Essential History Expeditions -

Hank Gola

Brian and Sheryl gave us the trip of a lifetime to Normandy. Sheryl's organizational skills are top notch. She kept the tour moving and handled every issue that arose flawlessly. Brian's knowledge of the Normandy campaign was encyclopedic. He painted vivid mental images at every stop and answered every question in detail. He personalized the agenda to include the relatives of tour members who were a part of the invasion and evoked both emotion and inspiration. His experience as a former Army Ranger and instructor at West Post came through in every talk. The tour exceeded my already lofty expectations and I could not recommend Essential History Expeditions more enthusiastically. I give them an A++++.

Adin Lykken

Brian and Sheryl delivered an exceptional D-Day tour. Their professionalism and passion showed in everything. Brian's knowledge of the Normandy campaign created a uniquely immersive experience, while Sheryl's mastery of logistics allowed for the best use of our time. For anyone wanting to understand major historical events and their impact, Brian and Sheryl set the standard.

Ed Burley

Having just returned from Essential History Expeditions' February 2023 Vietnam tour, I cannot say enough good things about it! As a retired Army general, I was hoping to better understand the Vietnam War, which shaped my training and the Army which I served in from 1979-2016. I also looked forward to viewing my Dad's experience as a military advisor in 1962-63 & 1968-69 in a new light after seeing the terrain. Brian and Sheryl delivered that and more. Our tour traced the major political and military struggles of both the French and American wars, and helped to understand the Vietnamese point of view at every turn. Their approach, which incorporated both Brian's historical expertise (honed by his PhD and 12 years teaching at West Point) along with assigning voluntary "character backgrounds" presented by the tour participants, encouraged not only study in preparation beforehand but also a collaborative discussion of the issues in the long struggles of the Vietnamese people. Sheryl's precise planning and use of 5-star accommodations made the trip luxurious throughout, with meals, 4 internal flights, 12 bus trips, and a 2-day opulent boat excursion into Halong Bay all handled seamlessly. One of the best travel experiences of my life!

Felicia Jones

My daughter recently completed the World War I History Tour: An American Journey through "The Great War" in Partnership with SMU's Center for Presidential History and she had an absolute blast! Sheryl and Brian proved to be extremely knowledgeable and deepened her understanding of history! She let me know she could provide a story for every picture she took as Brian’s explanation painted vivid imagery! As a parent of a student who has never travelled abroad, I had numerous questions and they were all answered promptly, throughly, and professionally! I would definitely recommend EHE for anyone considering learning more about history and world studies!

Tom Anhut

You just have to experience a trip with Sheryl and Brian to appreciate it!

I attended the 80th D-Day Anniversary trip in June of 2024. First off, Sheryl had arranged fantastic accommodations - our hotels were top notch. And the meals were just as impressive - even a box lunch at a site one day was topped off with some of the most delicious flan I have ever had! Our tour bus was very comfortable, and our driver took us down roads I would not dare to go in a car - he was so skilled. We were always on time and never had to wait - clearly a reflection of Sheryl's meticulous planning and execution. And when events occurred that were outside of Sheryl's control, she adeptly adjusted the schedule without us even knowing what she was doing.

Brian was incredible. His depth of knowledge is almost scary - we purposely tried to stump him and came up short over and over again! More than just knowing facts, Brian brought events to life, putting them in context and explaining everything so even a military history novice could understand. For those of us who served in the military, it felt like we were back in uniform, thinking strategically and analytically. Brian also did a great job engaging us all, asking questions and also using us to demonstrate troop movements in his descriptions. Brian also integrated the stories of some of our relatives who were involved in D-Day into his presentations, weaving their stories into the overall narrative and allowing us to share our stories. For this I cannot thank him enough for it had been a dream of mine since I was a little boy to visit where my grandfather had served. It was incredibly moving, and Brian gave us the time to express and soak up the emotions. Lastly, Brian allowed some of us to role play as key figures in the operation - doing so brought them to life. I didn't want the tour to end!

I strongly recommend taking a tour with Sheryl and Brian - you will talk about it for the rest of your life. I know I will!

Kathy Diegel

The 80th anniversary D-Day tour was incredible, and we highly recommend this company for historical tours. Sheryl and Brian are good, kind people and are passionate about what they do. Sheryl provided information, answered questions, kept the tour on schedule, and accommodated special needs with grace and ease. The lodging, restaurants, and sites we visited were top notch, carefully researched, and thoughtfully selected. Brian’s detailed knowledge, military experience and insight, ability to tell stories and put us in historical moments exceeded our expectations. He truly has a unique gift as a tour guide, and we were lucky to have him lead us through this historical journey. We could have spent more time at each site because they were so remarkable. This truly was an amazing experience and one we will not forget.

Jacqueline Savoie

Brian and Sheryl organized a trip to London and Normandy for a group of 17 people in April 2023. The trip exceeded our highest expectations. Brian's knowledge of military operations leading up to D-Day, the invasion itself, and the breakout from Normandy was broad and detailed. He used his well-established teaching skills to bring this history to life. Very importantly, he and Sheryl took care of all the details which make a trip run smoothly. Coordinating different arrival and departure times, transfers, handicap accessibility needs, dietary restrictions, special requests, and lodging for 17 people is no small task. They handled it seamlessly and professionally.
We are looking forward to our next adventure with Essential History Expeditions!

Joseph Carrabino, Jr.

Brian and Sheryl delivered a much better than expected experience for their 80th anniversary of Normandy tour. Brian's knowledge, passion and detailed itinerary provided a comprehensive understanding of Allied actions from planning in London to the liberation of Paris. He made you feel like you were "in the room" as events unfolded. Sheryl handled all logistics flawlessly and with utmost professionalism. 5 stars all the way - don't miss the opportunity!