Taylor Riggs is an avid traveler, having visited 26 countries on 5 continents. In addition, she has run 15 marathons all in different cities around the world (Sacramento, NYC, New Orleans, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Chicago (twice!), Philadelphia, San Francisco, Paris, Berlin, Athens, Los Angeles, Portland, Washington DC.). Here, she shares with us her favorite travel experiences.
You’ve traveled to some amazing places. Does one place stand out against all others?
The Maldives definitely stands out to me the most because it was the most recent place I’ve visited, and it was my honeymoon! My husband and I love to travel, and we really wanted to go someplace on our honeymoon that we knew would be special and also a far way to travel! A two-week honeymoon was the perfect excuse to make the journey to the Maldives. I left with the feeling that the spirit of service runs through their blood. The people are so hospitable and welcoming, and it feels like they are gracious without even having to try. Plus, the Indian Ocean is the most clear and full of diverse sea life that we have seen.
What is the best hotel you’ve ever stayed at? What did you love about it?
My husband and I recently stayed at The St. Regis in Cairo, Egypt and were blown away by the service. For example, they knew when we would head down for breakfast so that they could make up our room while we were away. That extra attention to detail was something I had never experienced before. We also stayed in the Waldorf Astoria in Dubai which was incredible. I remember I was low on toothpaste and one day I came into my room and the man who had made up our room left me a spare toothpaste with a note saying he noticed I was running low and wanted to replenish my supply. Those are moments when a hotel really makes you feel like a special guest, and I remember them to this day!
What’s it like running the Athens marathon?
It was very sentimental! The Athens marathon was the original – the first known marathon that was ever run and it is how we got the name marathon for a 26.2-mile race. The story dates back to a messenger 2,500 years ago who ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to spread news of the victory. The current course retraces that messenger’s alleged steps, and they have historical markings as you run each mile. You really feel a sense of history when you are running it and it’s an extra treat to end the race in the Olympic Stadium, the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games.
You’re also a skier. Do you have a favorite ski mountain or ski resort?
I say that skiing is the perfect winter sport! It gets me out of the house, it’s a great cardio workout, it’s really fun, and it’s a good adrenaline rush. My husband and I recently skied Jackson Hole, Sun Valley, Big Sky, Aspen and Park City. The coldest were definitely Big Sky and Sun Valley. The best Après Ski was Jackson Hole and the Four Seasons there has the best cowboy cookie dessert! But in my heart, I think I will always love Steamboat Springs because it’s where I learned to ski growing up. My parents put me in ski school there when I was very young so Steamboat will always be special to me.
Do you have a favorite beach in the world?
My husband is from Tampa so he would want me to say St. Pete! But it has to be Hawaii. We had the most beautiful sunsets at the Fairmont Orchid. Plus, we saw a seal beach itself to give birth!
What are some of your must-haves when traveling?
Everything has to go in a carry-on. Especially with all the lost baggage stories we’ve heard about in the past few years, I never check a bag anymore. It saves time and forces me to be very efficient with what I bring with me on vacations. I bring a backpack as a personal item and can fit a lot of stuff in there as well! I always keep my toiletry bag full so that I don’t have to think about packing it each time or accidentally forgetting anything. Overall, I am a very practical traveler. Especially if I’m flying to Berlin or Athens or Paris for a weekend just to run a marathon, you have to travel lightly! So, I pack: lip balm, phone chargers, and compression socks so when I get off the plane I can run!
What’s next on your travel bucket list?
I would love to hike Machu Picchu or run the Great Wall Marathon in China one day.
What can you tell us about the new show you are co-hosting, The Big Money Show?
It’s been a lot of fun and a lot of hard work! I have two wonderful co-anchors and between the three of us, we all bring wildly different perspectives to the show. My goal is to help inform our audience so they can make smart money decisions and take control over their financial independence. I never had someone to teach me, so I had to go to school and learn everything about Wall Street and finance. My hope is that I can break down that jargon for our audience so they too can feel confident making smart financial choices and hopefully make money! I want finance to be fun – especially for women!
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Taylor Riggs joined the FOX Business Network (FBN) in December 2022 and currently serves as co-host of The Big Money Show (weekdays, 1 PM/ET) alongside Jackie DeAngelis and Brian Brenberg. Prior to joining FBN, Riggs spent nine years at Bloomberg News where she co-anchored a daily program on Bloomberg Television, covering equities, bonds, currencies and commodities. In addition, she led Bloomberg’s cross-asset market coverage and as a municipal bond reporter.
