Florida Gulf Coast Archives - Page 3 of 28

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

FEATURED

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

FEATURED

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

FEATURED

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

FEATURED

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

FEATURED

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

Whether you're planning where to go next or what to do on an already‑booked vacation, discover the travel destinations with Opal

A large, elegant resort-style hotel with green roofs and white exterior sits behind a serene pool. Palm trees flank the building, and lounge chairs are arranged around the pool area under a partly cloudy sky.

The Hotel Today: Part 1

While the hotel is obviously not the same as it was when it was first built in 1897, there are so many preserved portions and unique nods to the past scattered throughout. You just need to know where to look. Read More

A grand hotel with multiple gables and white facade stands behind a pool area. The pool is oval-shaped with a smaller circular pool in the center. Palm trees and lounge chairs surround the pool, and the sky is partly cloudy.

The Project

Before the crumbling Hotel Belleview could be renovated and reborn as Belleview Inn, she needed to be moved to her new foundation. So how do you move a 1,750-ton structure the distance of roughly the length of a football field? Read More

#MyBelleviewMemory

If these walls could talk, they’d whisper stories about past presidents wandering these halls, weddings taking place generation after generation within the ballrooms, special anniversary dinners, and more. But alas, walls cannot talk. Luckily, these longtime locals can. Read More

Aerial view of a large, historic resort with multiple rooftops surrounded by lush greenery. There are trees, pathways, and several docks by the water, suggesting a waterfront location.

The Belleview Inn Story: Part 2

While Henry Plant’s Victorian hotel has seen a lot of change in her 120 years, one thing that has always remained consistent: her glamour and grace. Read More

A historic black and white photo of a large, multi-story Victorian-style building with multiple gables and chimneys. The foreground features manicured gardens with various plants and flowers. Trees frame the building on both sides.

The Belleview Inn Story: Part 1

Henry Plant didn’t just build the original iteration of the hotel that is now The Belleview Inn. He’s the little-known individual responsible for kick-starting the development of Florida. Read More

10 Ways To Experience Opal Destinations Through Your Kids

Travel can be an eye-opening experience for the little ones – but also, for the grown-ups. Tap into your childlike sense of wonder with these fun-for-all-ages activities, and learn to see them through the eyes of your kiddos. Read More

A couple drives a golf cart past a large, elegant white Victorian-style building with multiple gables and a covered driveway. Its a sunny day with a few clouds in the sky, and the surrounding landscaping is lush and well-maintained.

A Couple’s Guide to a Golf Getaway

Golf activities aren’t just reserved for trips with your buddies. When planned correctly, a weekend golf getaway can be a wonderful experience for you and your significant other. Read More

Split image showing different locations: a grand piano in a bright room, a cozy bedroom with modern decor, an airy restaurant with exposed wooden beams and a chandelier, and the exterior of a white house with green shutters and palm trees.

Name That Opal: Design in Detail

Just like our expansive and diverse Opal Collection footprint that extends from coastal Maine through the Florida Keys, the design and style within each of our 22 properties are far from uniform. Each destination has its own story to tell, culture to celebrate, and history to pay homage… Read More

A vibrant sunset over a beach with palm trees, a curved shoreline, and a few people relaxing on the sand. The sky is painted with hues of pink, orange, and purple, reflecting on the calm ocean waves. A road runs along the coast.

Your Guide to Clearwater Beach, Florida

Leave the planning to the pros – this Opal-approved guide to Clearwater Beach, FL gives you an easy-to-digest list of all the top attractions, restaurants, beaches, and local favorites in the area. Read More

A split image: on the left, seagulls soar against a clear blue sky; on the right, a long stone pier leads to a white lighthouse with a forested hill in the background. It's an inspiring view reminiscent of what hotel GMs envision when crafting perfect guest experiences.

3 Opal GMs on Their Favorite Opal Destinations to Vacay

Ever wonder where hotel managers go on vacation when it’s finally time for their own getaway? Well, if you’re a General Manager at Opal, the answer is usually another Opal destination! But which ones? Here, our GMs spill the tea on the Opal destinations they like enough to be a guest of. Read More

Blog articles from Clearwater

FEATURED

FEATURED

FEATURED

FEATURED

FEATURED

Sign up for news & updates from the Opal Collection