Inside the New Sarasota Art Museum
What happens when you turn a historic high school campus into a world-class museum? You get the much-anticipated Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College. Read More
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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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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
Inside Sarasota’s Wood Street Studio
Across the country, more and more woodworkers are jumping on the urban lumber bandwagon by breathing new life into old wood destined for the dump. But only in Sarasota will you find an abundance of rare tree species and a man, named Dale Reike, who transforms it into stunning pieces that tell a unique story about this southwestern spot on the gulf. Read More
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7 Reasons to Visit Opal Destinations This Spring
We dug deep into all Opal destinations from Florida, Maine, and New York to build this list of top spring events and seasonal vacation ideas. Read More
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7 Must-See Stops in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts
Located no more than 10 miles north of Sarasota proper in Bradenton, a colorful artist colony, known as the Village of the Arts, has taken root in the recent years, offering a diverse mix of quirky art studios and galleries, eclectic shops, restaurants, and even a microbrewery. Read More
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Sarasota’s Secret Surf Scene
When it comes to the best surfing in Florida, your mind likely goes to the East Coast stretch of the state. That’s not the case for waterman Juan Rodriguez, who, despite having surf all over the world, has always been partial to the surf scene of Sarasota. Read More
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Street Smart: Sarasota’s Palm Avenue
When it comes to things to do in Sarasota, Florida, there’s no better place to spend a morning or afternoon soaking up the chic shopping experience than this popular stretch of Palm Avenue. Read More
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Top Things to Do in Sarasota in November and December
Migrating right whales, seasonal brews, and mega-yachts wrapped to the gills with Christmas lights – we’ve got the top attractions you can only take advantage of during these select months in Sarasota. Read More
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Top Things to Do in Sarasota in May & June
Rare blooming flowers, tarpon fishing season, and Andy Warhol are just a few reasons to visit Sarasota during these select summer months. Read More
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Meet Our 2017 #H2OpalPhotoContest 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. Read More
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Murky Origins: The Truth behind These Opal Destination Names
Did Treasure Island actually ever contain buried treasure? Why was Key West’s original translation “bone island”? We reveal the true origins of these town names in popular Opal destinations. Read More
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