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Brandi Jo

Johansen

5 years of experience
Denver, CO & Hawaii
United States of America (USA)

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The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.

About

I’m a US citizen who has lived outside the U.S. for 37 years! As a secondary school teacher and teacher-trainer for the US Department of Defense schools, I lived in Europe and Asia and I am very familiar with England, Germany, Italy, France, and South Korea. I taught all things “right-brained”–history, literature, art history, theatre, Shakespeare, the humanities, and a few others, so I love sharing “people stories” and “who knew” stories to make a time and a place come alive. I have led tours in England, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Hawaii (4-Islands), France, the US East Coast, the US Southwest National Parks, San Francisco, CA, San Antonio, Texas, and Colorado. 

I have completed the Trip School NYC Boot Camp, as well as Trip School destination trainings for Northeast Fall Foliage and Southwest National Parks. I have also taken the Trip School Technology and Storytelling courses.

I am a quick study and a lifelong learner; as such, I consider research a pleasure and sharing information a gift! As one tour operator consistently tells me, my guest ratings are “off the charts.” I like people, I love my job, and I’m good at it, and those qualities shine through on every tour I lead! 

Tours Offered & Destination Knowledge

Bus ToursCultural/Specialty ToursExperience HostFood & Drink ToursGeneral Walking ToursLarge Group ToursLocal GuideMulti-Day Tour Director/LeaderPerformance Group ToursPrivate ToursStudent Tour Director

I have for years organized and led small-group and family tours in South Korea, Okinawa, Germany, Italy, and England.    

My destination knowledge has been gleaned from places I have lived, which include:

  • Wiesbaden and Stuttgart, Germany, 10 years
  • Okinawa, Japan, 2 years
  • Seoul, Korea, 11 years
  • Brindisi, Italy, 5 years
  • Yorkshire and Hertfordshire, England, 6 years
  • Mainland Japan and The Philippines, 5 years (but that was a VERY long time ago!)

US States I've lived in: New Mexico, Texas, California, Virginia, Maryland, and currently, I shuttle between Colorado and Hawaii.

Places I have led tours in the USA

  • Hawaiian Islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai
  • Denver, CO
  • New York City, NY
  • Washington DC
  • West Virginia
  • Virginia
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Northeast USA (Fall Foliage Season)
  • Southwest National Parks and beyond (The Utah Mighty Five, the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lake Powell, Santa Fe, and Sedona)

 

Fun Fact!
I've lived in seven countries and seven US states.
Hobbies & Interests
Walt Whitman said, "Do anything, but let it produce joy," so I voraciously read autobiographies and books on history and I write daily. I attend stage plays and I people watch and make up stories about their lives. I navigate genealogy and I travel with intention and sometimes just for because. I take the road less traveled when the opportunity presents itself.

Testimonials

"You were instrumental in making our trip to Hawaii so absolutely wonderful. Thank you for your attention to detail, your beautiful calm & kind spirit. We would have been lost without you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and history of Hawaii with us." (Joyce & John Cange, Adult Travelers)

"Brandi made us feel welcome and seemed happy to see us every morning. I really appreciated how she wove in local cultural lore, history lessons, geography, interesting tidbits, and even music into her descriptions of our activities and what we were seeing, and she was extremely kind and patient with the older travelers in our group." (Adult Traveler, March 2025)

"I'm not sure how she kept so many balls in the air at one time, all the time, but she never dropped a one!" (Adult Traveler) 

"We could not have asked for a more professional and kind guide. Thank you, Brandi" (UK Adult Traveler)

First of all, Excellence! All around great service. We can tell you enjoy your job and you love history and people. Love & Respect, Tony & Ronda (Adult Traveler)

"Brandi was always fun to be with and made all feel welcome. Given the opportunity, I would travel with her again." (Adult Traveler)

"Brandi was so knowledgeable about the culture and the area.  It was evident that Brandi loved the area, and she really enjoyed sharing her knowledge with others.  Brandi took the time to get to know all of the tour participants and by the end of the tour, it was like we were all one big happy family :)" (Adult Traveler)

Thanks so much for the wonderful job that you do as Tour Manager. We feel you go above & beyond to assist. (Rick and Barb Orlando, Adult Travelers)

"Brandi was awesome. On previous group travel we never had children in the group. She went above and beyond to help our grandchildren feel welcome, comfortable and engaged them in all things Hawaiian. Brandi was well-organized and kept everyone up-to-date on what to expect, schedules, where to be, when to be there, etc. She has such a lovely calm demeanor and so personable, just a great tour guide." (3-Generation Family Group, June 2025)

 

Details

Gateway Airport(s)

DEN and HNL

Licenses

Washington, D.C.

Training

The Trip School and International Guide Academy

Language(s)

English

Additional Education

TRIP SCHOOL training includes: Tour Director, Storytelling, Student Tours, NYC Bootcamp, Technology, Northeast Fall Foliage, Southwest National Parks, New Orleans (2021-2024)

Certified International Tour Manager (CITM) - International Guide Academy (IGA) training for Tour Directors 2014; online course for Tour Guides certification 2020.

BA History/Theatre & MA Educational TechnologyCertified High School Teacher

Certified Train-the-Trainer, AVID Center, San Diego, CA

Instructional Systems Specialist - Teacher Trainer, DoDEA 

Teaching Certifications from the U.S. College Board include

Advanced Placement Art History
Advanced Placement Literature
Advanced Placement US History

Washington D.C. Certified Guide 

General Availability

https://tinyurl.com/BJ-Johansen-25-26-Availability
Please click on the link for my 2025-2026 Availability Calendar.

Photo Album