hunting for Key West’s Lost Shipwreck

Everyone dreams of finding sunken treasure, but few get the opportunity like the one afforded by Nuestra Señora de Atocha, a wreck still lost in the briny depths off Key West. The Spanish treasure galleon was driven into shallow Florida waters by a hurricane in September 1622 and ultimately dashed… Read More

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Dali Museum Clearwater

Truly Unique: Clearwater & St. Petersburg

The beach is the first item on any Clearwater and St. Petersburg itinerary, but those who make a beeline for the sands miss out on these five unique attractions and one truly unique island paradise. A Jaw-Dropping One Man Show Plenty of Florida destinations boast piers, but few can touch… Read More

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© Ali Mitton for The Beach People Co.

10 Holiday Gift Ideas for Travelers

With several priced $100 or below, our holiday gift ideas for every Opal traveler range from stylish weekend getaway accompaniments to high-tech gadgets great for experiencing our favorite destinations. A Beach Towel Statement Price: Starting at $99 Most beach towels are so…rectangular. The Beach People’s hand-woven round designs let… Read More

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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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Aerial view of a coastal city at sunset with a white sand beach to the left and a large curved hotel with a lit pool area to the right. The cityscape extends into the background under a colorful sky.

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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