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

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6 Top Holiday Cocktails You’ll Want to Sip in 2024
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

Lake Placid Bar Harbor

This or That: Bar Harbor vs. Lake Placid

For mountains alongside the water, it’s hard to beat Bar Harbor…or Lake Placid. We compare these two Northeast outposts known for their natural spoils and picturesque downtowns.   Most Picturesque Hike Bar Harbor: Jordan Pond Loop – 3 miles This moderate route takes hikers along the water’s edge at Acadia… Read More

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Father's Day 2015

Father’s Day Gift Guide

This year for Dad, don’t settle for anything that comes in a box. Give him one of these six OPAL experiences in our Father’s Day gift guide that will have him raving for years. Night Photography in Acadia [Bar Harbor, ME] Give him a different perspective of Acadia… Read More

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West Street Hotel

After Check-In: Bar Harbor, ME

Don’t let an afternoon check-in put a damper on the start to your vacation. Take advantage of these Bar Harbor evening activities. Whale of a Tale Every Monday through Saturday at 4:30 p.m., Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. sets out on three-and-a-half-hour catamaran tours of the Gulf of Maine… Read More

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A woman and a child playfully pose at the beach, holding hands. Both wear sunglasses and casual summer clothes. The woman bends down to kiss the childs nose, and gentle waves touch their feet under a clear blue sky.

The Opal Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Instead of picking out flowers or sending a quick card to Mom this year, why not find her a present that recaps your last vacation together? We’ve curated a Mother’s Day gift guide for unique treasures made to remind Mom of the allure of the Eastern coastline. Combing the Beach [Bar… Read More

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opal weddings

The Opal Northeast Weddings Guide

From fall ceremonies below crimson fall trees to waterfront receptions along the Atlantic, we have five Northeast OPAL Collection wedding locations you must check out for your big day. A Wedding for the Ages On the doorstep of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine, find the Harborside… Read More

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Jazz month festivals

Festivals and Fixes for Your Jazz Month Cravings

April is Jazz Appreciation Month. To celebrate, we’re highlighting the best ways to get your jazz  fix, no matter if you’re exploring the coast of Maine or playing footsie with some golden sand on the coast of Florida. June Freihofer’s Jazz Festival [Saratoga Springs, NY] Just 30 minutes south… Read More

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hunting and fishing

For the Thrill of the Hunt

There’s a sense of pride to successfully testing your hunting and fishing skills. So why not try spearfishing in Key West, pulling in lobster traps in Maine, or hunting deer in the Adirondacks? Spearfishing [Key West, FL] Diving down into the waters while scoping out your prey is best done in… Read More

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OPAL Collection spas

A Man’s Guide to the Opal Spa

Cord Coen, owner of body care line Zents, knows men – after all, he is one – and he knows spas. And he’ll tell you that the two don’t always mesh well, but they can certainly find a balance. It’s just a matter of breaking old habits and taking a… Read More

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Bar Harbor flowers

3 Amazing Estate Gardens of Mount Desert Island

Acadia National Park itself is a veritable garden of incredible natural wonder. But Mount Desert Island’s past as a playground for the rich and famous means it’s also home to these breathtaking estate gardens. Charles Savage’s Asticou Azalea Garden Located just over 15 minutes southwest of Bar Harbor,… Read More

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