The Resort at Longboat Key Club Archives

A gourmet dish featuring grilled octopus served in Ringside, Cirque St. Armands newest Sarasota restaurant.

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10 Best New Sarasota Restaurants to Visit in 2025

Whether you’re a local foodie or planning an upcoming visit, this insider’s guide reveals the most anticipated restaurants to open in Sarasota, Florida, including Opal’s own Ringside restaurant at Cirque St. Armands Beachside. Read More

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Opal Sol or Opal Sands? A Guide to Clearwater Beach’s New Resort Duo

Considering a stay at either Opal Sol or Opal Sands? Here are the essential things you should know about Opal Collection’s new "sol" mate properties – including what makes each resort unique, their shared resort amenities, and which one best suits your unique stay. 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

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

A scenic view of a sunset city skyline of Sarasota over water.

Top Things to Do in Sarasota January Through April

Up-close and personal with MLB stars, exclusive art tours, and an aquarium-based craft beer festival are just a few reasons to visit Sarasota, Florida, during these select winter and spring months. Read More

Electric violinist Matt Dendy performs on the beach at Lido Beach Resort.

10 Best Live Music Venues in Sarasota, Florida

Matt Dendy knows a few things about the Sarasota music scene. Not only is he an acclaimed violinist – boasting a unique sound not typical for this stringed instrument – he's also a native who has played most major venues for an up-close and personal look at the best places to take in live tunes. Read More

5 Activities to Celebrate Leap Year 2024

Leap Year 2024 is upon us. Which means an extra day to dedicate towards enjoying something that you, otherwise, might not have had time for. And we have just the activities and events across Opal destinations to check out on this bonus day, February 29. Read More

A cozy restaurant with a wine wall and set tables, a modern dining area with abstract wall design and globe decor, and a couple enjoying a wine cellar with hanging branches and exposed brick.

Opal’s Most Opulent “Social Event Dining Spaces”

What is a social event zone? It’s Opal’s unique term for an intimate, semi-private dining experience that connects you to the restaurant in a one-of-a-kind way. And we’ve got just the selection of stunning spaces to serve your group. Read More

A Mote Marine Lab scientist studies the coral fragments being grown at Reefhouse Resort & Marina.

Mote Marine Laboratory’s Coolest Conservation Projects Across Florida

Mote is more than just an aquarium headquartered in Sarasota, Florida. It’s a world-renowned marine research lab, boasting cutting-edge conservation projects from coral cultivation to blasting and burying red tide cells to amazing aquaculture innovations. Read More

A couple strolls along St. Armands Circle.

8 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About St. Armands Circle

More than just a paradise for gourmets and shopaholics, St. Armands Key – and its respective popular tourist spot of St. Armands Circle – is home to some interesting history. Read More

The courts at The REsort at Longboat Key Club.

How to Take Up Pickleball at Longboat Key Club

A weeklong vacation is plenty of time to grab a paddle and try your hand at this newly popular and highly social sport. 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

A serene outdoor pool with turquoise lounge chairs is surrounded by palm trees. The pool overlooks a sandy beach with blue umbrellas and the ocean under a clear blue sky.

Your Guide to Sarasota, Florida

Beyond the white-sand beaches of this Gulf Coast gem is a sophisticated city sparkling with fine dining, fascinating art and science museums, and even the Big Cat Habitat. Here are the Opal-curated picks for experiencing Sarasota. Read More

A wide-angle view of a bridge stretching into the distance over a calm body of water, with the Sarasota Arts city skyline visible under a soft, cloudy sky adorned with pastel hues of sunset or sunrise.

Save the Date: Sarasota Arts and Entertainment for Spring 2022

With jazz on the waterfront and pop culture–inspired symphonies, the Sarasota arts scene blends the classical with contemporary. Read More

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