Barry Branaugh

Travel has always been an integral part of my life. Growing up, my family would take trips around the United States to see family as far away as Missouri and Texas and everywhere in between. I remember the awe and excitement I had experiencing different places and people that were very different than those from my home in Oregon.

In the summer of 2012, my older daughter went on a school trip to Scotland, England, and France. I told my wife I was jealous; she said I should go, too. So I did . . . and I was hooked!

I spent over 35 years as a high school Social Studies and Language Arts teacher, primarily teaching both United States and world history, so I taught about various places throughout the world. On my 2012 trip I remember the indescribable sense of awe and reverence standing on Omaha Beach in Normandy trying to feel what it must have been like for the American soldiers landing there on D-Day fighting to reclaim it for the Allies. I knew at that point I wanted to experience as much of the world as I could.

In 2016 I was able to help plan my mother’s dream trip: she wanted to take her three children to Ireland and the UK. I had the pleasure of planning all aspects of the trip for my mom and sisters and we had an exceptional two weeks. After that experience I thought that when I retired, I wanted to do the same for other people, and here I am!

I really enjoy both the historical and cultural aspects of foreign travel. In 2017, I went with my youngest child on a group trip through central Europe, and in 2019 my son and I went to Scotland and Ireland, just the two of us, on our own Scotch and Irish whiskey tasting tour.

Up to this point I have travelled to Canada, Mexico, Belize, Ireland, all four countries within the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary.

Given the different travel desires within my family, I will strive to create a trip that satisfies your travel group, as well as the individual needs within your travel group — that you get the trip you WANT!