Where to Stay: West Street Hotel
Bar Harbor's only luxury boutique hotel, featuring modern design, magnificent ocean views, and one truly breathtaking rooftop pool.
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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
A Primer: Northeast Summer Vacation Destinations
Our guide matches you with your ideal Maine or New York Northeast vacation among Opal’s top destinations.
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Save The Date: Top 2016 Events on the East Coast
Our curated list of some of the best 2016 events you’ll find on the East Coast.
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Our Picks: Best Poolside Cocktails
Find fresh cocktail drinks poolside at Opal Collection properties.
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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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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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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,…
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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…
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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…
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This or That: Bar Harbor vs. Lake Placid
For mountains alongside the water, it’s hard to beat Bar Harbor…or Lake Placid. We compare these two Northeast outposts known for their natural spoils and picturesque downtowns. Most Picturesque Hike Bar Harbor: Jordan Pond Loop – 3 miles This moderate route takes hikers along the water’s edge at Acadia National…
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