Florida Gulf Coast Archives - Page 5 of 28

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.

FEATURED

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

FEATURED

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

FEATURED

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

FEATURED

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

FEATURED

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

FEATURED

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

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. 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

The courts at The REsort at Longboat Key Club.

How to Take Up Pickleball at Longboat Key Club

A weeklong vacation is plenty of time to grab a paddle and try your hand at this newly popular and highly social sport. Read More

Aerial view of a narrow, curved island with sandy shores and sparse vegetation. The island is surrounded by turquoise waters, with a larger landmass visible in the distance under a clear blue sky.

7 Ways to Explore Caladesi Island State Park

Just a quick boat ride from the Sandpearl Resort, Caladesi Island State Park is a hidden gem along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Here’s everything you need to know for an amazing day trip to this beautiful, secluded paradise. Read More

White building with a sign reading Olde Naples Building 1921, surrounded by lush palm trees and vibrant flowers. The sky is clear with a few clouds.

A Must-See Tour of Historic Old Naples

From the iconic 1888 Naples Pier (the oldest in the city) to the historic Palm Cottage, this charming neighborhood is chock-full of attractions and architectural gems worth exploring. Read More

Two women in light dresses stand on a lawn in front of a large, elegant building with a wide staircase and white wooden details. They appear to be holding bocce balls, suggesting they are playing or about to play the game.

6 Activities Your Wedding Guests Will Love at Belleview Inn

A destination wedding is about more than just the ceremony. Here’s a look at why the Belleview Inn is the perfect choice for not just your ceremony, but for a trip you (and your guests) will never forget. Read More

A beach scene with gentle waves under a cloudy sky. Blue beach umbrellas and chairs are arranged on the sand. Lush greenery and swaying palm trees line the pathway to the shore, creating a tropical ambiance.

Morning Glory: 12 Best Ways To Start Your Day

Start your day off right, and the rest of it will fall into place. Luckily, Opal hotels boast a myriad of top-notch early-morning experiences sure to get you out your hotel room quickly. From standout breakfasts to scenic yoga sessions, here are the best things to do before the clock strikes 12 (p.m.). Read More

The Hotel Today: Part 2

Simultaneously, while Belleview Inn’s restoration was being done, master Florida artist Christopher Still was conducting his own elaborate history project to create these commissioned works for the hotel. Read More

A large, elegant resort-style hotel with green roofs and white exterior sits behind a serene pool. Palm trees flank the building, and lounge chairs are arranged around the pool area under a partly cloudy sky.

The Hotel Today: Part 1

While the hotel is obviously not the same as it was when it was first built in 1897, there are so many preserved portions and unique nods to the past scattered throughout. You just need to know where to look. Read More

A grand hotel with multiple gables and white facade stands behind a pool area. The pool is oval-shaped with a smaller circular pool in the center. Palm trees and lounge chairs surround the pool, and the sky is partly cloudy.

The Project

Before the crumbling Hotel Belleview could be renovated and reborn as Belleview Inn, she needed to be moved to her new foundation. So how do you move a 1,750-ton structure the distance of roughly the length of a football field? Read More

#MyBelleviewMemory

If these walls could talk, they’d whisper stories about past presidents wandering these halls, weddings taking place generation after generation within the ballrooms, special anniversary dinners, and more. But alas, walls cannot talk. Luckily, these longtime locals can. Read More

Aerial view of a large, historic resort with multiple rooftops surrounded by lush greenery. There are trees, pathways, and several docks by the water, suggesting a waterfront location.

The Belleview Inn Story: Part 2

While Henry Plant’s Victorian hotel has seen a lot of change in her 120 years, one thing that has always remained consistent: her glamour and grace. Read More

Blog articles

FEATURED

FEATURED

FEATURED

FEATURED

FEATURED

FEATURED

FEATURED

Sign up for news & updates from the Opal Collection