This or That: Longboat Key or Treasure Island
Our guide to two Florida gulf beach destinations an hour apart with very different vibes.
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Top Holiday Cocktails To Ring in 2026
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.
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5 Game-Changing Benefits of Taking Your Holidays on Vacation
If the stress of your holiday hustle has been weighing you down (especially if you’re the one hosting the festivities), this may be an article you want to read. Because a holiday week getaway may just be the best gift you can give yourself.
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Why Mount Desert Island Was Voted America’s Favorite Island
It wasn’t a tropical escape that scored number one in the “Top 15 Islands in the Continental U.S.” list in Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards. It was a lobster-claw-shaped piece of land off the craggy coast of Downeast Maine.
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A Coveted Coastal New England Road Trip
The beauty of a multi-day, 220-mile road trip up the craggy coast from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Bar Harbor, Maine isn’t just the plethora of enticing pit stops along the route – from high culture to scenic coves. It’s also the way that Opal properties serve as your easy and convenient overnight waypoints for piecing together one epic coastal cruise.
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Best Family Beach Resorts in Florida
Planning a family beach vacation to Florida? From morning splash time to sunset s’mores, Opal Collection offers a variety of beach resorts up and down the coast that take the hassle out of family vacations.
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Must-See Clearwater Florida Attractions You Never Knew About
Think you’ve experienced all of Clearwater Beach? This list of hidden gems might make you think again.
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6 Best Crystal-Clear Water Beaches in Florida that Rival the Caribbean
You don’t need a passport to frolic in the blue waves identical to what you’d find in everyone’s favorite tropical sea. You just need these favorite Florida beaches.
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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.
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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
Top Adventures for 2016
We’ve got six experiences to make your 2016 a year to remember.
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Top Wines to Bring to Holiday Parties
Three of Opal Collection’s brightest wine minds share their picks for the most unusual, interesting, and complementary vintages to bring this season. Crowd Pleasers 2013 Naples Cabernet Sauvignon, Boyanci, Italy ($60) Exceptionally smooth with a complex mouthfeel that changes with every sip, this balanced cabernet “glows in the glass,”…
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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…
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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…
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Where to Stay: Samoset Resort
The Samoset is perched on 230 waterfront acres that overlook Penobscot Bay in Maine.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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