Local things to do
There is no shortage of fun things to do around Dayton! Below we have listed several options within walking distance, and also “worth a short drive”.
Things to do within walking distance
The Oregon District
This is the place you come to peruse art, sip a latte while reading poetry, watch a film with subtitles, argue politics over a pint of beer, sway to live music, cry with laughter at a comedy club. Feed your passion for antiques and vintage merchandise or dine on world-class cuisine. Get in shape with the power of martial arts or the grace of yoga.
www.theoregondistrict.org
Dayton Dragons Baseball
5/3 Field on 1st Street
April through September – Enjoy baseball the way it is meant to be experienced by spending a day or evening with the Dayton Dragons. The Dragons are the Single A farm team of the Cincinnati Reds organization. Games draw 8000+ fans on a regular basis, but a few tickets are always available the day of the game.
www.daytondragons.com
Wiley’s Comedy Joint
101 Pine St.
Dayton, OH 45402
Phone: 937-224-JOKE
Enjoy live comedy Thursday through Sunday nights. Headliners at Wiley’s have appeared on the Bob & Tom Show, Comedy Central, The Tonight Show and HBO. Reservations recommended.
www.wileyscomedy.com
The Packard Museum
420 S. Ludlow St.
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Phone: 937.226-1710
America’s Packard Museum is the world’s only restored Packard Dealership operating as a museum, and only full-time museum dedicated exclusively to the Packard Motor Car Company, it’s products and philosophies.
www.americaspackardmuseum.org
Riverscape MetroPark
Riverscape by the Great Miami River in the heart of Downtown Dayton, is a hub of activities for all ages — from concerts to laser light and music shows, to pedal boats and even outdoor ice skating in winter. Beautiful floral plantings, hanging baskets, and fountains make RiverScape the Miami Valley’s favorite gathering place.
www.metroparks.org
The Schuster Center
Corner of Main St. and 2nd St.
Ticket Sales or Show Information :(937) 228-3630
The Schuster Center educates and enriches lives by providing a world-class facility for the best in local, national and international performing artists. Dayton Opera and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra call the Schuster Center home, and it also showcases the latest Broadway blockbusters. Additionally, a variety of local performing arts treasures, such as the Dayton Ballet, will also make use of the facilities.
www.schustercenter.org
Second Street Public Market
2nd Street at Webster
Open Thursday through Saturday – Located in Downtown Dayton, this unique public market will tantalize your senses with over 50 local farm, floral, food and gift vendors.
www.metroparks.org
Victoria Theater
138 N. Main St
Phone: 937-228-3630
Victoria Theatre is home to many Dayton arts organizations including Dayton Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC), Dayton Philharmonic’s Chamber Series and The Muse Machine. The Victoria also plays host to the summer film series “Ultra Cool Films,” featuring all-time classic movies on the big screen.
www.victoriatheater.com
Things to do worth a short drive
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
2600 DeWeese Parkway
Phone: 937-275-7431
www.boonshoftmuseum.com
Sunwatch Village
2301 West River Road
Phone: 937-268-8199
The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is based on the understanding that science is the process through which we come to understand our world, and that play is the way children do science. Thus, we are a place where play and learning come together so that visitors of all ages can explore the wonders of the world. The Museum includes a host of places for adventure – – That Kid’s Playce, the Hall of the Universe, the Caryl D. Philips Space Theater Oscar Boonshoft Science Central, EcoTrek, the Mead TreeHouse, Bieser Discovery Center, Charles E. Exley, Jr. Wild Ohio Zoo, and two galleries for temporary exhibits. Our sister site, SunWatch Indian Village, brings to life the 900 year old Fort Ancient culture. Here visitors of all ages can experience the daily lives of these members of Dayton’s first neighborhood.
www.sunwatch.org
Carillon Park
1000 Carrillon Blvd (off Patterson Blvd)
937-293-2841
A 65-acre outdoor museum with 20 historic exhibit buildings, and the site of the 57-bell Deeds Carillon. Also exhibits the 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world’s first practical airplane.
www.carillonpark.org
Dayton Art Institute
456 Belmonte Park North
Dayton, OH 45406–4700
Phone: 937-223-5277
Located about 10 minutes from Inn Port, DAI receives exciting exhibits from around the world. Past exhibits have included Treasures of Ancient Egypt, Chihuly Glass and the “Diana” exhibit.
www.daytonartinstitute.org
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
Phone: 937-225-7705
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park commemorates the work of Orville and Wilbur Wright in the Dayton, Ohio, area where the brothers lived and worked, as well as the life and work of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. Historic sites at the park include the building which housed the Wright Cycle Company and Wright and Wright Printing; Huffman Prairie Flying Field; the 1905 biplane, Wright Flyer III; and the Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial.
www.nps.gov/daav/index.htm
Fraze Pavillion
Lincoln Park Boulevard
Phone: 937-296-3300
Just down the road in Kettering, some of the biggest names in musical entertainment make a stop in the Miami Valley during the summer months. The Fraze also plays host to numerous free events and festivals throughout the summer.
www.fraze.com
National Museum of the United States Air Force
Located just 15 minutes away via US 35 and I-675, Dayton is proud to be the home of the world’s oldest and largest aviation museum. Open 9am-5pm daily (admission is free), with over 300 aircraft and missiles on display, you will want to dedicate an entire day to see it.
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
University of Dayton
Campus operator: 937-229-1000
As proud alums of UD, Jeff and I can’t leave them off the list. This Catholic university was founded by the Marianists in 1850 and is attended annually by over 10,000 students, approximately 6,500 of whom are undergraduates. Whether you are coming for a college visit, want to pick up a souvenir sweatshirt or go to a basketball game at UD Arena, a visit to the campus of the University of Dayton and its surrounding area is time well spent.
www.udayton.edu
For more activities and events around Dayton, head over to Dayton Local, where you’ll find hundreds of events, festivals, and other activities listed in their popular community calendar.
Also see: Dining around Dayton