As co-anchor of the Today Show, Matt Lauer has had the opportunity to travel all over the world.
His career started with Today in January of 1994, when Lauer became the news anchor. He landed in the co-anchor seat three years later, in January 1997.
Since then, Lauer has covered some of the biggest stories of the past two decades.
“I think one of the nice things about the traveling that I've done,” Lauer said. “We've covered a lot of great stories around the world, some not so great.”
Lauer also launched a trademark series on Today in 1998. For 10 years, he introduced viewers to some of the most exotic countries in the world through “Where in the World is Matt Lauer.”
Over those 10 years, he has traveled to 49 locations and covered 300,000 miles. From sand skiing in Namibia, to teeing off on a helipad on top of a luxurious hotel in Dubai, to learning how to do the two-man luge with Al Roker at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, Lauer has done it all.
So how does someone who has been to virtually every corner of the globe decide where to take the family on vacation?
“Now that you get a little bit of a day-long taste of some of these locations, you say, ‘You know, put that down on my list, I want to take my wife and kids back to Easter Island or Machu Pichu or Mt. Everest or things like that,’” he said. “So it kind of gives you a great little sampling of where you can cross off or go back and revisit.”
Even though Lauer has had extraordinary journeys, he also recognizes what we have to offer in our own backyard.
“You've got lots to show. You've got great food. I've been to KC. I had some friends who lived there,” Lauer said. “I do love KC. It's a nice place.”
Though, the chances of Kansas City landing on a “Where in the World is Matt Lauer” segment are slim to none.
“I'm not sure you can convince me to do another Where in the World,” Lauer said.
You can see Matt Lauer co-anchor Today with Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales every week day starting at 7 a.m., immediately following 41 Action News Today.
