Why Doylestown was the best town to grow up in

The most commonly asked question at parties is “so where are you from?” and the most common answer here at Penn State is “right outside of Philly”. That could be any one of hundreds of places that Eastern Pennsylvanians might consider “right outside” of philly, but you get the general idea: not State College, not Pittsburgh.

Doylestown, PA is one of those towns. Home of the Bucks County Courthouse, Doylestown is essentially the center of Central Bucks. Whether you went to any the three high schools (Central Bucks West, East, or South), only one of which is actually located in Doylestown (West) I’d bet you anything that you spent more than one weekend night loitering in the Starbucks parking lot watching 15-17-year-old boys with those stupid shaggy haircuts try to impress you with their skateboarding moves.

Here are some of the things that make Doylestown so unique:

Central Bucks West

Doylestown Township is actually split three ways – you could go to any one of the three schools in the district. So although my address is in Doylestown, PA and I live less than three miles from the school, I didn’t get to go to West. Don’t get me wrong, CB South was great (and a lot newer) but having your high school located in town is pretty dope. You’re only a five minute walking distance from the center of town, and on weeknights it’s practically crawling with kids aged 14 to 18.

Nat’s Pizza

Less than 5 blocks away from West, Nat’s Pizza is the number-one place to go get thin crust, dab-the-grease-off-before-you-eat-it pizza right after a high school football game. It’s healthier and newer competitor, Jules, really can’t compare to the artery-clogging deliciousness that only a fresh-baked slice can bring. I actually worked here for a couple years and know first-hand how delicious the pizza is, although I personally believe their Italian (wudder) ice is the best around (sorry Annie’s!).

Starbucks

Located literally in the heart of Doylestown, this is more than just a Starbucks. The porch on the front is prime for idling away spring days, and as I mentioned before, behind the building is where extreme skateboarding stars are born. Like so many other shops and restaurants in town, Starbucks adapted and placed their storefront within old architecture, so instead of sticking out like a sore commercial thumb, it blends in beautifully with the rest of the town.

The County

In the past few decades, Doylestown has experience a lot of growth and change. But according to the locals, the County Theatre is one of the few places that looks exactly like it did 40-some years ago. Not only is it super cute, it does a really incredible job of selecting indie films you wouldn’t see at your local Regal Cinema.

Historical District: Michener and Mercer Museum

If you grew up in Doylestown, chances are you were dragged by your parents or grandparents on more than one occasion to the Michener and Mercer Museums. We never really did appreciate that right next door were two extraordinary exhibits of art and history. The Mercer museum is a massive cement castle filled with Henry Mercer’s collection of pre-industrial era everyday objects, and the Michener Museum was a county jail that was repurposed into a modern-day visual arts museum, housing both incredible permanent and temporary collections.

Not to mention that close by is the Font Hill castle and the Mercer Tile Factory, where unique tiles and photo ops abound.

The Zen Den

This is relatively new, but the Zen Den is a good example of the really awesome small businesses located all over Doylestown. Starbucks will always have a place in my heart, but the coffee here really is fan-fucking-tastic.

Doylestown is what all towns would strive to be.  Covered with real historic buildings and architecture, and brimming with hangouts, upscale shopping, and the whole spectrum of restaurants.  The old and the new blend in a place that is real, fun, and livable.  And it’s just outside of Philly.