Anyone who knows me well can attest to the fact that I am a tremendous nerd, and among the many things that make me geek out is American history.

So at the end of the semester, during a trip to Philadelphia for our rowing conference championships, I found myself with a completely free Sunday to explore the city. I’m pretty sure that “excited” was an understatement.

We started the morning off at the Liberty Bell with a tour of Independence Hall – cue “National Treasure” flashbacks. And, per a friend’s recommendation, ended up at the Franklin Fountain, an old-style ice cream counter and soda fountain. Literally my two favorite things: history and ice cream.

Now that I’m planning an adventure out to Washington DC in a few weeks, I’ve been soaking up any recommendations I can get and reveling in the amount of nerding I’ll undoubtedly be doing. Have a must-see spot? I’d love to hear it!