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About Ben Rueter

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So far Ben Rueter has created 109 blog entries.

The Ultimate Place to Play, Discover or Recharge

By Adrienne Clairmont | Los Cabos Ceviche. Deep-sea fishing. Horseback Riding. Jet skiing. Turquoise Jewelry. Amazing sunsets. Desert forest. Tequila. Golf.  Nightclubs. When asked what my favorite things about Los Cabos, Mexico are, I found myself struggling to narrow down the options to a concise list. Every time I visit Los Cabos, I find myself discovering new favorites, often in places I thought I had exhausted. Offering a myriad of entertainment options, Los Cabos is the perfect destination no matter how you are looking to spend your vacation. For fishing enthusiasts, charter an expedition into the Pacific and spend the day deep-sea fishing. We wound up in the battle of our lives and after almost three hours, pulled a four hundred pound Marlin out of the water. If you prefer to stay firmly on dry land, Los Cabos offers some of the world’s best golf courses, including Cabo Real, Cabo del Sol, and Campestre. In downtown Cabo, take a stroll along the Marina and stop at one of the many restaurants for some fresh ceviche and lobster tacos. Down the street from the Giggling Marlin, one of Cabo’s wildest nightclubs, is one of my favorite restaurants- El Coral. Solomon, [...]

In Search of the French Johnny Depp

By Bill Bisanz | St. Bart’s During a recent trip to St. Barth’s, the French jewel of the Caribbean, we encountered at least two fellows that could have been the French incarnate version of the great American actor. The first, named Gael was reminiscent of Depp in Chocolat while Jacques was the spitting image of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, right down to the swashbuckling regalia. Ladies- beware, as either of these French look-alikes could steal your heart while on this romantic and beautiful island. Historically, St. Barth’s has had an eclectic history including acting as a staging base for pirates and as a trading port. It was too rocky and small to cultivate for agricultural exploitation, so it was never as highly contested as some Caribbean islands. It has been under the jurisdiction of Britain, Sweden, Knights of Malta and  most currently, France. It makes sense as you hear French spoken on the street, spend Euros, enjoy delicious pastries while admiring pretty women and paying entirely too much for drinks! Planes are not allowed to land after dark on St. Barth’s, as it has one of the world’s shortest commercial airstrips-tucked in between a hillside [...]

Lime Squash Anyone?

By Bill Bisanz | Barbados English, preppy, exotic, Rihanna were just a few of the thoughts that came to my mind prior to visiting Barbados. Located at the southeastern end of the Lesser Antilles in the Atlantic Ocean, this independent state is one the most developed islands in the Caribbean and still has many ties to its former colonial past as part of the British Empire. Settled by the English in the 1600’s, Barbados was an important economic powerhouse for England, mainly due to its sugar cane plantations and sugar exports. Vast fortunes were made, unfortunately at the cost of many lives, setting the stage for Barbados as a place of wealth and privilege.eveloped islands in the Caribbean and still has many tiesto its former colonial past as part of the British Empire. Today, Barbados is still home to a privileged few, especially on its golden west coast, where several large estates dominate parts of the coastline. However, the country also has a healthy middle class and what appeared to be a well-integrated, vibrant society that, in my experience, was extremely welcoming during my first visit to their lovely island. We spent most of our time in the Holetown [...]

Goats, Reggae and Sandcastles

By Bill Bisanz | Anguilla Anyone who has driven around Anguilla has probably developed the underappreciated skill of maneuvering around the goats that freely roam the island. And as you're supposed to do this while driving on the 'wrong side' of the road in this British Overseas Territory, you may start to feel a little like James Bond -- even if you're not behind the wheel of an Aston Martin. Thankfully, these bearded billies are slow, friendly and happy to step out of the way (with a little encouragement). That pretty much captures the low-key, casual vibe of the island. On Anguilla, the locals are a wonderfully sunny blend of reggae music meets British colonial. These endearing Anguillan characteristics are great for visitors, as part of the adventure of Anguilla is asking for directions as you get lost exploring the numerous, pristine beaches that are tucked into the island's ruggedly beautiful coastline. Some of my Anguilla favorites include: Homemade Johnny Cakes and ribs at front-yard weekend BBQ stands Reggae music with my feet in the sand at Gwen's Reggae Grill Hungry's food truck in The Valley - Try the Kingfish Creole! Wild stingrays gliding next to us through the [...]

Setting Sail

By Edward Hoiland | Apostle Islands It only takes one good trip to catch the travel bug and once you got it there’s no stopping it! I caught the bug while sailing around the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. The fresh air, crystal-clear water and the gentle rocking of the boat captured my heart and left me wanting more. Exploring islands, beach bonfires, shore lunches and freezing plunges into the lake. Nothing could beat sense of adventure of being somewhere new and the liberating feeling of leaving your problems behind. Since my first sailing trip when I was a little kid, I’ve been back to the Apostle Islands several more times. It is dear to me and always will be, but I have my sights set on something more. It’s high time that I experience something less cold and a little more tropical. The travel bug is calling me down to the Caribbean. While I have been working with Elite I’ve learned more and more about what those turquoise waters can offer. I want my feet in the sand, the sweet smell of the ocean air and the warm waters to wash worries away. Some day I’ll be exploring [...]

Love, Light & Gastronomical Delight

By Adrienne Clairmont | Paris Paris is, without a doubt, one of the singularly most intoxicating places on earth. Without meaning to you can stumble into the world’s best Pâtisserie or Fromagerie and experience pure bliss with each bite that you take of the macaroon or triple-cream cheese. And of course, unless you are very careful, you will never be able to find that same corner shop again. In my opinion, however, that’s half the fun.  As a lifelong Francophile, and a Parisian at heart, I was the happiest person on earth when the opportunity was presented to me to study abroad in Paris while completing my undergrad. While I was there, I had some of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. Paris is a city best seen on foot, and one of my favorite walks is the famous Champs-Élysées. The glittering strip is home to the best shopping in the world, and beyond that, a window into the different eras of French history. I have always been attracted to the bohemian Paris that gave rise to the impressionist movement, as well as lending inspiration to writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Victor Hugo. One of my favorite [...]

Taking it All In

By Jacob Semling | Los Cabos Posted 11/10/2011 I was lucky enough to visit Elite's Cabo homes for my first ever trip out of the country!  Having travelled during the Minnesota winter, the first thing I noticed upon stepping out off the plane was the warm sea air. My first couple nights were at Palmilla Retreat.  It was a very comfortable and luxurious stay.  The highlight was being able to take advantage of the guest membership at Club 96!  All of our guests at Palmilla Retreat receive free access to this wonderful resort with an infinity pool, lap pool and of course a hot tub.  After eating lunch poolside with my colleagues, we spent time on the private beach.  It was a blast! The next several nights were spent at Las Mananitas Penthouse.  My favorite memory would have to be enjoying an authentic Mexican meal that was prepared by a fantastic cook, the mother of our Cabo Concierge.  We dined at sunset on the terrace while overlooking the resort pools, the sandy beach and the pristine ocean. Lastly, I stayed at Casa Celina, which is located in the world-class resort at Las Ventanas.  As we got out of our [...]

My New Favorite

By Mark Stevens | Turks and Caicos In my first career I was blessed with the opportunity to travel all over the world and work with people from very different cultures. There simply aren’t words to describe how different the Monday event in Italy was to the Wednesday event in Tokyo. I have since left the life of a “Road Warrior” to the next generation of folks that measure their successes with mileage and yet my passion for travel has never been stronger. These days I prefer places with a very different pace. The Turks and Caicos has become a fast favorite of mine. There is nothing like the calm blue waters off Taylor Bay. I am convinced that there are few beaches in the world that rival the powder white sand, the calm shoulder-deep water and most importantly the lack of people in this protected cove. One could literally take a nap in the 80-degree shallows and not hear another person for hours – perfection! The island is also home to one of my favorite restaurant experiences in the world – Coco Bistro. The restaurant features really tasty and fresh Caribbean inspired food. It is served outdoors under [...]

Running Shoes and Coffee

By Kathryn Lynden There are two things I could not live without. A pair of running shoes and coffee. I have been blessed with the gift of travel, and my absolute favorite thing to do in any new city is to tie on my running shoes and hit the streets. I never quite know where I am going, but that is the beauty of the journey. I let my feet take me wherever they want to go. In Paris, after 7 days of work (did I really just say that?), I kept the 8th day open. I woke up very early, had a large cup of coffee, put on my running shoes and headed out. It was so early the streets were empty, I ran down the middle of the street. I believe the most magical time of day in a city is before it wakes. I encountered real life -- an old man was walking his dog, a few young kids were stumbling home, a shopkeeper was sweeping his sidewalk, I could smell coffee brewing. Nothing was moving fast, except my feet. As I passed Notre Dame, the sun was rising right behind that magnificent church. I wound [...]

A Relaxed Pulse on Life

By Laurie Flum | Los Cabos As I walked along the beach in complete awe of the calming waves and soft sands, I glanced back over my shoulder and found my footprints following me. At that moment I had a sense of accomplishment, not for the footprints that I saw in the sand but for what each step meant to my life. My husband, children, our home, my 25+ year career with EDH....many things that were behind me....well done. It teased me to think of what is still ahead. Something about the wonderful views (all you need to do is look around), great food at Zippers and the local relaxed pulse on life allowed me to relax, reflect and rejuvenate in a way going to the cabin or Wisconsin Dells just never allowed. Don't get me wrong, all of the family trips to the cabin every summer were great and Wisconsin Dells is the capital of water fun, but combine them and that's an Elite Destination vacation. Paul Thrane took such good care of me. His concierge style put me to ease the minute I met him. I even talked him into teaching me to boogie board.....well at least [...]

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