‘Take a Bus… It’s a Trip’

While travel became essentially non-existent over the past year because of COVID-19, Kayleen McGarheran is ready to get people going again with some places off the beaten path around Minnesota and Iowa.
McGarheran says people are chomping at the bit to get out. “They are busting wanting to get out,” she said.
And she thinks she has developed the perfect solution in her role as manager of a new company, Travelpoint Tours, whose slogan is, “Take a Bus… It’s a Trip.” Travelpoint is a subsidiary of Cavalier Coaches in Owatonna. Bill Regan owns Cavalier as well as various school and charter bus companies around southern Minnesota.
“People are saying get me on a bus and let me talk to other people,” McGarheran said. “We’ve been cooped up way too long.”
Travelpoint primarily specializes in one-day trips, said McGaraheran, adding that there will also be some two-day overnight trips. The first trips offered are a Sunday Wine Escape on July 11, Field of Dreams baseball and Dyersville Cathedral in Iowa on July 22 and Day Trippers Theater in Shakopee on Aug. 25.
McGaraheran said she is working with local chambers to map out schedules of the day trips. “People are so graciously helpful when you go into other towns,” she said.
Since the COVID restrictions are loosening up, she has found people are even more helpful in wanting others to come into their communities.
Besides coordinating the trips, McGarheran said she will be making each trip to offer her insight and help those who travel to ensure a quality experience. She laughed about how she will have a microphone on the buses to host the trips. Someone once recommended she try stand-up comedy. “This might be a good venue for that,” she said.
“I hate talking in front of people,” she said. “The more nervous I get, the more animated I get and chatty.”
McGarheran worked for 23 years in youth ministry at St. Joseph’s and Sacred Heart Catholic Churches in Owatonna before her job was eliminated last July. “The kids thought I was the goofy lady,” she said.
She began with Travelpoint last September during COVID by researching tours on her own and preparing for the day people could travel again. Since then, McGarheran has traveled on her own to find trip adventures to offer now. “I went to a lot of cool places in Iowa,” she said, adding she has done her homework.
There is so much to see around Minnesota and Iowa that often goes unnoticed with many people, McGarheran said. “We can drive to so many places and make a day of seeing cool things,” she said.
Travelpoint plans to work with all age groups for tours. McGarheran will also help corporations coordinate business trips for their employees.
McGarheran is excited about her new role as a travel coordinator. “I love it when people have an experience and adventure,” she said. “I hope to bring adventure and offer things people didn’t even know about,” she added.
She has found there is so much to see around Minnesota and Iowa. Travelpoint will offer trips to a wide variety of places, including theatres, sporting events and religious places. “Bill (Regan) is very passionate about the church pilgrimages and shrines,” McGarheran said.
She is also open to suggestions on where people would like to travel. “We want to offer what people want to do,” said McGarheran.
Traveling, she said, will help people’s mental health, especially after being locked down for more than a year. “Being with others is a huge piece,” McGarheran said. “Talk to people and stay connected.”
Travelpoint is located in the J.P. Kreutter State Farm Insurance Building at 203 S. Oak Ave. in Owatonna.