breakaway travel and tours

Breakaway Tours

2024 Breakaway Tours Brochure

APRIL 6-7 WASHINGTON D.C. - CHERRY BLOSSOM TIME- Call for availability

APRIL 16-17 LANCASTER "DANIEL"/MAGIC & WONDER THEATER- Call for availability

MAY 2-5 NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE- Call for availability

MAY 19-23 SAN ANTONIO, TX via AIR

MAY 19-24 DELUXE OCEAN CITY, MD

June 4-5 lancaster "daniel"/lunch with miss daisy.

JUNE 4-6 SIMPLY MACKINAW

JUNE 10-14 SUMMER IN ATLANTIC CITY/CAPE MAY

JUNE 25-27 FRANKENMUTH, MI- LITTLE BAVARIA

JULY 8-11 1000 ISLAND SIGHTSEEING/KINGSTON, ON *PASSPORT REQUIRED

July 10-11 lancaster "daniel"/hershey's chocolate world.

JULY 16-20 CONNECTICUT'S BEST

JULY 16-26 MT. RUSHMORE/ YELLOWSTONE PARK BADLANDS/GEORGETOWN LOOP RAILROAD

JULY 19-21 NEW YORK CITY

JULY 30-31 ARK ENCOUNTER/B&B RIVERBOAT

AUGUST 4-9 ENJOY MYRTLE BEACH!! BUS 1 is SOLD OUT, we are booking for BUS 2

AUGUST 18-23 DELUXE VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

August 21-22 lancaster "daniel"/dutch apple "jersey boys".

AUGUST 25-30 SUMMER IN MAINE

• Parent Info
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• Plan Your Trip
• Breakaway Ambassador
• Book Your 2025 Senior Trip
• Book Your 2024 Senior Trip

Welcome To Paradise

Book your senior trip, get ready for the best week of your life.

• What is Breakaway
• Where We Travel
• Plan Your Senior Trip
• Photos from our Trips

WHAT IS BREAKAWAY BEACH

Graduating high school is a rite of passage. as a senior, we believe you and your crew deserve to celebrate this once in a lifetime achievement and share in an epic senior trip..

Travel, explore and experience new places, people and culture! Wander a new city and start checking off items from your bucket list on your senior trip.

Explore A New Country

Celebrate your senior trip with your crew and hundreds of graduating students from all across North America.

Celebrate With Friends

Dance like nobody’s watching! Our exclusive night events have everything you need for an unforgettable party. On your senior trip, you will enjoy the best venues, DJs and vibes for the ultimate dance party. You bring the crew and your best dance moves.

Dance Your Heart Out

Get off the resort and experience an excursion you won’t forget!

WHERE WE TRAVEL ON OUR SENIOR TRIPS

Reviews Of Our Trips

Traveling with breakaway was an amazing experience. The hotel staff and especially the breakaway staff were all extremely helpful when it came to assisting us with any questions and concerns. Being and feeling safe when traveling to a different country is always a top priority and I felt taken care of by all of the staff. The excursions we’re super fun and I would definitely recommend traveling with Breakaway Beach!

I wasn’t sure at first about this senior trip because I didn’t know much about it but I heard about others going on this trip in the past so I signed up. I AM SO GLAD I DID! It was literally the best trip ever and the best way to celebrate graduating high school. Being surrounded by so many other students , staff there for you whenever and wherever you need them and the best pool parties and night events! There’s a reason you with a reputable company , highly recommend!

My senior trip to the Bahamas last year was one to remember! Breakaway beach team on-site was seriously phenomenal! Blew us out of the water with the overall experience and all of the activities planned. I got to meet a ton of new friends from all across the US that will be forever friends. Having the opportunity to volunteer with locals was the most rewarding part of my trip. I’m excited for my sister to have the same opportunity as me when she’s a senior. Lasting memories. Thanks Breakaway Beach for that.

PLAN YOUR SENIOR TRIP

Are you a senior do you love to travel do you enjoy planning trips.

For over 30 years, students have chosen Breakaway Beach to celebrate their graduation with an extraordinary senior trip.

Our trips spread joy and spark an appreciation for travel, culture and friendship. A big part of our success is our knowledgeable, enthusiastic and hardworking team.

We're constantly growing, so if you're passionate about youth travel and want to join a group of like-minded people and plan a senior trip with us, we want to hear from you! Take a look at our job openings listed below.

Third Person Speaks Loudest

“Truly the BEST day! Our driver Paul took exceptional care of all of our family members - both humans and the pups. We got to experience three distinct wineries, tasted so many varieties, had a superb lunch, enjoyed gorgeous weather and beautiful views. It was truly a memory-making experience. Some of the best money I’ve ever spent on a holiday. Truly worth it. Thanks, Breakaway Tours for a fabulous day.”

“Thank you for making our Saturday a relaxing and enjoyable day. I'm sure everyone in our group had a great time, I appreciated your knowledge and wine tasting techniques, it really made a difference with each drop. You also picked some great establishment to cruise through. Again thank you.”

“Dear Jill We thank you for bringing the Hawaii group to Melville earlier this month. They were really nice people and seemed to be thrilled to have our winemaker, Greg Brewer, here to host them. You and Valerie were so pleasant to work with and the day was lovely and effortless - these are exactly the types of relationships we strive for! Being a family-owned estate winery, hopefully we have a unique and special experience to offer Breakaway and would relish the opportunity to host more of these types of groups in the future. We appreciate and thank you so much for think of us and we very much look forward to working together again. My best, Valerie”

“Thanks for the wonderful tour of the area wineries following the Women for WineSense conference. Excellent job!”

“Just wanted to say thank for everything. The team and I really enjoyed our special event. Both wineries were great, and a really wonderful spot for dinner!!! Erik was a superb host!!”

“Thank you very much for your assistance during our Central Coast excursion. Your generous hospitality was greatly appreciated and instrumental for providing the Canadian wine writers with a thorough and educational tour of the area. It was terrific to meet you, and I look forward to working with you again in the future. The next time you visit the Napa Valley, please contact me so I can reciprocate the hospitality.”

“Thank you very much for hosting such a fun and informative wine tour to Paso Robles wineries and caves. Everyone had a great time and was cultured on an array of information about wine and how to choose it, drink it, chew it, and much more! Our adventure was spectacular, and we were happy you guided us through it in the most fun and professional ways. We appreciate you going to such great lengths to ensure our wine tour was nothing less than outstanding. I truly enjoyed working with you in coordination our event, and I hope to work with you again in the future. Thank you again for all your hard work.”

“It was indeed a pleasure working with you. What a tremendous relief for me to feel completely confident that everything would be taken care of for Mr. R. and his group. You responded so quickly to my numerous e-mail messages and last-minute changes. I can't thank you enough for giving them your personal attention. As you could see, they are all accustomed to pretty special treatment. I wish you continued success with Breakaway Tours - you can be SURE that we will call on you again if our travels take us to California.”

“THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!! EVERYTHING that you provided in transportation services, tours, guides, drivers, etc. were absolutely awesome! Kudos to you and your partners in the San Luis Obispo area for making these people feel welcome and very, very special. Everyone went above and beyond with this group, and they were extremely pleased with how everything turned out. First class! Great job! And…..thanks again for making me look good with the Elite Food Service group. Everything was – in the words of Lisa and Sean – “Awesome!!!” You rock!”

“It is such a pleasure to do business with you and as a result, the enclosed client satisfaction indexes reflect very high rating. I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to work with you. You are efficient, organized, adventurous and creative. I know this from repeat experience with your organization that your tours will be outstanding and more! Please feel free to utilize me as a reference both here in the Bakersfield market area and elsewhere. I can say that I would highly recommend you and your services.”

“Jill planned the most incredible wine tasting/education experience for our corporate group. The barrel tasting at Margerum was the highlight, complete with a table of cheese & charcuterie under gorgeous chandeliers. We learned so much about wine and the SY valley, the group was engaged the entire time and are still talking about it weeks later. Our wine bus driver, Charlie, was super fun and accommodating as well. It was a day to be remembered and will certainly be using Breakaway Tours again!”

“Thank you so much for a wonderful experience. The tour greatly exceeded our expectations. Our driver Erik was courteous, funny and educated about the wineries we visited. Not only did we have a great time, we also learned quite a bit in the process. Lunch at Old Edna in the cottage was perfectly quaint and unexpected! The food was wonderful, and everyone was so sweet, the entire group loved it. We will highly recommend your services to any of our friends and business partners. Once again, thanks. It couldn’t have been better.”

“We had the best time in Paso Robles all thanks to the Breakaway Tours team! This team plans the most perfect day for wine tasting and is so easy to work with while planning your team. We got to visit 3 wonderful wineries that Jill recommended for us and our group was blown away. The cherry on top of our day was our driver, Charles. Charles keeps you on schedule and has the absolute best stories about the area and will give you other winery recommendations for your next trip to Paso Robles. If you want to take all the work of planning off your shoulders, book your wine tour with Breakaway, you won’t be disappointed!”

“On behalf of Nutrius and all of our guests I want to extend a hearty thanks to you and your staff for putting on an outstanding tour for us. Everything went as planned to include the Hearst Castle tour and then the wine tasting and luncheon at Eberle Winery in Paso Robles. I believe this is the 3rd or 4th time we have worked with your company, and it just keeps getting better! Thanks again.”

“Thank you for a great experience this weekend. The tour was perfect with the four visits we had planned. All the wineries were most gracious giving us their time, answering our group’s questions. Kathy at Fiddlehead was very kind. Norm at Flying Goat was great … so wonderful to meet him and learn more about his wines (a personal favorite of mine). Dierberg was so gracious. Our guide, Doug was fun … he even took us to the entry gates of Neverland to satisfy our star seeking needs. I greatly appreciate the awesome experience. My friends were all so thankful and appreciated how the day flowed and how everyone was anxious to greet us. Thanks for a great day and was great to experience firsthand what your guests experience every day. My best,”

“I wanted to kick off the new millennium by sending you a personal note of thanks for the outstanding job that you provided for our celebration event. As you and I both know, there were many logistical obstacles that needed to be overcome, and you were definitely up to the challenge. The gift baskets that you created were enjoyed by all, and the suggestions for tours and dinner were exactly what we were looking for. Your knowledge of the area, your creative ideas, and most definitely your can-do attitude made my job a breeze! I look forward to working with you again.”

“Thank you for planning and executing a great wine tasting experience! Your selection of wineries was excellent but most of all your choice of a luncheon experience in The Wild Boar Room was magnificent! Kudos to your wonderful guide, Wendy. She is a delightful person, very knowledgeable of the history of the area and the wines of the district. She is a major asset to your company. When we plan our next group to your county, we will definitely be calling on you to set the itinerary and guide them through the wine experience. Thank you again for an efficient and delightful EVENT!”

“I have been wanting to send you a quick thank you to you, Breakaway Tours, and Erik. My group of 5 friends and I had a perfect time on our wine tour. Erik was a true joy to have as our guide and so very knowledgeable. You were right that we would be in "good hands". We all learned a lot more about wine, how it's grown, how it's made and the wine industry in general. We thoroughly loved all 3 wineries on our itinerary and will definitely remember Breakaway Tours for subsequent business. Thanks again for setting up our tour.”

“What an amazing experience we had. Jill went above and beyond to give us the best day ever. The winery’s she chose for us were amazing. We would book with her again in a heartbeat.”

“Our first trip to Paso Robles was truly amazing! It was my daughters 30th birthday and Jill and our driver Charles made it a total success! Jill coordinated all our wineries. She even got us into Daou last minute. Charles kept us on time throughout the day. I would definitely use Breakaway Tours again. Thanks for everything Jill and Charles!”

“Thank you for a wonderful wine tour, conference participants greatly appreciated the tour and spoke highly of the professional and fun atmosphere your company provided. Special thanks are extended for the great flexibility during the recent Harris Fire, especially to Richard Harris and Ceci Timmermans who graciously accommodated the wine tour participants by driving them to dinner, then back to their hotel. Your willingness to accommodate allowed a very difficult situation to be handled with minimum impact to the tour participants.”

“Working with Jill to book our tours has been nothing but spectacular. She's very detailed, great communicator and just an overall pleasure to work with. Charles is always our driver for our events and he's amazing as well. He brings such great charm and service to and for our guests -- I truly wouldn't have it any other way. I could not recommend Breakaway Tours Wine & Events enough! Seriously... BOOK THEM!”

“Thanks very much for a splendid day in the Santa Ynez Valley. All thirty-six parishioners had a wonderful experience, and all of them are loudly singing your praises. Your enthusiasm and good spirits are contagious, and you manage to impart an enormous amount of information in the most entertaining manner. It was with real sadness that we let you go at the end of our tour. Consider yourself an honorary Episcopalian! There is already talk of planning our next tour with Breakaway Tours, perhaps to Paso Robles.”

“Thank you so much for everything you did to create a great weekend getaway for my leadership team. It was a complete success, and the feedback has been excellent from all the participants. You were very helpful to me in selecting the venues, and in planning everything to meet my budget. It was also great to have you with us for the weekend, keeping us on schedule and providing lots of information about the central coast. I especially enjoyed the winery tours, and some of the special things you did to personalize the tours for our group. Great job all around!”

“The wine tour and dinner you arranged for us at our national sales meeting was outstanding. I want to compliment you on a superb job. Without exception everyone in our party thought the tour and dinner was the high point of our get together. Thank you for helping make our annual sales meeting a great success.”

“The wine tour arranged by Breakaway for my husband, and I exceeded our expectations. We wanted a low-key day where we got to really learn about the wines and the wineries that we experienced. We didn't know what that would entail, but Jill took the time to listen and put together a totally fabulous day for us. It was exactly what we were looking for. I can't recommend Breakaway Tours more highly!!”

“I can't begin to tell you how enjoyable the wine tour was....only 3 wineries and it seemed like a full day's excursion! The picnic lunch was fabulous and so relaxed. We learned so much in such a short time and your guide was so wonderful with us, we almost felt like he was a part of our family! The owners/staff at the wineries never treated us with anything but respect and friendliness. We all raved about it after being dropped off at the hotel. I will definitely be calling you for an intimate 2-person trip for my wife & me in the future. Thanks again for a wonderful adventure!”

“Our wine tour was magnificent! Our guides were fabulous and very talented, and the driver and bus contributed to a very pleasant excursion in SLO Coast wine country. The sales team has been fantastic, especially Jill Tweedie, the company representative. She is very knowledgeable, gentle, dynamic and a great expert in gastronomic and cultural tourism in California. Thanks to Breakaway Tours we enjoyed a memorable experience!”

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Short Breaks

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Short breaks inspiration

City breaks, mini adventures and holiday extras

Short on time? Let’s make the most of it. In less than a week you could watch the sunset over Uluru, take a ride up Mount Fuji, or see the ancient ruins of Jordan - with memories to last a lifetime.

Exciting mini adventures

Need a quick break? We’ll take you to London and Paris in 9 days, see the best of Devon and Cornwall in 8 days, get a taste of the treasures of Rome in 8 days, or explore the famous sights of Ireland in 6 days. From our 6-day Jordan Experience to our 6-day Amsterdam Explorer, there’s always time for adventure with our great little breaks.

World’s best city breaks

Discover the world’s most famous cities with our weekend trips and short getaways. Spend 4 days in Singapore’s gardens, or see the glittering skyscrapers of Hong Kong and Macau. Go from urban to rural as you explore Sydney and the Blue Mountains, or Tokyo and Mount Fuji. From London to Rome, you’ll get to know the top cities on your best weekend getaway yet.

Ultimate vacation add-ons

Squeeze every last drop out of your next vacation with our short breaks. See more of Zimbabwe with our 4-day Victoria Falls Experience, or get an extra dose of Asia with our 4-day Nepal Adventure. Traveling to Australia? Why not add on our 3-day trip to Uluru, 4-day journey along the Great Ocean Road, or 4-day adventure to the Great Barrier Reef.

All you need to know about Short Breaks

What are the top 5 city breaks.

We love exploring the bright lights, busy streets and mouth-watering food of the world’s greatest cities. Our top 5 city breaks are Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Paris and Amsterdam. We also love a weekend trip to Rome, Berlin, Madrid, Sydney, Tokyo and New York.

What is a mini holiday?

A mini holiday is a short getaway that could last anywhere from 2 to 10 days. If you’re short on time but still need a break, a mini holiday is the perfect solution. You could explore an action-packed city like Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo or Hong Kong in four days with our best city breaks.

Where should I go for a romantic weekend?

If you’re looking for a romantic weekend, there’s no better place than the beautiful gardens of Singapore, the stunning Blue Mountains of Sydney, or the snowy peak of Mount Fuji in Japan. We also love exploring the romantic cities of Paris or Rome on a weekend getaway with our loved one.

Where should I go on a short holiday?

There are plenty of cities and countries that make for a great short break in the sun. We love exploring exciting cities like London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Berlin and Amsterdam. You could also discover countries like Jordan and Ireland in 6 days or Nepal in just 4 days with our short breaks.

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• Plan Your Trip

Your Week in Montréal

Family day weekend, february  16 – 19, 2024, shuttle times.

• Things to Do & Deals and Discounts

Download the itinerary to your phone

February 18

11:00AM – 6:00PM

Shuttle runs every 30 minutes

*4:15PM is the Last Outbound bus

*5:00PM is the Last Inbound Bus

Shuttle Stops

All buses will drop off at Eaton centre and old port.

Passengers can only be dropped off at their designated hotel:

• Comfort Suites

(Buses will drop off at Comfort suites, another bus will drop off at Hotel Alt )

Comfort Suites Shuttle Map

Hotel Alt Shuttle Map

Things to Do & Deals and Discounts

• Musee Mccord Stewart  is free for anyone 17 and under, but if you are over 18, show your wristband and get 10% off your ticket for being a Breakaway Tours traveller!
• Küto – Comptoir à Tartare  is offering students a dessert (brownie or cannoli) or soda with the purchase of a dish of $17 or more, or get a 10% discount on the purchase of a meal.

Need ideas of what to do in montreal? Check Out our Blog

Do You Love to Travel?

For over 30 years, Breakaway Tours has created extraordinary travel experiences for High School students. Our trips spread joy and spark an appreciation for travel, culture and friendship. A big part of our success is our knowledgeable, enthusiastic and hardworking team.

We're constantly growing, so if you're passionate about youth travel and want to join a group of like-minded people, we want to hear from you! Take a look at our job openings listed below.

Roatán Breakaway Tours

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Roatan Shore Excursion Snorkelling, Sloths & Monkeys, Beach Break

Roatan Sloth & Monkeys Animal Park , Chocolate Rum cake Factory

Roatan Sloths & Monkeys, Chocolate Factory plus Beach Break

Roatan Zipline Adventure, Sloths & Monkeys,Chocolate Factory Tour

Roatan ATV Jungle Tour, Chocolate & Rum Tasting , Beach Break

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Roatán Breakaway Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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Best Driving Vacations 2024: Go on the ultimate full-circle adventure around Lake Erie

Highlights include beaches, wineries, history and a stop in ontario to admire the natural wonder of niagara falls..

Today we continue on our journey highlighting four of the best driving destinations from central Ohio.

From a circle tour of “our Great Lake” to the architectural wonders of a modernist sister city three hours away, these extraordinary adventures are wonderful ways to widen your horizons in 2024.

Today's installment is Part 3 of 4 destination packages from Columbus Monthly's annual travel guide. We hope you enjoy.

Part 1: Best Driving Vacations 2024: Explore the Northern Shore of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Experiencing Lake Erie

Lake Erie was the last Great Lake to be discovered and explored by European adventurers. Don’t make their mistake. And if you decide to do some lakefront exploring this year, consider something more than a quick trip to Cedar Point or Put-in-Bay . 

Sure, Ohio’s lakeshore is packed with fun and interesting destinations. But three other states and the Canadian province of Ontario also share the Lake Erie shoreline. A multiday international circle tour of our Great Lake offers something for every traveler, including wineries, history, city lights, natural delights, beaches and fun in, on or next to the water. 

From Columbus, a complete circle tour of the lake requires at least 12 hours of driving in total. So allow three or four days for a leisurely circumnavigation with plenty of stops along the way. 

Of course, it doesn’t matter which direction you circle the lake, but assuming your coin flip demands “counterclockwise,” a good first stop from Columbus is Ohio’s Grand River Valley wine region east of Cleveland. 

The region, which includes the Vines & Wine trail in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties, takes advantage of a lake-influenced microclimate to grow a wide variety of grapes, especially American-European hybrids that allow production of some tasty and sophisticated vintages. Several good lodging options in the area, including some at the wineries, also offer a good choice for a first night’s stay, especially after a few tastings. 

Part 2: Best Driving Vacations 2024: Take a Battlefield Tour of Pennsylvania and Maryland

Pennsylvania’s Presque Isle State Park is a large, sandy peninsula that juts into the lake, forming a natural barrier protecting the harbor at the city of Erie and featuring beaches, nature trails and plenty of room for stretching your legs before the next segment of the journey. Buffalo, New York, is a better travel destination than its reputation might suggest, at least if you visit after the last of the winter’s lake-effect snow has melted. The city has a number of sites associated with famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright , including the Martin House , one of Wright’s great achievements in Prairie-style architecture. 

Niagara Falls may be a cliche, but it’s a magnificent, awe-inspiring one. Cross the border into Canada for the best views of the natural wonder and the best places to spend the night. 

Remember, you’ll need a current passport to make the international crossing. (You don’t have a passport ? What are you waiting for?) Driving along the northern shore of Lake Erie reveals a stretch of lovely farms and orchards dotted by a series of lakeside towns, each seemingly more charming than the last. Port Stanley, Leamington, Kingsville, Amherstberg and others offer pleasant waterfront business districts with shopping, cozy bed and breakfasts, historic sites and restaurants and diners often featuring local and scrumptious lake-caught perch. 

Point Pelee National Park is situated on and around a natural point that sticks out far into the lake. It’s a prime spot for watching the migrating birds that use it as a jumping-off point before flying across the lake every spring. (And if you walk out to the very tip of the ever-shifting sandy-stony point, and pocket the last pebble above the waterline, you’ll have the southernmost point of the Canadian mainland as a souvenir.) 

Lake-rambling gamblers can, of course, play in the casinos of Toledo or Cleveland, but why not give the slots and tables a try at Caesars Windsor , across the border from Detroit (which has several casinos of its own)? The view of the Detroit skyline is quite lovely from Windsor. Plus, there’s something a bit exotic about placing a bet with colorful Canadian currency. And every $100 Canadian lost is only $75 American — so you’re already ahead! 

Toledo is another town that doesn’t get its tourism props, but be sure to stop by the National Museum of the Great Lakes at the Toledo Maritime Center on the Maumee River near downtown. The center has many great exhibits about all of the Great Lakes, including their natural history, commercial activity, shipwrecks, lighthouses and much more. Visitors can also tour the retired coal ship Col. James M. Schoonmaker, once the largest freighter on the lakes. 

From Toledo, a traveler can call it a tour and head south on U.S. 23 toward central Ohio, or continue along the lake to more familiar Ohio stops such as Port Clinton , Put-in-Bay, Sandusky and on to Cleveland. 

Or you might just be tempted to turn around and try the drive in the other direction. 

Where to Stay Along the Way 

The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake is a great place to stay while exploring Ohio wine country, and even offers a shuttle to and from several area wineries. Stays range from about $110 per night. Many hotels in Niagara Falls, Ontario, offer magnificent views, such as at the Hilton Fallsview , with rates for view rooms beginning at less than $150 per night. Lake Erie’s north shore has many cozy inns and B&Bs, including the Hallmark-cute Kettle Creek Inn in Port Stanley, with rooms beginning about $100 per night. thelodgeatgeneva.com , niagarafallshilton.com , kettlecreekinn.com   

This story is from the Best Driving Vacations package in the February 2024 issue of Columbus Monthly. 

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Retired Couple Sells Their Home and Belongings to Travel the World — and Has Visited 92 Countries So Far

John and Bev Martin have visited counrtires including the Bahamas, Vietnam, Brazil, Mexico, Romania and Indonesia

John Martin / SWNS

A retired Florida couple said "arrivederci" to their everyday lives to travel the globe.

John and Bev Martin sold their home — and all their belongings — to spend their retirement trekking across the world, according to SWNS.

The pair, who are the parents of five and grandparents of eight, began their worldwide trek in 2020, the outlet said, when they bought a camper and traveled across the nation.

"We realized that we didn't need our big house, and that started this whole journey of what we wanted to do in our retirement," said John, 60. "We thought, 'Why not go see the world?' [So] we sold our home and downsized to a couple of backpacks and have been traveling ever since."

"We sat down one day, and we knew we had money to travel in our retirement. When we realized that we were retiring at a younger age, we looked at our budget and realized we could afford to travel two months a year," added Bev, 61. "But if we sold our home and our things, we could afford to go on a big adventure."

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By November 2021, SWNS said that John and Bev sold their home in their retirement community in Florida and donated their furniture and belongings to charities.

They have since visited a total of 92 countries so far, including the Bahamas, Vietnam, Brazil, Mexico, Romania, Indonesia, Colombia, Guatemala, Greece and New Zealand.

When John and Bev told their children that they would be traveling, during what they call their "trip of a lifetime," per SWNS, the couple said their kids were thrilled for them.

"We have five children and eight grandchildren, and all of our children are very excited about it. I think our children are excited for us to live out our best lives," Bev said.

She added, "I hope we are setting a good example for them that things don't matter, items don't matter. It is about connections and experiences."

Looking ahead, Bev said she and John hope to one day travel with their grandkids when they are all old enough to do so.

"We want to give them the gift of travel to the world, to our grandchildren, we want to change their lives and hope to take them on trips around the globe," she explained.

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Tour of Flanders Women: Elisa Longo Borghini wins breakaway sprint to take second Flanders victory

Lidl-Trek rider beats Kasia Niewiadoma and teammate Shirin van Anrooij

How it unfolded

Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) won her second Tour of Flanders after her 2015 victory, winning the sprint of three riders ahead of Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) and Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek).

Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini attacked from a chase group on the Paterberg and closed the gap to Van Anrooij 12km from the finish line in the outskirts of Oudenaarde, and the three worked together to hold off the five remaining chasers.

On the final kilometre, Van Anrooij led out the group and started the sprint. Niewiadoma came past, but Longo Borghini then passed her to win. Nine seconds later, Marianne Vos (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) took fourth place in a sprint of five.

“I would like to thank my coach, Paolo Slongo, my husband, Jacopo [Mosca], the entire team for the way they supported me today. The girls were really good and the staff in the car were super supportive when I had a crash because of a flat tyre. 

"It’s just amazing, Shirin was a motorbike. We can be proud, first and third in a race like this, it’s a huge team performance. And to our chef Mirko, I did it for the crostata,” Longo Borghini said after the finish.

“I let SD Worx do most of the work, and then Jeroen Blijlevens in the team car said: ‘on the Paterberg, you can try to go’. I knew Niewiadoma was really keen to go, and when I turned back, we were just two. I was like, ‘OK, now full gas to the top and I win this’. Shirin was waiting. We know that our strength is in the team, and this was a planned team move,” she explained why she went after her own teammate in the final.

“This is really different. I won with the tricolore on my shoulder, and I’m a more mature woman. I was just a kid when I won back in 2015, now I can realise it more and am more conscious of what I’ve been achieving,” said the Italian champion.

Crossing 12 hills, seven of them cobbled, and seven flat cobblestone sections over 163 kilometres, the race got even harder when it started to rain right after the start.

On the first cobblestone sector, the Lange Munte, a crash took out Marlen Reusser (SD Worx-Protime), Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek), and Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol). All three riders had to abandon the race due to their injuries. Deignan was diagnosed to have broken her arm, while Reusser had fractured her jaw.

Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance-Soudal), Gladys Verhulst-Wild (FDJ-SUEZ), Elena Pirrone (Roland), Josie Talbot (Cofidis), and Mieke Docx (Lotto Dstny Ladies) then formed the break of the day, building an advantage of up to 3:20 minutes. Josie Nelson (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) and Camilla Rånes Bye (Team Coop-Repsol) tried to bridge to them but never got up and eventually gave up.

There were more attacks from the peloton that never got far away, and when Ghekiere went solo from the break on the Kapelleberg with 54km to go, the break was just 15 seconds ahead. Ghekiere was the last escapee to get caught just before the Koppenberg.

Slippery from the rain, the steep cobbled climb was a key moment of the race. Defending champion Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering (both SD Worx-Protime) weren’t positioned well coming into the climb and couldn’t follow the best riders while a crash involving Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Chloé Dygert (Canyon-SRAM) further held up a large part of the peloton.

Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), Vos, Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ), Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), Longo Borghini, and Letizia Paternoster (Liv-AlUla-Jayco) were first over the top 44km from the finish, with Niewiadoma and Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) following closely behind.

These eight riders formed a front group that worked together until the Oude Kruisberg where Longo Borghini attacked but couldn’t get away. Léa Curinier (FDJ-SUEZ) punctured out of the chase group where Vollering and Van Anrooij then dropped Fem van Empel (Team Visma-Lease a Bike), Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich PostNL), and Kopecky – who had already been struggling on the Taaienberg.

Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini made a move on the Hotond climb but couldn’t get a gap, and with 25km to go, Vollering bridged to the front group. When Van Anrooij came up as well four kilometres later, she immediately attacked the group from behind to go solo.

Swinkels went after her, and with 19km left to race, Pieterse also attacked from the group while Van Anrooij steadily increased her advantage. On the Oude Kwaremont, Pieterse bridged to Swinkels while Kopecky had recovered and was now leading the chase group, ten seconds behind Pieterse and Swinkels and 30 seconds down on Van Anrooij.

On the Paterberg, Pieterse dropped Swinkels but was then herself caught by the chase group led by Niewiadoma. With Longo Borghini on her wheel, the Polish allrounder eked out a small gap on the rest of the group, and the two riders bridged to Van Anrooij after the descent.

The three riders worked together to keep the chase group behind: At the 10-kilometre mark, their advantage on the group behind was only 14 seconds, but this increased to 23 seconds at the flamme rouge.

Van Anrooij took the front of the group and stalled the pace until the 250-metre mark, where she launched the sprint. Niewiadoma accelerated out of her slipstream, but Longo Borghini took the lead with 100 metres to go and won the sprint by almost two bike lengths.

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Lukas Knöfler started working in cycling communications in 2013 and has seen the inside of the scene from many angles. Having worked as press officer for teams and races and written for several online and print publications, he has been Cyclingnews’ Women’s WorldTour correspondent since 2018.

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