Last month we spent a few days relaxing at the beautiful Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater Beach. And it was the perfect setting to unwind – with private balconies, luxurious bedding, and upscale amenities – our time at Opal Sands had us all feeling like we’d taken a long, deep breath (of ocean air!) This was our first family trip to Clearwater Beach, and we couldn’t believe how busy it was. The vibe reminded me of Daytona Beach in the 1990s – anybody else remember those days?!? People everywhere! And there’s a good reason for it. The place is beautiful and lives up to its name. TripAdvisor even voted it the top beach in the U.S. several times. But once we got to Opal Sands Resort, the chic waterfront property felt like a haven. A tranquil oasis right in the middle of all the activity. It was the perfect balance to the excitement around us.
Each of the resort’s 230 guest rooms and suites boasts panoramic Gulf views, so we spent each morning sitting on our balcony and admiring the hard-to-believe-it’s-real greenish blue waters. Then we made our way down to breakfast. SeaGuini, the main on-site restaurant centers around hand-made pastas, brick-oven pizzas, and fresh locally sourced seafood. But in the mornings it’s home to a delicious breakfast buffet! Somehow, each morning was better than the previous one, so we kept coming back for more!
One morning I was treated to a massage at the beautiful spa, and needless to say I was feeling relaxed and carefree the rest of the day. So carefree in fact, that I watched Kingston sneak multiple cookies into each of his pockets and didn’t care enough to get after him. So, he enjoyed my spa day too! 🙂 The cookies he snuck were from our Guest Pantry. Each floor has a Guest Pantry that is stocked in the mornings with granola bars and fruit and then later in the afternoons with fresh baked cookies. It also had a cooler full of water and bags of ice. This was definitely one of our favorite amenities!
The zero-entry pool just steps from the shore was our base for most of the week and the perfect spot to unwind in the warm Florida sun. And we hit the nearby Sandbar for drinks and casual bites with views of the beach.
We planned to venture out and explore Clearwater but were all so content at the resort that we only had one dinner out. We walked to Salt Cracker Fish Camp at the marina one evening then over to Pier 60 to enjoy the sunset. Every night from 6 to 9pm, vendors and musicians line the pier with crafts and entertainment! Of course, we also made a few ice cream runs! Ice and Cream Creamery was our favorite dessert spot, so we did our part to support the local business. 🙂
The 3 of us aren’t great at just being. Sitting and relaxing usually looks like us trying really hard for about 5 minutes then someone letting out a big sigh that sounds like, “So what do y’all want to do?!?” But this resort – the beachfront location, beautiful pool complex, and incredible restaurants – had us all happily relaxing and laying around without looking for the next thing we had to see or do. Is this what a true vacation feels like? If so, I definitely want to try it again sometime!
I’m giving Opal Sands Resort a 5/5 as the perfect spot for a Florida gulf-coast escape.
