Two Coasts, One Tall-Ship Operation: A Q&A with Schooner Appledore’s GM
We sat down with Rod Veal to talk tall ships, tide charts, and why his classic wooden schooner operation calls two very different Eastern Seaboard waterfronts home.
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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
How to Make The Most of Your Cruise to Vinalhaven
Known for its lobster fishery, nature preserves, and fiercely kept local culture, Vinalhaven is a popular day-trip destination. Here’s our guide to everything the island has to offer, from well-known destinations to hidden gems.
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7 Questions You Didn’t Know You Had About the Rockland Breakwater
The Rockland Breakwater is more than just a scenic path extending into Penobscot Bay, Maine. Its rich history holds intriguing details. For example, did you know it’s made of the same iconic granite that was used to build the Washington Monument?
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New in the Northeast for 2025 Summer Season
Summer is about to be in full swing. And our New England Coast and New York Adirondack Opal hotels and resorts are ready to make it stellar with these new activities and offerings, including new room types, property tours, and more.
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Meetings & Events: What’s New Across Opal for 2025
With exciting expansions and a focus on creating memorable retreats, 2025 is the year to plan your transformative gathering at one of Opal’s 28 resorts and hotels.
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Opal’s Coolest Attraction: Inside The Annual Glacier Ice Bars
Simply a swan sculpture it is not. The Glacier Ice Bars that descend upon The Sagamore and Samoset each January are Instagram eye-candy extravaganzas entirely made out of ice.
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7 Fun Facts About Maine You Never Knew
Maine is the first state to see sunlight daily, but did you know exact spots vary year-round? Or that, after lobsters and blueberries, potatoes are also a leading state export? If you think you know Maine, it might be time to brush up on your knowledge.
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Best Things to Do in Penobscot Bay from February to April
Special menus, peak scallop season, and baby seals – we’ve got the top activities, attractions, and events you can take advantage of only during these months in Camden, Rockport, and Rockland, Maine.
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Top Festivals & Events to Travel for in January & February
After the hecticness of the holidays, you deserve a much-needed getaway. So why not orient it around a notable festival or event for an added air of excitement? Here’s your curated list, from a month-long wine celebration in New England to a four-day side-splitting comedy fest on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
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Above Par: The Lasting Legacy of Gary Soule on Samoset’s Golf Experience
The game of golf lost one of its greats in 2022. We take a look at the lasting impression that the former head pro and late Gary Soule left on Samoset Resort’s 18-hole oceanside course – and the ways players can still see his legacy live on today at this world-class Maine golf complex.
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