Blog - Opal Collection

Spacious restaurant with colorful mosaic ceiling and woven wood decor. Tables are set with pink and white dishes. A well-stocked bar with shelves of bottles is in the background, with wooden chairs and decorative lights. Large windows offer an ocean view.

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Opal Key’s Fresh Dining & Design: A Key West Resort Renovation

If you’ve been waiting to hear the latest on Opal Key Resort & Marina’s renovated spaces – an upgraded arrival experience, expanded pool area, and exciting new restaurant concept – here’s what you need to know. Read More

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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 couple strolls to Bar Island during low tide in Bar Harbor.

Top Things to Do in Bar Harbor from May to August 2025

From fine arts and classical music to hiking and picnics, summers in Bar Harbor, Maine, are always a well-rounded affair. Read More

A couple strolls along the Bar Harbor Shore Path.

7 Fun Facts About Maine You Never Knew

Maine is the first state to see sunlight daily, but did you know exact spots vary year-round? Or that, after lobsters and blueberries, potatoes are also a leading state export? If you think you know Maine, it might be time to brush up on your knowledge. Read More

A little girl splashes in the water at Dubois Park in Jupiter, Florida.

6 Last Chances for Summer

Summer may be sneaking away, but it’s still the season of the sun until September 22. Send it out with a splash by indulging in one of these quintessential summer experiences in Opal resort and hotel destinations. Read More

New in the Northeast Just in Time for Summer

Summer is in full swing. And our New England Coast and New York Adirondack Opal hotels and resorts are ready to make it stellar with these new activities and offerings, including refreshed and renewed waterside cottages at Samoset Resort, a new gourmet burger dining outlet at The Sagamore Resort, and commemorative 150th-anniversary goodies at Wentworth by the Sea. Read More

The view of Frenchman Bay from Bar Harbor

A Coveted Coastal New England Road Trip

The beauty of a multi-day, 220-mile road trip up the craggy coast from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Bar Harbor, Maine isn’t just the plethora of enticing pit stops along the route – from high culture to scenic coves. It’s also the way that Opal properties serve as your easy and convenient overnight waypoints for piecing together one epic coastal cruise. Read More

An aerial view of the rooftop bar of Elevate at Opal Grand.

Best Rooftop Bars on the Eastern Seaboard

If you’re looking for rooftop bars along the eastern coast of the US, we have six worthy waterside picks in Opal destinations, from Bar Harbor, Maine, down to Key West, Florida. Read More

Fairgrounds St. Pete, The Ringling Museum of Art, and Sea Love candle-making boutique

Fun Things to Do on a Rainy Day Across Opal Destinations

As beautiful as the weather is across Opal destinations, rain ultimately happens. That said, you don’t have to let the drops that descend put a damper on your vacation. We highlight top rainy-day activities to dive into. Read More

The view of Frenchman Bay in Bar Harbor.

A Q&A With Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co.’s Lead Naturalist

What sets Maine’s largest boating tour company apart? We sat down with 17-year employee and lead naturalist Julie Taylor to find out. 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 Gem of a Way to See Acadia National Park

The latest and greatest way to travel the top sites of Acadia National Park? Via an Acadia GEM, a lightweight electric vehicle that is not just a clean, energy-efficient way to tour the beloved park, it’s a way to take it in from a whole new, immersive vantage point. Read More

Blog articles from Bar Harbor

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