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

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6 Top Holiday Cocktails To Ring in 2025
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

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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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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pumpkin festival

Our Picks: Fall Festivals for Families

We offer you five great reasons to get the gang in the car – or even on a plane – for a fall weekend getaway built around everything from Florida’s tastiest crustacean to Maine’s most magnificent boats. September Windjammer Festival [Camden, ME] September 4–6 Sidle up to magnificent schooners… Read More

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clearwater sarasota

This or That: Clearwater Beach or Sarasota

These two Florida gulf gems sit on either side of Tampa Bay from each other, but where Sarasota has its eye on arts and culture, Clearwater Beach turns to classic beach options. Here’s your guide to choosing your ideal beach adventure. The Biggest Thrills Clearwater Beach: Sky Surfing Take to the… Read More

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folding kayak

Travel Smart: Products for the Outdoor Enthusiast

Waterproof phone cases. Folding kayaks. Our outdoor products guide has everything you need to enjoy your next great adventure at six OPAL destinations. Bushnell 6x 50mm Equinox Z [Naples, FL] You can spy on alligators, ibises, and deer in the sprawling Everglades National Park on clear mornings and inky nights… Read More

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downtown Naples, Florida

Lay of the Land: Naples, FL

This Southern Florida, Gulf Coast city is home to some of the country’s most luxurious shopping and endangered orchids. Orientation Less than an hour south of Fort Myers on Florida’s west coast. Nearby Marco Island and the Everglades. Date incorporated 1925. Namesake Naples, Italy. Notable for Swamp buggy races, the ghost… Read More

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