About
Breakaway Excursions is a provider of adventure-based recreation activities located in Northeast, Ohio.
We are just east of Aurora and 40 minutes from Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown.
We customize excursions for individuals, families, groups and co-workers looking to share a positive experience together.
We offer kayak rental and kayak lessons on local rivers and lakes. Our primary locations are on LaDue Reservoir and the Cuyahoga River.
We take a lot of pride on having high quality rental kayaks that are clean, comfortable and easy to maneuver.
Life is about having experiences and making memories.
Our mission is to enhance people’s lives through recreation and improve our environment through education. We do this by providing our clients with affordable recreation based activities that are adventurous, safe and fun. During our excursions, we empower our clients with the skills necessary to be successful while inspiring them to push and challenge themselves. We do this with the hope that they will make a deeper connection; a connection either with themselves, with others in their group, or with the natural world around them.
We believe the individual activity is not as important as what we can gain from the experience. Self-esteem, confidence, and awareness of self are just a few of the many benefits gained by our clients on our trips. We serve families, businesses and groups of all ages in Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown and Northeast, Ohio.
Owner, Doug Hershman
I’ve been playing in the backwoods, rivers and lakes of Northeast Ohio my entire life. One of my earliest memories is picking up trash with my father in the Metroparks. As a professional I have shared my passion and love for the outdoors with hundreds of people. I love working with youth groups or businesses that are trying to improve morale and group cohesiveness. And I love sharing kayaking, archery and team building activities with people who have never tried it. Please call me to discuss a customized outing to fit your group’s needs.
Degree in Commercial Recreation from Kent State University
Veteran of the Armed Forces (Captain, US Army)
ACA Instructor (American Canoe Association)
Certifications
Kayak Instructor Level 1
Canoe Instructor Level 3
Endorsements
Adaptive Paddling
NASP Instructor (National Archery in the Schools Program)
USA Archery Level 2 Instructor
ODNR Passport To Fishing Instructor through (Ohio Department of Natural Resources)
Owner, Pam Holliday
Pam's love of the outdoors started as a young child, gardening with her dad and learning about plants-spending hours in greenhouses and nature. The only thing Pam loves more than being outside is sharing her love and passion for nature and fun with others. She is great when it comes to working with families and individuals especially those that are experiencing activities for the first time. Her real strength comes in her ability to organize outings for businesses and non-profit groups. Let Pam plan your next excursion, team building outing or group party.
Pam is a natural entrepreneur and has owned a few businesses. She is an event planner by trade with over 20 years in the industry.
USA Archery Level 2 Instructor
Safe Paddling Practices
We promote and support safe paddling practices at Breakaway Excursions. Always wearing a life jacket and never paddling while under the influence of alcohol or drugs are the top two recommendations for ensuring a safe excursion for you and your group. For additional tips and advice please check out the American Canoe Association's Best Practices brochure.
20% Discount - Environmental Stewardship
People from Akron and Cleveland love clean water. We understand that our watersheds provide us with our most important and valuable resource; water. Packing out your own trash and debris is expected. Unfortunately, this is not always enough to keep our waterways pure and pristine. An extra effort on everyone's part is needed and Breakaway Excursions is here to provide a little incentive. If you pick up extra trash along the shoreline or water, we will give you a 20% discount on your next individual kayak rental. We will even be happy to provide you with a bag.
"We believe we must go above and beyond what is expected if we want to make a difference."
