Aloha Philadelphia: Rediscovering the mainland

After residing for four years on Hawaii’s Big Island amidst palm trees, white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, Philadelphia seemed a daunting, peculiar place to move.

“Why?”

This was repeatedly the immediate response I received from friends, family and acquaintances. And to be honest, I wasn’t confident of an answer myself. A Havertown native, I was ready to return to my roots, right? I packed away my bathing suits and brought out my wool sweaters.

Then, after a long flight to the mainland and a 50-degree drop in temperature, I decided it was time to rediscover Philadelphia.

I spent the morning exploring Old City, where history seeps through the cracks in the cobblestone alleys, and revolutionary buildings whisper secrets of the past. This is where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were created, where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were first encouraged. This is pretty amazing.

After tossing a penny on Benjamin Franklin’s grave at the Christ Church Burial Ground for good luck and examining the crack in the Liberty Bell out of curiosity, I walked the few short blocks to South Street.

Comprised of rows of eclectic shops, contemporary art galleries and cozy eateries, South Street radiates the same values that were cornerstones of the Declaration of Independence-- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To follow my own pursuit of happiness, my next stop was Jim’s Steaks for a long-awaited, authentic Philly cheese steak, ‘wiz wit’ of course.

While discovering new elements of Philadelphia, the old childhood memories returned-- rollerblading along West River Drive, climbing through the “Heart” at The Franklin and gazing in awe at Macy’s annual Holiday Light Show.

Instead of my purple jellies, I now donned black pumps, but I realized the City continues to hold the perpetual magic. From the Convention Center District with businessman and briefcases to Fairmont Park’s riverside trails and the Parkway’s public art, Philadelphia is truly a diverse city with a multitude of opportunities.

Home of the world champion Phillies and America’s first zoo, this is a city with charming historic homes and modern high-rises, quaint BYOBs and exciting nightlife, and where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are still encouraged.

That's more than enough to draw this native back home.

- by Meredith Wertz