Quarter Miles Travel With Annita

Togo – The Alaskan Sled Dog

“The Dog They Left Out of the Story”

The Story of Togo

In January of 1925, in the dead of an Alaskan winter, a twelve-year-old dog ran across frozen sea ice in the dark, in a blizzard, to save a town full of children he would never meet.

History gave the credit to someone else.

This is Quarter Miles Travel. I’m Annita. Today, we’re setting the record straight on Togo.

Befor...

Following Togo’s Trail:
A Travel Guide to the 1925 Serum Run

Nome, the Diphtheria Outbreak, the Iditarod, and Where to Find Togo Today

Every hero has a version of the story the world remembers, and a version that’s actually true. For Togo, the twelve-year-old sled dog who led his team across the most dangerous 260 miles of the 1925 race to save the children of Nome, Alaska, those two versions couldn’t be further apart. On a recent episode of Quarter Miles Travel, “The Dog They Left Out of the Story,” we traced Togo’s jou...

Destination:
Story of Alexander Hamilton
and Nevis

Ever wonder how travel expert Anita Thomas chooses her next destination? Well, this year she’s just flipping a coin. For eight years, Anita has been hosting her award-winning podcast, Quarter Miles Travel. And this year on Travel with Anita, she is sharing those experiences with you. This season, Anita will take you to the states commemorated on the back of a quarter, revealing hidden hotspots and don’t-miss destinations that you might not have heard about, possibly in your hometown state. The adventure begins as he r...

Destination:
Four Georgians Who Shaped America

Hello, hello, hello, and welcome aboard Travel with Anita and Friends. Now, Georgia has always produced more than its share of remarkable people, men and women whose ideas, courage, and craftsmanship reach far beyond our state lines and help shape the story of our entire country. We’re going to meet four of them: an industrialist who built a town from the ground up, a woman who started a movement that still shapes girls’ lives today, and a master bridge builder who connected two states with...

Episode 54
Horace King – The Prince of Bridge Builders

“The Man Who Built the South’s Bridges”
The Story of Horace King

[SOUND: River current, low ambient water sound. A single hammer strike on wood, echoing. Then silence.]

ANNITA (V.O.)

Somewhere along the Chattahoochee River, there’s a bridge that isn’t there anymore. Most of them aren’t. Floods took some. War took others. Time took the rest.

But the man who built them? History almost took him too.

[SOUND: River fades under.]

Episode 53:
Susie King Taylor –
From Slavery to Civil War to Her Own School

The Story She Wrote Herself

Quarter Miles Travel shares a powerful story – Susie King Taylor – From Slavery to Civil War to her own school. Born into slavery in Liberty County, Georgia, in 1848, Susie King Taylor taught herself to read in secret, at a time when it was illegal for an enslaved child to do so.

After escaping to freedom in 1862, she became the first Black woman to teach openly in a school for African America...

Joe and The Alamo –
Little Known Stories

The Last Man Standing Joe
the Battle of The Alamo, and the testimony that became history

There were many stories on the wagon trail. To understand what Joe did, you first have to understand what he wasn’t supposed to do at all. He wasn’t a soldier. Nobody swore him in. Nobody handed him a rank.

He was, in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of the man who owned him, property, a twenty-year-old enslaved man named Joe, body se...

American Cowboys: The Real Story

SEGMENT ONE: THE AMERICAN COWBOY

Hello, hello and welcome  aboard Travel with Annita.

I am so glad you’re riding with me today — because today we are going somewhere I have wanted to take you for a long time. We are going West. Not just geographically west, but historically west. We are going to the heart of one of the most powerful, most misunderstood, and most genuinely American stories ever told.

We are talking about the American cowboy.

Now, when I say...

American Revolution Patriots
In The Shadows

Photo courtesy of U.S. Mint

July 10th, 1777. Middle of the night. A small rowboat slips through British-controlled waters off the coast of Rhode Island. Forty men are packed into a handful of boats, oars wrapped in cloth to muffle the sound. Their target: a British general, asleep in a farmhouse a mile inland from his own troops.

They land. They creep to the door. And when it doesn’t open fast enough, a man named Jack Sisson puts his own head down and ram...

Destination: America 250
What are we celebrating

America’s 250th: Three Events, One Story
Three Dates, One Nation, and Why the Difference Matters

Welcome to Travel with Annita. I’m so glad you’re here with me today, because we’re starting something a little different, a deep look at America’s 250th anniversary, what we’re actually celebrating, and why getting the story right matters more than you might think.

Here’s where this segment came from. Over the past while, I’ve had listeners ask me, more than once, and I mean...

Photo courtesy – U.S. Mint

Episode 48:
Juliette Gordon Low –
The Girl Scouts

Juliette Gordon Low & the Girl Scouts
From 18 Girls in Savannah to a Global Movement

Hello, hello, hello—and welcome to another journey through history.

Today we’re traveling to Savannah, a beautiful Southern city known for its moss-draped oak trees, historic squares, and charming architecture.

But Savannah is also the birthplace of a movement that changed the lives of millions of girls around the world. The stor...

Ona Judge was a woman of courage. She stood strong for her freedom from the most prestigious American family - George and Martha Washington. She escaped and remained free.

The Liberty Tree Yesterday and Today

Long before America became a nation… before there was a Declaration of Independence… before there were fireworks, parades, or even the United States itself… there was a tree.

There was The Liberty Tree. Its branches stretched over the streets of Boston like open arms gathering together ordinary people with extraordinary courage. Beneath that tree, colonists whispered dangerous ideas. They gathered in fear, in frustration, and eventually in hope. Hope that freedom could belong not only to kings and wealthy men, but to common people willing to stand togeth...

African Americans and
The First Memorial Day Celebration

Memorial Day, the USCT, and the Black Americans Who Remembered First

Do you know the story of African Americans and The First Memorial Day Celebration. There are some graves America remembers with marble, flags, and ceremony.And then there are others. Graves that began as trenches. Bodies placed quickly into the earth.
Names unspoken. Families never notified. No proper prayer.
No final honor. No mother, wife, child, or loved one standing close enough to say goodbye.

For many...

Episode 44: Yellowstone National Park
Bison and Wolves

2010 America The Beautiful Quarters Coin Yellowstone Wyoming Uncirculated Reverse

“Reach into your pocket… pull out a quarter… and let it take you somewhere unexpected.” Today… that quarter takes us to a place where the earth still breathes. Where steam rises from the ground…as if the land itself is telling a story.

Where rivers carve through valleys unchanged by time…and where wildlife moves not for us…but as it always has.

This is Yellowstone. A place that doesn’t ask to be understood—
o...

Episode 43:  Florida State Quarter
Three Woman Change Space Exploration

Photo courtesy U.S. Mint – Florida State Quarters Coin

Florida State Quarter US Mint release in 2004 features stories and history. Let’s start with- “Space… the last frontier.”
A place that has always called to us—quietly, persistently—asking us to look up and wonder what lies beyond.

It is the great unknown… vast, silent, and infinite.
And yet, it feels deeply personal. Because space isn’t just about distance or discovery— it’s about possibility. It’s about curiosity. It’s about the human desire to...

Photo: U.S. Mint

Episode 42: Cumberland Island Salt Marshes and African American History

Cumberland Island, located about 15 miles southeast of Kingsland, is the largest public barrier island off the coast of Georgia. And, Cumberland Island Salt Marshes and African American History is where located throughout the island.  Accessible only by ferry, the Cumberland Island National Seashore (the name given to the area after being acquired by the National Parks Service in 1972). Many groups have occupied the island over its 4000-year history, from the Timucoan tribe that first inhabited the island to the Spanish who built m...

Harriet Tubman Woman of Courage

Harriet Tubman: Conductor, Soldier, Humanitarian
A Life of Freedom, Courage, and Purpose

Photo: U.S. Mint

Harriet Tubman Woman of Courage – Today, we journey through one of the most powerful stories in American history, a story of courage, determination, and an unshakable belief in freedom.

It’s the story of Harriet Tubman. A woman born into slavery… who would go on to lead others to freedom, serve her country in war, and spend her life caring for those in need. Her story...

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion

Quarter Miles Travel –  where the adventure begins when you reach into your pocket.

Today, we’re not just traveling across miles… we’re traveling across time. Back to World War II. A time when the world was at war… and millions of American soldiers were stationed far from home. Letters — simple letters — became lifelines. Messages from mothers, fathers, wives, sweethearts, children. Words of love, hope, and connection.  And letters from soldiers back to their families.  

But here’s the problem…Those letters weren’t getting through. Yet, called to...

Photo: U.S. Mint

Althea Gibson
 American Women’s Quarter Series

The adventure begins when you reach into your pocket.

Today, we’re stepping onto the court — not just any court — but one that changed the game forever. And at the center of it all is a woman who didn’t just break barriers… she shattered them.

Her name is Althea Gibson.

Now, before Serena, before Venus, before the world ever imagined what dominance in tennis could look like from a Black woman — there was Althea. Tall, powerful, and determined...

Eleanor Roosevelt
U.S. Mint Women’s Quarter Series

Photo: U.S. Mint

There are times when you’re holding more than just a quarter … you’re holding a legacy.  You’re holding a coin from Eleanor Roosevelt U.S. Mint Women’s Quarter Series – you’re holding a legacy.  

A legacy carried by a phenomenal woman. Eleanor Roosevelt wasn’t just a First Lady — she redefined what that role could be. At a time when women were expected to stand quietly in the background, Eleanor stepped forward… and spoke up.

She traveled a...

Jovita Idar U.S. Mint Women’s Quarter Series

Photo: U.S. Mint

Jovita Idar U.S. Mint Women’s Quarter Series is unique and representative of her life’s work. Some women don’t just speak up… they stand firm when it matters most. Jovita Idar was one of those women.

A journalist, teacher, and activist, she used her voice to fight for the rights of Mexican Americans at a time when injustice was often ignored. When Texas Rangers tried to shut down her newspaper, Jovita didn’t step aside — she stood in the doorway...

Joanne Bland Spirit of Courage

Who is Joanne Bland Spirit of Courage. There are places in America where the ground remembers. Where every step carries an echo. Where every bridge holds a story. The Alabama quarter bears the words, Spirit of Courage. Not as decoration, but as truth. Because courage lived here. It walked these streets in worn shoes and steady faith.
It stood in the face of anger with quiet resolve. It belonged to women—young and determined—who believed that their footsteps could carry a nation forward.

In...

Destination:  Switzerland
A Closer Look

Hello, hello, hello and welcome aboard travel with annita & friends.  Glad to have you here with me today for a show to take a look at our expectations when we travel and how we find countries we visit are not so different from what we experience at home. 

When we travel, we often imagine we’re slipping out the side door of our own country’s troubles—leaving behind the social tensions, the political noise, the racial debates that feel stitched into our daily lives here in the U.S...

Destination:  Honoring Our Veterans

Everyday is a day to honor our veterans. They have served our country to keep us safe and secure. Their service should be held as the cornerstone of what makes our country what we enjoy about living here and visiting.  Thank you Veterans.

Take a listen to our show.

Destination:
Let’s Go To Bern, Switzerland

Come along to hear all about Switzerland historic and beautiful city of Bern. From cobblestone streets with fascinating history to Jazz music and delicious food, this show shares it all.

Glad you’re here for a replay of New Orleans Culture Cuisine and Music. This was an exciting show to produce. I once lived in New Orleans and visiting again after several years was a real treat to wander around familiar places.

Here’s the transcript from the show.  Click above to listen.

Hello, hello, hello and welcome aboard Travel With Annita, where we explore the stories behind the world’s most fascinating destinations — and today, we’re heading somewhere special. A place of history, heart, grit, and music that practically spills out onto the st...

Destination: North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland and Alabama
Great American States

Glad you’re here to have a replay of Destination:  North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland and Alabama.  Four amazing states with so much to see and do. Learn more about the history and how today we can find exciting getaways for family fun.

Transcript is below: 

Hello, hello, hello and welcome aboard Travel with Annita & friends. 

This is the show where stories travel far and wide—and today, we’re headed straight into the heart of the American South and beyond...

AVA Resort Cancun

All inclusive and all about the time of your life

During a recent trip to AVA Resort Cancun I had an amazing time filled with all the things I enjoy and most especially – an all inclusive experience. This property is ultra-luxury set along a secluded stretch of Cancún’s Hotel Zone, just a 10-minute drive from the airport. It is one of the largest new resorts in Cancún (1,600+ oceanfront suites), built around a dramatic, sail-inspired “let’s dive in” pools and lagoon. Just standing on your room balcony...

Fleeting Moments
Pan Am Memories

Here’s a story that will capture your heart and definitely your interest. Fleeting Moments of Pan Am Memories written by Michelle da Silva Richmond captures her story torn between two lovers with Pan Am as your backdrop.

On this show I’m taking a walk down memory lane and going back to not only my days as a Pan American World Airways flight attendant, but my guest Michelle de Silva Richmond will share her memories too.

I’ve been asked what was it like workin...

Off The Beaten Path Islands

With over tourism becoming a trendy topic, now is the time to explore off the beaten path islands for your next trip.  Here’s Travel With Annita’s list of four islands, ready for  your special trip – are you going solo, family, couples or with a group of friends.

These four places—Little Corn Island (Nicaragua), Holbox (Mexico), Robinson Crusoe Island (Chile), and Edisto Island (South Carolina, USA)—are all off-the-radar gems with wildly different personalities. Here’s a quick rundown of each:

Get ready for your adventure with these off...

Road Trips Adventures With 
Bill On The Road

Are you ready to hit the road this summer? I have suggestions and recommendations – it’s Road Trips Adventures With Bill On The Road. He is my go to for road trip tips, recommendations and trends. Bill Clevlen, the voice behind Bill On The Road, is a seasoned travel journalist and former St. Louis radio broadcaster who has been exploring America’s highways and byways since 2013. Clevlen launched his travel platform to spotlight the positive aspects of cities and towns across the United States. There are so many great p...

Episode 35:  Bessie Coleman

Photo – U.S. Mint

March 30, 2023

Bessie Coleman, the first African American and Native American woman to earn her international pilot’s license. Her story is one of determination and the tenacity to say, “yes, I can do it!”

From an early age Bessie Coleman’s mother taught her the importance of believing in herself and striving to “become somebody.” Her mother could not read, however she borrow books from a traveling library, and helped Bessie learn to read.  It was a great success, because not only did Bessie learn to read, s...

U.S. Mint State Quarters Inspire
The Start of Quarter Miles Travel

Photo – U.S. Mint

U.S. Mint State Quarters are the inspiration! It all started with Travel With Annita back when we were Travel With Annita.  Each year a new theme is selected for programing as a way to keep content interesting, fresh and new.

Inspired by the U.S. Mint State Quarters, Quarter Miles Travel was born out of a desire to focus on travel around the US, inspired by the designs on the reverse side (back) of the U.S...

Photo- U.S. Mint

Nina Otero-Warren
American Women Quarters Program

Nina Otero Warren – Women  Nina was a leader in New Mexico’s suffrage movement, the first woman to be superintendent of Santa Fe public schools, Chairman of New Mexico’s Board of Health,  an executive board member of the American Red Cross and director of an adult literacy program in New Mexico for the Works Projects Administration.

Nina has a long list of leadership accomplishments as an activists for Hispanic people.  

And, today she is the fifth woman featured on a quarter...

Photo – U.S. Mint

Episode 32: Anna May Wong
Quarter American Women Series

Anna May Wong is on the U.S. Mint Women Series quarter.

In the early 1920’s acting roles for Asian Americans were limited.  Hollywood  was yet to have roles with leading ladies who looked like Anna May Wong. 

But, that didn’t stop her….. There is a story of a courageous woman, who advocated for representation for multi-dimensional roles for Asian Americans.  

Anna May Wong would not stop… it would be her life’s journey and it is also her s...

Photo – U.S. Mint

Episode 31 – West Virginia State Quarter

Today it’s West Virginia State Quarter. It was released in 2005. The design on the reverse side of the quarter or the tail side, shows the New River and the New River Gorge Bridge which showcases the state’s natural beauty and the scenic views of the gorge located a few miles. north of Fayetteville, West Virginia.  The bridge was build in 1977 to span across the New River Gorge. Before the bridge was constructed, people in the area had to make their way along w...

Photo credit – U.S. Mint

Episode 30:  Wilma Mankiller US Mint Women’s Quarter Series

Notable Facts:

Early Life:

U.S. Mint Photo

Sally Ride Quarter American Women Series

Sally Ride Quarter American Women Series is here!

She was the first American woman in space.
She was the first female CAPCOm – capsule communicator at NASA
She was the first astronaut to acknowledge that she was Gay

The excitement around her accomplishments and firsts as an American Woman Astronaut created a lively saying as she prepared for her first orbit in space –  all of America was saying “Ride, Sally, Ride…

Sally Ride’s life is an inspirati...

Photo – U.S. Mint 

Episode 28 – Quarter Miles Travel
Hawaii State Quarter – Two Bits

Quarter Miles Travel Hawaii State Quarter is all about the monarch history of the state.  We capture it all in our Two Bits segment of Quarter Miles Travel

Show Transcript
Did you know that the quarter is also called two bits?  Well, that’s based on the division of the Spanish peso…. A bit back in time.  But, quarters are still sometimes called two bits.  There’s a lot of history in coins… and trivia too.

Quarter Miles was f...