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The view of Frenchman Bay from Bar Harbor

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

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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. Read More
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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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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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The eighth-floor views at The Lucie in Hutchinson Island, Florida.

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

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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

Lido-Beach-Resort-Sunrise-Aerial

Where to Stay: Lido Beach Resort

Situated on Sarasota’s exclusive Lido Key, Lido Beach Resort is the epitome of coastal cool. Step inside, and you’ll see a seaside motif, with weathered wood floors reminiscent of a ship’s deck, oars as wall decor, ocean tones as far as the eye can see, and plenty of natural texture. A 300-foot stretch of powder-soft white sand beach runs along the Gulf of Mexico, with private cabanas at the ready for some serious beach relaxation. Sarasota – known as Florida’s “cultural coast,” even with its own era of modern architecture – is then a directly across the John Ringling Causeway. Read More

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Jupiter Beach Sunset

Meet Our 2015 #H2Opal Photo Contest Finalists

Whether it’s on the lakes of New York, the beaches of Florida, or the rocky coast of Maine, on-the-water experiences are at the heart of every OPAL Collection resort and destination. So it’s little surprise our #H2Opal photo contest saw us flooded with great entries. After careful consideration,… Read More

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Treasure Island Beach

Lay of the Land: Treasure Island, FL

The aptly named Treasure Island is home to sparkling beaches, one of the best Cuban sandwiches in Florida, and a classic beachfront bar scene you won’t find anywhere else. Orientation Between the Gulf of Mexico and Blind Pass, eight miles west of St. Petersburg. Nearby Shell Key Reserve, St. Petersburg, and… Read More

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National parks for kids

Our Picks: National Parks For Every Child

Inspired by the National Parks Service’s new “Every Kid in a Park” initiative that grants free access to parks nationwide for every fourth-grader in America, we share our picks for the best natural wonders around for every family. Acadia National Park [Bar Harbor, ME] Best for Families looking for a National… Read More

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pumpkin festival

Our Picks: Fall Festivals for Families

We offer you five great reasons to get the gang in the car – or even on a plane – for a fall weekend getaway built around everything from Florida’s tastiest crustacean to Maine’s most magnificent boats. September Windjammer Festival [Camden, ME] September 4–6 Sidle up to magnificent schooners… Read More

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clearwater sarasota

This or That: Clearwater Beach or Sarasota

These two Florida gulf gems sit on either side of Tampa Bay from each other, but where Sarasota has its eye on arts and culture, Clearwater Beach turns to classic beach options. Here’s your guide to choosing your ideal beach adventure. The Biggest Thrills Clearwater Beach: Sky Surfing Take to the… Read More

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folding kayak

Travel Smart: Products for the Outdoor Enthusiast

Waterproof phone cases. Folding kayaks. Our outdoor products guide has everything you need to enjoy your next great adventure at six OPAL destinations. Bushnell 6x 50mm Equinox Z [Naples, FL] You can spy on alligators, ibises, and deer in the sprawling Everglades National Park on clear mornings and inky nights… Read More

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downtown Naples, Florida

Lay of the Land: Naples, FL

This Southern Florida, Gulf Coast city is home to some of the country’s most luxurious shopping and endangered orchids. Orientation Less than an hour south of Fort Myers on Florida’s west coast. Nearby Marco Island and the Everglades. Date incorporated 1925. Namesake Naples, Italy. Notable for Swamp buggy races, the ghost… Read More

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Florda and Maine beers

Battle of the Brews: Florida & Maine Craft Beer

Maine and Florida are two of the most hopping (and hoppy) states in America’s white-hot craft beer scene, but also a study in contrasts. We sample some highlights. The Maine craft beer scene dates back to the early ’90s, with legendary brewers like Allagash and Atlantic Brewing Company doing high-quality… Read More

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