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So far Ben Rueter has created 109 blog entries.

Travel Guide: The Best Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas

There are only a handful of locations in North America that provide genuinely stunning natural beauty, otherworldly daytime excursions, world-class authentic cuisine, rousing annual events, and lavish oceanfront vacation homes. One of these locations is Cabo San Lucas, Mexico’s crowning jewel located along the southernmost tip of the Baja California Peninsula. It’s hard to put into words how breathtaking this lively, historic community truly is, regardless of the season. With so many unforgettable things to do in Cabo San Lucas, planning a trip can be moderately overwhelming. But luckily for you, we’ve compiled a short, meticulously-researched travel guide for those who’re contemplating a visit to this magical land. Annual Cabo Events First and foremost, the city of Cabo San Lucas hosts dozens of annual events that allure thousands of people from across the globe. Imagine combining a film, music, or food festival with several days spent sailing in the Pacific, sunbathing near your private, lavish infinity pool, and dining atop a cliff that overlooks the ocean. Here are six annual events that are bound to grab your attention! Fiesta de la Musica Gala de Danza GastroVino Baja Food & Wine Festival IRONMAN Los Cabos Los Cabos International Film Festival Los [...]

A Travel Guide to Dominical, Costa Rica

We’re approaching Costa Rica’s “green season,” which is the ideal time of the year to explore this beautiful country’s lush countryside, pristine beaches, and diverse rainforests. Traveling to a foreign country requires a lot of research and planning, which is why created this handy travel guide for all future guests. And luckily for you, Casa Big Sur, one of our luxurious ocean-view homes in Costa Rica, is minutes away from the area’s best attractions, beaches, and restaurants. Keep reading to learn about Dominical’s many family-friendly activities! Top Things to Do in Dominical, Costa Rica There’s a whole new world to discover in Dominical for those who haven’t had the pleasure of leaping off a rushing waterfall, exploring a pristine rainforest, and meeting adorable jungle animals in their natural habitat. When you’re not soaking in your lavish, ocean-view infinity pool, enjoying a glass of wine on your private balcony, and cooking an authentic Costa Rican meal in your gourmet kitchen, we recommend embarking on a short journey to these fantastic attractions: Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary Corcovado National Park Finca 6 Marino Ballena National Park Nauyaca Waterfalls Parque Reptilandia Sierpe Mangrove Outdoor Activities Whether you’re a self-proclaimed outdoor enthusiast or just looking for [...]

Best Family Reunion Locations in the U.S.

With winter officially in the rearview mirror, there’s no better time than right now to start planning your next summertime family reunion. Perhaps this is the year that the family gathers at a luxurious, faraway location to celebrate a special life event in the family, such as an anniversary, wedding, or birthday. With seemingly hundreds of top-ranked family reunion locations scattered throughout the country, it can be challenging to choose one that perfectly fits your family’s size, style, and budget. Luckily for you, Elite Destination Homes has hand-selected three of the best family reunion locations in the U.S. Lions Gate Estate - Marietta, GA Let’s start the list with a gorgeous European-inspired residence in the city of Marietta, located in-between the North Georgia mountains and lively Atlanta. Lions Gate Estate is the perfect combination of old-world charm, sophisticated luxury, and secluded natural scenery. The estate is a short drive from the Gone With the Wind Museum, Six Flags White Water, and SunTrust Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. This 18,000-square-foot home sleeps up to 20 guests and features an outdoor swimming pool, eight fireplaces, a billiards room, and so much more! Each beautifully appointed room is layered in 19th-century charm, [...]

The Best Adventure Vacations in the US

Spring is just around the corner, signifying it’s finally time to start planning your next adventure vacation to one of North America’s best outdoor playgrounds. It’s not easy to find the best adventure vacations in the US, mainly because there are thousands of possibilities! In an effort to help our guests stay fit and healthy this year, Elite Destination Homes has compiled five unique adventure-based destinations located throughout this diverse country, ranging from Hawaii’s Kohala Coast to New York City’s Central Park.

A Few Hidden Gems in Paris

There’s an entire universe of culturally-magnificent attractions in Paris, France, “The City of Lights.” What allures most families to Paris is its unique old-world elegance, charm, and extravagance. Take a well-deserved step back in time this spring with an escape to Paris. Start and finish each day inside one of our luxurious Paris vacation rentals. Elite Destination Homes has three genuinely stunning luxury apartments: Rue du Four, Rue Saints Peres, and Le Triomphe. Huitrerie Régis A trip to Paris is incomplete without a traditional meal inside a trendy oyster bar. Just down the street from our lavish, comfortable 6th arrondissement Paris vacation rentals, you’ll discover arguably the most underrated restaurant in the city: Huitrerie Régis. Indulge in the best locally-sourced oysters in Paris, perfectly paired with a hand-selected regional wine. This tiny, hip oyster bar is gaining a following among locals, but tourists haven’t discovered the allure yet. La Derniere Goutte (The Last Drop) If you’re staying in one of our Left Bank homes, check out this simple yet rewarding gem, La Derniere Goutte, the area’s best liquor store. Browse through hundreds of award-winning bottles of French vino. Then enjoy your purchase inside a historic yet chic vacation rental as [...]

The most expensive vacation of my life. And worth every dollar.

We loaded up the SUV with the family one early Friday morning over Labor Day weekend and began our journey from Las Vegas for our first Southern Utah vacation.  As we wound our way up through SR 14, just outside of Cedar City, we came upon these towering bright red, pink, and orange rock formations of Cedar Breaks National Monument. The Indians called this millions of years old formation the "Circle of Painted Cliffs."  After taking in the beautiful rocks, we continued our journey up to the peak of the mountain pass. Once we reached the summit I checked my altitude smartphone app and it read 10,020 ft. We rolled down the windows to inhale the crystal clear air and the aroma of subtle pine – and you can definitely feel the thin air at that altitude. As we began our descent from the peak, we viewed the diversity of the Southern Utah landscapes as we passed by giant volcanic fields, birch and aspen trees, as well as alpine lakes and streams. We made a quick stop just before Duck Creek Village to watch a fly fisherman reel in a beautiful rainbow trout. As we made our way to [...]

What’s So Special About Off-Season Travel?

By Kathryn Lynden | Travelog Well, I just returned from Cabo san Lucas, Mexico and what is so amazing about off-season travel is the access to everything. No Line at Customs To start there are no lines at Customs, you walk right through. Access to Everything Second, you can actually wake up in the morning and figure out what you may want to do that day! Everything is available to you from fishing expeditions, to zip lines, to horseback riding on the beach, to surf lessons and boat rides to picnic on secluded beaches. No need to decide beforehand, just call the day of and off you go! Local Host Spends Time with You The Concierge Team at Palmilla Retreat, Paul & Evelyn, had time to spend with us. He offered to take us to a local restaurant for dinner. I mean local. We agreed! I had never been in Los Cabo during a storm and that night it decided to rain -- sideways, with the winds whipping. Paul arrived to pick us up and I asked him if the restaurant had an inside area. He looked at me funny and said, “Of course not.” I ran back into [...]

What’s on your Bucket List?

By Kathryn Lynden | Travelog I recently have discovered the beauty of weekend get-aways.  I pack up my bag on Friday night and leave town for just a few days.  I come back to work on Monday full of stories and refreshed from getting out of the normal weekend routine.  Okay, I will admit, I am a little tired…but it is worth it! By doing these weekend trips, I am finally crossing off some of the items on my bucket list. Take a look. Riding a mechanical bull I actually did it!  As the professional bull rider hoisted me up onto the bull he was rattling off a myriad of tips with the final one being “If you put your legs around it’s neck… you might stay on longer.”  So, I wrapped my legs around it’s neck, put one hand over my head… and….. well…. by 30 seconds in, I was hugging that bull with every single thing I possibly could and by 45 seconds my head whipped around so fast, my entire body flew off!  Once I realized I was still in one piece – I got up – brushed myself off and made a decision that that [...]

Elite added value to my real estate.

“Elite quickly and efficiently brought my Vineyard Estate home to a level it would have taken me much longer to achieve, and that includes rental revenue.  Guests love their experience here.  Elite added value to my real estate.” - Mike F, Owner in Sonoma County, CA

“It’s a wonderful dream, isn’t it?”

By Bill Bisanz | Los Cabos, Mexico Those were the words my companion uttered from the edge of the infinity pool at Las Ventanas mere hours after we arrived in Cabo. I followed her gaze past the white sand beach and into the glistening Sea of Cortez in time to catch a glimpse of a glossy blue whale breach and slip back into the ocean. It is wonderful, but it’s not a dream, I thought. Then I pinched her just to prove it. Paul picked us up at the airport and kept a running commentary on the landscape and history of this end of the Baja peninsula. He included restaurant and club recommendations and when he delivered us down the majestic drive-way to the stone gates of Las Ventanas, unloaded our luggage, and explained that our rental car would shortly arrive at our villa, my hard-to-impress friend winked and smiled at me. She was pleased, and over the course of the next hour, from the fresh limeade we were offered as we stepped across the threshold of the incredible resort, to the personal butler who guided us on a tour of the pools, restaurants, and spa as we made [...]

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