The Angler’s Guide To Prized Florida Catches
Anglers are adventurers by heart, and these four catches offer rare bragging rights and challenge in equal measure.
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Top Holiday Cocktails To Ring in 2026
These holiday cocktails – part of Opal’s specialty holiday cocktail program – aren’t just complex symphonies of flavor, they’re liquid works of art. And we’ve got the recipes for you to recreate during your own holiday festivities.
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5 Game-Changing Benefits of Taking Your Holidays on Vacation
If the stress of your holiday hustle has been weighing you down (especially if you’re the one hosting the festivities), this may be an article you want to read. Because a holiday week getaway may just be the best gift you can give yourself.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Where to Stay: Sandpearl Resort
Sandpearl Resort has the unique distinction of having both a Four Diamond Award from AAA and Florida’s first Silver LEED certification. For guests, this means unparalleled service alongside forward-thinking green initiatives. A guest’s stay at the resort is all about relaxation – whether it’s lounging in a private poolside cabana, kayaking alongside dolphins, or indulging in a spa treatment.
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This or That: Longboat Key or Treasure Island
Our guide to two Florida gulf beach destinations an hour apart with very different vibes.
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Top Adventures for 2016
We’ve got six experiences to make your 2016 a year to remember.
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Vacations with a Cardio Workout
We’ve got a great list of outdoor activities that will get your heart pumping and get you to some of the best sights of Opal destinations at the same time. Hiking Lake George [Lake George, NY] For one of the highest and closest around Lake George, Black Mountain Loop is the…
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Truly Unique: Clearwater & St. Petersburg
The beach is the first item on any Clearwater and St. Petersburg itinerary, but those who make a beeline for the sands miss out on these five unique attractions and one truly unique island paradise. A Jaw-Dropping One Man Show Plenty of Florida destinations boast piers, but few can touch…
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10 Holiday Gift Ideas for Travelers
With several priced $100 or below, our holiday gift ideas for every Opal traveler range from stylish weekend getaway accompaniments to high-tech gadgets great for experiencing our favorite destinations. A Beach Towel Statement Price: Starting at $99 Most beach towels are so…rectangular. The Beach People’s hand-woven round designs let…
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Finding a Phantom: The Endangered Florida Panther
Catching a glimpse of an endangered Florida panther is no easy feat, but you’ll be better equipped after reading our guide to the feline phantom, its growing population, and where to find it. There are now an estimated 100 to 180 Florida panthers living in the wild, compared to just…
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Where to Stay: Opal Sands Resort
Situated on Clearwater Beach’s promenade halfway up Florida’s Gulf Coast, the brand-new Opal Sands Resort is mixture of calming ocean-inspired decor and sleek, modern luxury. So close to the gulf that you’ll feel practically suspended over it, the hotel has everything guests could ask in a Florida beach resort, including direct access to the white sand beach rated by USA Today as the “Best Beach in Florida.”
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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.
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