Coasters & Castles Travel- Barry Branaugh

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Coasters & Castles Travel- Barry Branaugh

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I plan vacations for people who want new life experiences, to create lifelong memories, and find the hidden gems the world has to offer.

Travel has always been a part of my life. Growing up, my family took trips around the U.S., sparking my love for exploring new places and cultures. In 2012, I joined my daughter on a school trip to Scotland, England, and France, and I was hooked. With over 32 years as a high school Social Studies and Language Arts teacher, I've taught about global history, deepening my passion for travel. A standout moment was visiting Omaha Beach in Normandy, reflecting on the D-Day landing. In 2016, I helped plan my mother’s dream trip to Ireland and the UK for our family. That experience inspired me to pursue a career helping others plan their travels. I love combining history, culture, and relaxation in travel. I’ve journeyed through Central Europe, Scotland, Ireland, and beyond, enjoying everything from wh***ey tastings to tropical getaways like a Princess Cruise to the Mexican Riviera and a week in Belize. I've traveled to Canada, Mexico, Belize, Ireland, the UK, France, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Spain, and Portugal. I focus on creating personalized trips that meet both group and individual needs. It is truly and honor and pleasure to be able to help people reach their travel goals!

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween! Have all the candy you can stand and be aware of the ghosts and goblins you may encounter . . . 🎃👻😱
https://www.rfr.bz/f555695f1

10/29/2026

We did a day trip east of Helsinki to the city of Porvoo. It is one of the original six medieval towns of Finland, dating back to at least the 1300s. The old town is incredibly interesting. The town square was the center of the town along the Porvoonjoki River. It has a beautiful Lutheran church built in the 15th century, although parts date back to the 13th century. It is a city of incredible natural beauty and also has one of the largest Christmas markets in Finland. If you have an interest in travelling to Finland, please contact me to set up a conversation!
[email protected]
https://www.rfr.bz/f2b5a2e69

10/28/2026

Helsinki's Suomenlinna fortress is another quiet getaway just a short ferry ride from the city. It comprises of eight islands that were created as a defensive fortress in the mid-1700s by Sweden to defend Helsinki from Russian attacks. If you have an interest in travelling to Finland, please contact me to set up a conversation!
[email protected]
https://www.rfr.bz/fd491f1fa

10/27/2026

Helsinki is known for its cathedrals. While the Lutheran faith is the dominant religion, Orthodox Christianity, and Judaism are also prominent. Some of the more prominent churches are the Helsinki cathedral (Lutheran), Uspenski cathedral (Orthodox), and the Helsinki synagogue. In addition, there is the Temppeliaukio church, which is relatively new, opening in 1969. What makes this Lutheran church significant is that it was bored from rock -- sometimes called the "Rock church." If you have an interest in travelling to Finland, please contact me to set up a conversation!
[email protected]
https://www.rfr.bz/fcb6c28fa

10/26/2026

Our next stop was Finland and Helsinki. Finland has had an interesting history in that it has only been an independent nation since 1918. While it has its own language and culture, it was under Swedish control from the 1200s to the early 1800s. At that point, it was under Russian control for the next 100 years. Culture and language flourished mainly because they had some autonomy within the Swedish and Russian occupations, but there are western and eastern European influences. If you have an interest in travelling to Finland, please contact me to set up a conversation!
[email protected]
https://www.rfr.bz/f59c22b3d

10/24/2026

As we left Stockholm to head toward Helsinki, we decided to take a Silja Line ferry. Ferry might be a bit misleading; it was really a cruise ship that could hold cars! It left Stockholm at 4:30 PM and arrived in Helsinki the next morning at 10:30. It was an incredibly comfortable floating hotel, and a smooth ride across the Baltic Sea! If you have an interest in travelling to Sweden (or anywhere else), please contact me to set up a conversation!
[email protected]
https://www.rfr.bz/f4e9b84d5

10/23/2026

The waters off of Stockholm comprise of an archipelago with around 30,000 islands! We chose to go to the nearest one, Fjäderholmarna, which was about a 25 minute ferry ride from Stockholm. Sweden, as a whole, is fairly laid-back -- even Stockholm. Fjäderholmarna is even calmer. As it was, we were there the last day of access (September 15th). During the fall, winter, and early spring, there is no ferry service. It's primarily an artist community, but a peaceful afternoon stroll. If you have an interest in travelling to Sweden, please contact me to set up a conversation!
[email protected]
https://www.rfr.bz/ff59618fc

10/22/2026

Our next round of museums were nautical and historical. The Vasa museum is built around the ship Vasa (much like the Fram museum in Oslo). The Vasa was ordered to be built by King Gustav Adolphus to invade Poland in 1628. It made it about 1000 meters from the dock and sunk. It was not raised until 1961! The Viking museum also does an excellent job of showing the lives and travels of the Viking people. If you have an interest in travelling to Sweden, please contact me to set up a conversation!
[email protected]
https://www.rfr.bz/f48d5a211

10/21/2026

Stockholm has a wide variety of museums. The ones we went to were excellent! Today I'll mention two of them -- the ABBA museum and the Skansen museum. Even if you're not an ABBA fan, it's still incredibly entertaining -- and interactive! Skansen is an outdoor museum, similar to the Norwegian Cultural History Museum, where you can experience the architecture and lifestyle of Sweden over the centuries. If you have an interest in travelling to Sweden, please contact me to set up a conversation!
[email protected]
https://www.rfr.bz/f2e770ac7

10/20/2026

When we arrived we went immediately to Gamla stan, or the Old Town of Stockholm. There is much to see in Gamla stan; the royal palace, the original town square (Stortoget) from the 1200s. and, of course, cobblestone streets. It's also where you will find the narrowest street in Stockholm, Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, which is only 35 inches wide at its narrowest point! If you have an interest in travelling to Sweden, please contact me to set up a conversation!
[email protected]
https://www.rfr.bz/f722e8241

Address

Redmond, OR

Telephone

+15414803889

Website

https://www.coastersandcastlestravel.com/team/barry-branaugh

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