Meet Mark McLaughlin and Mika Lim of Townie Tours in Somerville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark McLaughlin and Mika Lim.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Mark and Mika. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Mark: I grew up in a fourth generation Somerville household, back when the city was more commonly known as “Slumerville.” My four siblings and I grew up tough but we all grew to channel the hardship of our community into a passion for local activism and youth work (our Somerville Walking Tour shares my story in more detail). I became a social worker, working with homeless youth in Boston.

Mika: Mark and I could not have had more opposite upbringings. I grew up moving all around the world, before finding myself in Boston. I am also a youth social worker, and met Mark in the field. On our first date, he gave me a tour of the city, which opened my eyes and heart to the community. The stories that I heard brought the history of Boston alive, and gave me an inside look into Boston’s tight-knit communities.

Mark and I are both avid travelers, and love meeting locals and hearing their stories. Mark’s unique perspective is fascinating and I know many others like me would want to get the inside scoop, so we teamed up to create Townie Tours, to offer everyone a real, local experience of Boston.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We spent a lot of time dreaming about Townie Tours, and turning it into a reality has been a labor of love. We started with almost nothing, but we made it work with patience and the amazing support and generosity of the Somerville and Boston communities. We have used a ton of resources that help small businesses, like Roxbury Community College, Northeastern University, the Lawyers’ Committee for Economic Justice, and Villeside Clothing- a local shop where we get our gear.

Our first year was hard. We made mistakes and learned a lot as we went along. But now, we are proud to have a company that accomplishes our mission: keeping our business practices local and offering a real Boston experience.

Please tell us about Townie Tours.
People love Boston for its rich history and culture; you can learn so much by walking the Freedom Trail. But the other side of Boston that we all know from the movies is harder to find, though it is real for many local Bostonians. Ironically, the more Hollywood focus there has been on this side of Boston, the more evasive it has become. We see the communities of Boston as more than just a novelty. They tell the story of social history and change, which in many ways mirrors the story of communities across America. Unlike any other tour you will find, Townie Tours takes you off the beaten Freedom Trail and into the heart of Boston’s tight-knit neighborhoods. We are proud of our roots, we are advocates for our communities and we love sharing that with people.

Do you feel like our city is a good place for businesses like yours? 
Yes, absolutely! Boston is a big city with a small town feel. Everyone is willing to lend a hand. We would not be where we are without the support of the community and the resources that help small businesses. Our city can always improve by preserving and protecting Boston’s communities, and that’s what Townie Tours aims to do.

Pricing:

• $25/person for a walking tour

Contact Info:

• Address: Davis Square, Somerville, MA
• Website: www.townietoursboston.com
• Phone: (857) 997-0382
• Email: townietoursboston@gmail.com
• Instagram: townietours
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/townietoursboston
• Twitter: twitter.com/TownieTours
• Other: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-d10718098

Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.