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Blog articles from Sarasota

For Select Dates Through December 24

Now through Wednesday night, all 31 Opal Collection properties are offering up to 25% off select dates through the end of the year.
So, cash in those vacation days you’ve been saving all year and enjoy this travel-window sweet spot – when the sun is still shining, the crowds have thinned, and your dream room is easier to snag.

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Two people sit close together on a rocky surface, overlooking a scenic landscape with clouds and a colorful sunset sky—a perfect moment to enjoy the peace of shoulder season, as shrubs and trees line the edge of the rocky area.

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6 Best-Kept Travel Secrets of the September-October Shoulder Season
From beachfront bites (at a fraction of the price) to backcountry hikes, these are the signature experiences you’ll only find across Opal destinations during the golden stretch of September through October.
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A split image showing a white modern house with lawn and patio furniture on the left, and a luxury hotel with balconies and a pool surrounded by loungers and greenery on the right.

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A Tale of Two Historic Hotels & Their Unique Reinventions 
On opposite coasts, two new Opal Collection additions are taking opposite approaches to history. One reinterprets the past through new construction. The other preserves a storied legacy through thoughtful reinvention.
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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.
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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.
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A serene beach scene unfolds in Clearwater, Florida, with a long pier extending into calm, blue waters. Sandy dunes with patches of grass grace the foreground. The clear sky holds a whisper of clouds near the horizon, while small structures dot this idyllic attraction on the pier.

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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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A father and daughter play in the gin-clear waters of Jupiter, Florida.

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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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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.
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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

Wood Street Studio

Inside Sarasota’s Wood Street Studio

Across the country, more and more woodworkers are jumping on the urban lumber bandwagon by breathing new life into old wood destined for the dump. But only in Sarasota will you find an abundance of rare tree species and a man, named Dale Reike, who transforms it into stunning pieces that tell a unique story about this southwestern spot on the gulf.

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A marina filled with various boats, including a private yacht charter, docked on calm water. The sky is partly cloudy, creating a serene atmosphere. Palm trees and a few buildings are visible in the background, reflecting in the water.

The Group Boating Getaway Guide to Longboat Key

When you think of your last vacation, chances are, your mode of transport to your destination – an airplane or car – was less than exciting. That’s just never the case when you vacation by boat. The whole experience is an adventure bookended by the beauty of the ocean. Whether…

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florida ghosts

Ghost Stories and the Haunted History of Florida

A chill is rarely in the air in Florida – except when learning about some of the spookiest ghost stories found along its coasts. Voodoo Doll [Key West] While his tale was inspiration for the 1988 horror film Child’s Play, in reality, there’s no ghost story, just a curse.

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Bloody Mary drink festival

Save the Date: 2015 Drink Festivals

The typical brewfest or wine event gets a fresh makeover at these events in OPAL destinations. Photo © The Bloody Mary Festival February Clearwater Beach Uncorked [Clearwater Beach, FL] It’s a beach party not to forget: Two days walking barefoot through Florida sands,…

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OPAL Collection Weddings

The Opal Seaside Florida Weddings Guide

White-sand beach weddings are a part of every Opal hotel experience. They also, however, offer some experiences brides won’t find anywhere else in Florida. Stress-Free Zone Along the Gulf of Mexico in Naples, Edgewater Beach Hotel helps you find some inner-Zen before the ceremony in its Serenity Suite. Overlooking the…

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OPAL Wine Events

Two Times the Wine Pairing at Opal Resorts

Wine lovers are rejoicing along Florida’s Gulf Coast and in the foothills of the Adirondacks. Why? Just ask the organizers of two of the year’s biggest wine pairing events: Lake Placid Lodge Executive Chef Truman Jones on the Gastro Getaway and Director of Food and Beverage Bob Weil at The…

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