Opal Blog | Travel Guides, Tips & Stories

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

FEATURED

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 beach resorts up and down the coast that take the hassle out of family vacations.

Aerial view of a winding coastal road bordered by dense forest with autumn foliage, rocky cliffs, and waves crashing against the shoreline below.

FEATURED

Why Mount Desert Island Was Voted America’s Favorite Island

It wasn’t a tropical escape that scored number one in the “Top 15 Islands in the Continental U.S.” list in Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards. It was a lobster-claw-shaped piece of land off the craggy coast of Downeast Maine.

The view of Frenchman Bay from Bar Harbor

FEATURED

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.

A serene beach scene unfolds in Clearwater, Florida, with a long pier extending into calm, blue waters. Sandy dunes with patches of grass grace the foreground. The clear sky holds a whisper of clouds near the horizon, while small structures dot this idyllic attraction on the pier.

FEATURED

Must-See Clearwater Florida Attractions You Never Knew About

Think you’ve experienced all of Clearwater Beach? This list of hidden gems might make you think again.

A father and daughter play in the gin-clear waters of Jupiter, Florida.

FEATURED

6 Best Crystal-Clear Water Beaches in Florida that Rival the Caribbean

You don’t need a passport to frolic in the blue waves identical to what you’d find in everyone’s favorite tropical sea. You just need these favorite Florida beaches.

A family enters the lobby at Hutchinson Island Beach Resort & Spa.

FEATURED

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.

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

A woman in a white blouse and striped pants walks through a modern hotel lobby, the perfect blend of bleisure travel. She pulls a suitcase past wooden accents, lush plants, and the word OPAL illuminated on the wall.

Best in “Bleisure:” How to Mix Business with Pleasure in Opal Destinations

“Bleisure” – a new term describing the act of mixing business and leisure travel – is booming. Luckily, these Opal properties are in the trend, too.

maple lavendar duck dish at Lake Placid Lodge

Dish in Demand: The Maple Lavender Duck Breast at Artisans

The maple lavender duck breast at Artisans at the Lake Placid Lodge isn’t your typical game dish. We share the details, ingredients, and recipe here. Rich in fat from the local duck, sweet from the maple syrup, floral from the lavender, spice from the Szechuan, and sour from the pickled…