Meaningful Journeys
For some, a getaway is a spontaneous afternoon that turns into an unexpected memory. For others, it is finally standing in a place they have pictured for years — a skyline, a coastline, a historic landmark brought to life. For many, it becomes something even more meaningful: connection, shared laughter, and the comfort of knowing someone has thoughtfully prepared the way so they can simply be present.
That is the space Dash Getaways Travel was created to fill.
Founded by Plymouth resident Lana Ball, Dash Getaways plans and hosts experiences that range from motorcoach day trips to multi-day adventures across the United States and abroad — Egypt, New Orleans, Mount Rushmore, haunted Kentucky towns and Broadway excursions. Carefully curated itineraries are built not just around destinations, but around how those destinations bring people together.
“This business has always been about relationships,” Ball says. “I truly enjoy traveling with our Dashers and experiencing those trips alongside them.”
For Ball, that word carries layered meaning. She values knowing her travelers and understanding their interests, comfort levels and hopes for a trip. Many stop by the storefront simply to talk through ideas before ever booking, and that trust matters deeply to her. Those relationships continue once the journey begins. Thoughtfully designed group travel has a way of dissolving unfamiliarity as conversations begin on the motorcoach, meals are shared and stories surface. By the end of the trip, strangers often feel like longtime friends, and Ball witnesses that quiet magic of connection forming in real time.
Her path to entrepreneurship was steady and deeply rooted in family influence. Ball grew up in Bourbon, Indiana, watching her father build Ball Auction and Realty into a respected and thriving business serving the surrounding communities. The work ethic, consistency and community presence she witnessed there left a lasting imprint.
Travel was also part of her upbringing. Family trips were not extravagant, but they were intentional. Experiences were valued, and time together mattered. Those early memories shaped how she now views exploration, not as a luxury, but as something formative.
“I think I always knew somewhere down the line I was going to start a business,” she says. “I just didn’t know the timing.”
After earning her degree in retail management from Purdue University and spending years immersed in the family business — particularly during a season when her mother’s health required greater involvement — Ball began sensing that a new chapter was forming. She carried with her a retail background, an eye for quality and a lifelong love of travel. When those elements aligned, Dash Getaways Travel was born.
The company officially launched in late 2024, and the early months required courage and conviction.
“I wasn’t even sure if five people would sign up,” Ball admits. “In the beginning I would work day after day with very little rest. I’d get home completely exhausted, but there was always that voice inside telling me to keep going. I knew I was building something with purpose.”
That purpose grew from a realization she experienced during the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I truly felt like people weren’t getting back out and socializing the way we once did before COVID,” she explains. “I was concerned about our community, about people’s mental health and the importance of connection. One of the best things you can do for yourself is travel. I know how happy it makes me.”
That realization helped spark the idea for Dash Getaways.
“This company really isn’t about me,” Ball says. “It’s about connection, community, memories and friendships. I can’t tell you how many people have thanked me for starting it, and that means the world to me. I’m grateful for every single traveler who chooses to come along with us, and my hope is that Dash Getaways truly makes a difference in their lives.”
Trust is everything in travel. People are handing over their time, their money and often long-held dreams. Ball chose to establish a visible storefront where travelers could walk in, ask questions and plan their journeys face to face, creating a welcoming place where people can begin imagining their next adventure.
That presence is about to expand.
Dash Getaways Travel will soon move to a new location at 201 Water St. in downtown Plymouth. After a year of remarkable growth, the company simply outgrew its original space. The new shop will be four times larger, allowing for expanded travel services and a broader retail experience for visitors.
“We are incredibly excited about the move,” Ball says. “Being downtown will allow for more walk-in visitors and give travelers an inviting place to stop in, browse and start dreaming about their next adventure.”
The shop is more than a place to book a trip. It also carries a curated selection of travel essentials, accessories and gifts, all with a travel theme.
“Every item in our shop is something I personally use or would confidently pack in my own suitcase,” Ball says. “From practical travel gear to fun gifts that inspire wanderlust, our goal is to help people travel smarter, travel easier and get excited about where they’re going next.”
The growth has been remarkable. Travelers now come from 19 counties across Indiana and from nine different states.
“I’m truly grateful for each traveler who chooses to travel with us,” Ball says.
Planning a trip under the Dash Getaways umbrella is far more involved than simply reserving transportation and hotel rooms. Ball spends significant time researching destinations, studying logistics and often visiting locations herself before offering them to travelers.
While she sometimes partners with companies such as Diamond Tours for transportation and foundational tour structure, Ball is known for refining and elevating those itineraries by adding thoughtful pacing, immersive experiences and small details that transform a trip into something memorable.
Gratuities are always included, so travelers never feel uncertain about expectations. On multi-day motorcoach journeys, guests receive Dash Getaways luggage tags, neoprene luggage handle wraps and reusable Dash Getaways water bottles that are refilled throughout the trip. Complimentary snacks are also provided along the way.
“These little touches may seem simple,” Ball says, “but they make a big difference in how relaxed and cared for people feel while they’re traveling.”
Ball also works to dispel a common misconception about group travel. Many people assume it means rigid schedules and little personal freedom, but she explains that while there is structure, travelers still have flexibility.
“There is flexibility built in,” she says. “We want people to enjoy the experience, not feel restricted by it.”
Her own travel experiences continue to shape that philosophy. Ball has traveled solo across six continents, and one of her earliest transformative moments occurred in Scotland when she stood beneath a full moon in the Highlands and realized the same moon was shining over her family back home. In that moment, the world suddenly felt both vast and intimately connected.
If Scotland opened her eyes to the vastness of the world, Egypt settled deeply into her heart.
After years of watching documentaries about the pyramids with her mother, Ball eventually stood before them herself.
“Standing in front of the pyramids for the first time, I actually had tears in my eyes,” she says. “You can’t fully understand it until you’re there.”
She has now spent a total of eight weeks in Egypt, building relationships with Egyptologists and local partners. That investment allows her to offer travelers far more than a surface-level tour.
“For me, it’s not just about visiting Egypt. It’s about truly experiencing it.”
Upcoming international itineraries include Egypt in November 2026 and Australia in June 2027, marking Ball’s seventh continent.
Ball has also begun developing several trips connected to the celebration of America’s 250th birthday, experiences that combine history, culture and uniquely American destinations.
Planned trips include Washington, D.C., a Broadway excursion to see Hamilton in Chicago, a Famous Hoosiers heritage tour, a New York City experience and even a classic American pastime — watching the Chicago Cubs face the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
She has also worked with Diamond Tours to create a custom “America 250” journey that highlights lesser-known historic sites and fascinating stories from America’s past.
At its heart, however, Dash Getaways is about more than destinations, and Ball often reflects on the friendships formed through travel. One story in particular stands out. A 92-year-old traveler joined a tour and formed friendships with women decades younger. Today, they visit one another’s homes and continue planning future adventures together.
“Had it not been for that trip, they may have never crossed paths,” Ball says. “That truly makes my heart smile.”
Though she grew up in Bourbon, Ball has lived in Plymouth for many years and considers it her home. Her civic involvement further anchors the business locally.
“It’s very important to me that Dash Getaways is rooted in Plymouth,” she says. “This is home.”
The company’s name reflects her larger philosophy. Inspired by the poem The Dash, which reflects on the small line between birth and death and how we choose to fill it, Ball selected a name that would serve as a daily reminder.
“The dash represents the time between when we’re born and when we leave this world and how we choose to spend that time,” she explains.
She believes travel helps people make the most of that time.
“Your Dash should include the people, experiences and moments that truly make you happy,” she says.
Inside the storefront, visitors may also meet Ollie the otter, the company’s cheerful mascot — a playful reflection of Ball’s joyful approach to travel and adventure.
When asked what continues to motivate her, Ball does not hesitate.
“I find great joy and happiness in my calling each and every day,” she says.
Because in the end, the dash is simply the space we are given, and what fills it — shared meals, laughter, discovery and connection — becomes the story we carry forward. Dash Getaways is not simply about going somewhere, but about going together and coming home changed.
Dash Getaways Travel is located at 201 Water St., Plymouth, Indiana 46563[Text Wrapping Break]You can give them a call at 574-800-9202 or visit them online at dashgetawaystravel.com, Facebook – dashgetawaystravel, and Instagram – @dashgetawaystravel.
Comments 1
When you are coming south, do you ever do a pick=up in Rochester?