It all began when Larry Smith retired from his position of Director of Transportation and Maintenance from a suburban Kansas City school district. his retirement didn’t last long as he went to work driving a motor coach for a Kansas City company. One day as he was transporting a group from Arizona to Branson, he became friends with the travel agent. The travel agent began to request Larry to drive all of their trips in and around K.C. Eventually, Larry’s wife, Janice, started travelling with them and started learning about the travel business. When the travel agent retired, Larry and Janice continued taking the Arizona clients to Branson for several years.

After some time, Larry and Janice were needed back home in the small town of Laclede, Missouri, where their parents lived. After building their home on the family’s property, Larry continued to drive a motor coach and Janice decided to start her own travel agency. Smith Tours was born!  With Janice planning trips and Larry driving, they turned their love for travel and hosting clients into a business. When Larry’s health prevented him from driving, he and Janice began arranging more and more trips each year and the business continued to grow. Today, their daughter Melinda owns and operates the business with help from other family members.