A sunlit waterfront scene features a walkway lined with palm trees, elegant buildings with balconies to the left, and a calm waterway on the right with mooring posts. It's an idyllic spot for reflection on what to do this New Year's Eve as the bright sky adds a warm ambiance to the tranquil setting.

Back

The Best Ways to Ring in the New Year Across Opal Destinations

Whether you are beyond ready to get back out there for a proper NYE bash, or someone who celebrates the holiday in a calmer fashion with family or close friends, our Opal destinations offer all types of ways to warmly welcome 2022. Here are five unique experiences from Maine to Key West to inspire your New Year’s Eve plans.

Ring in 2022 with Reggae [Jupiter, FL]

Started as a sandwich shop in 2004, Guanabanas has since grown into a venue for the best live music in Palm Beach County. And that’s especially true on New Year’s Eve, when this open-air bar with woven tiki huts and banyan trees towering overhead brings in some of the best jam bands from South Florida, starting at 8 p.m. and running until midnight. What’s even better is there is no reservation needed and no cover all night, it is totally free! To speed up your recovery the next day back at Jupiter Beach Resort, savor a delicious breakfast from Sinclairs Ocean Grill and then retire to a poolside lounge chair for some much-needed relaxation (with or without a frozen drink in hand – a little hair of the dog, anyone?).

Where to Stay Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa

Four white Adirondack chairs with red blankets surround a fire pit in the snow, overlooking a calm lake with trees. Each chair has a glass of red wine placed on the armrest.

Eat, Drink, Dance, Stay [Rockport, ME]

What’s better than eating, drinking, and dancing? Eating, drinking, dancing, and then the convenience of crashing all under the same roof. For that reason, Samoset Resort offers a wonderful New Year’s Eve experience for couples, friends, or for the whole family! With a plethora of winter activities to enjoy and snowy scenic strolls just outside your door, there is no shortage of ways to end the year with some fun and adventure in beautiful Rockport, Maine. Come nightfall, enjoy a sit-down dinner in La Bella Vita where craft cocktails, tasty bites, warm fireplaces, and great company are guaranteed. In the morning, treat yourself to a few hours (or a whole day) of blissful treatments in The Spa at Samoset Resort. What better way to enter a new year than totally rejuvenated?

Where to Stay Samoset Resort

A festive street scene at night features a large, illuminated Christmas tree surrounded by nutcracker statues. As buildings in the background twinkle with lights and decorations, including palm trees wrapped in string lights, it suggests a charming destination for what to do on New Year's Eve.

Street-Wide Soiree [Naples, FL]

Starting at 5 p.m on New Year’s Eve-Eve, Third Street South – Naples’s most scenic street, home to historic buildings, exquisite architecture, lush landscaping, and scores of high-end shops, boutiques, and galleries – becomes ground zero for a smorgasbord of holiday happenings. Expect live music on the sidewalks decked in twinkle lights and tinsel, champagne-inspired specialty cocktails and buffets at the various restaurants, plus, the annual snow display before 8 p.m., where snow machines spew showers of the fluffy white stuff for families to frolic through. After, take the trolley back to Edgewater Beach Hotel for dinner at Coast and celebratory drinks to ring in the New Year. And then do it all over again the next day!

Where to Stay Edgewater Beach Hotel

A nighttime photo of Sloppy Joe's Bar with bright neon red letters displaying its name, ideal for those pondering what to do on New Year's Eve. The building features green, red, and blue awnings at the entrance, while a streetlight and traffic signals add to the festive scene.

Party with Hemingway’s Ghost [Key West, FL]

Given Key West’s penchant for eccentric celebrations, it should be no surprise that there’s an Annual Dropping Of The Conch Shell at Sloppy Joe’s, the very place where Ernest Hemingway used to carouse his nights away back in the 1930s. New Year’s Eve partygoers are entertained by a rooftop host, while the crowd dances and catches beads on the street below. The party has an eclectic vibe – you’ll be shoulder to shoulder with folks dressed up in New Year’s Eve finery and those still rocking it swimsuit casual. Keep an eye on the Queen Conch as the clock strikes midnight and watch as confetti, streamers, and lights fill the sky.

Where to Stay Sunset Key Cottages | The Capitana Key West | Opal Key Resort & Marina | The Laureate Key West

The snow-covered colonial-style building with its central tower and clock stands amid bare trees, a perfect spot to ponder what to do on New Year's Eve. Warm light glows from the lamps and windows, offering a cozy contrast against the twilight sky.

With the Fam or Friends [Lake George, NY]

The Sagamore Resort offers up a lot of family fun to ring in the New Year – all right on property! Enjoy a special dinner buffet with the whole gang in The Sagamore Ballroom (6-9 p.m.). Or, perfect for couples and a romantic evening, would be dinner at La Bella Vita (5-10 p.m.). Dinner will be served with a live performance from the Ray Alexander Trio. And then, when you’re ready to dance the night (and year!) away, DJ Andy Pratt will take over starting at 9 p.m. for the New Year’s Eve Celebration! Regardless of where guests choose to dine, everyone is invited to the party. Reservations required. Reach out for booking details.

Where to Stay The Sagamore Resort

Stone Crab Season in Florida: What to Know & Where to Get It

Beloved for its delicate and sweet meat, these crustaceans dominate menus – and the local fishing industry – during stone crab season in Florida every October through May. Here’s why they are so sought after – plus, the best destinations…

Two people sit close together on a rocky surface, overlooking a scenic landscape with clouds and a colorful sunset sky—a perfect moment to enjoy the peace of shoulder season, as shrubs and trees line the edge of the rocky area.

6 Best-Kept Travel Secrets of the September-October Shoulder Season

From beachfront bites (at a fraction of the price) to backcountry hikes, these are the signature experiences you’ll only find across Opal destinations during the golden stretch of September through October. What is shoulder season? Tucked between summer’s peak tourist…

A man and three children, all wearing swimwear, run and play together on a sandy beach with Sandpearl Resort in the background.

Best Family Beach Resorts in Florida

Planning a family beach vacation to Florida? From morning splash time to sunset s’mores, Opal Collection offers a variety of resorts up and down the Florida coast that take the hassle out of family vacations. With approximately 228 beaches –…

A misty sunrise spreads across the New York High Peaks Region.

3 Charming Adirondack Towns to Visit in New York’s High Peaks Region

Whether you’re here in summer, winter, or fall, or are looking for adventure, relaxation, or a bit of both, the Adirondack towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Keene Valley – all within easy driving distance of Lake Placid Lodge…