Just a few months after winning the Get on the Trail grant contest, Valerie Perry has launched her new business—A Bite of History Food Tours.

Based in Franklin, these tours take groups around downtown for “exceptional, immersive experiences.” As they walk, Valerie shares history of the Oil Region, with stops at 5 to 8 tasting locations. Food can change, but some items enjoyed by tour-goers include smoked cheeses, bubble tea, and rosemary shrimp.

“I absolutely love to get people excited about traveling and exploring. All participants so far have been local, but have still learned something new,” Valerie said. “We all can get set in our ways, especially when it comes to places we visit each day, and it takes getting outside of that to see the remarkable.”

The tours start Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. for about three hours, and each group has 8 people (although it may increase as COVID restrictions lift). Normally, tours will occur May-October, but Valerie was eager to get it up and running, so she started them in March this year.

Not only does attending a food tour help Valerie’s new business, but it also supports the many participating small businesses who benefit from the ticket purchases.

Launching a business has been a learning experience for Valerie and she is continuing to learn new things. She appreciates the support from the City of Franklin, Franklin Retail Association, Oil Region Alliance, and Small Business Development Center.

To learn more and schedule a tour, visit biteofhistory.com.

This article was published in the Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange’s (FLEX) April 2021 edition of the FLEX Your Ideas (FYI) Newsletter.