DAYTON AREA MUSEUMS

America’s Packard Museum

The Packard Motor Car Company comes to life again in America's Packard Museum. Located in the original Packard Dealership Building which was built in 1917, the museum has officially taken the name of the original dealership - The Citizens Motorcar Company - but has become known as "America's Packard Museum". The museum features over 50 automobiles on display in the restored Art Deco showroom, service department and pavilion.

Admission: $6 Adults
Web Site:  http://www.americaspackardmuseum.org/
Location:  420 S. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH
From UD:  6 min; 1.9 miles

Dayton Art Institute

Almost 100 years old, The Dayton Art Institute, one of the nation’s finest mid-sized art museums. Sitting atop a hill on the edge of the Great Miami River over-looking downtown Dayton, the striking building of nearly 60,000 square feet  is modeled after the Villa d’Este near Rome and the Villa Farnese at Caprarola in Italy, both examples of sixteenth century Italian Renaissance architecture. The collection, now comprised of more than 26,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of art history, is rated as “superb in quality” by the American Association of Museums.

Admission:  Free
Web Site:  http://www.daytonartinstitute.org/
Location:  456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton, OH
From UD:  10 min; 3 miles   

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and Wright Cycle Shop

See the neighborhood where the Wright brothers lived and worked. The restored Wright Cycle Shop at 22 S. Williams St. and the adjacent Hoover Block where they operated a printing business form the headquarters for the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. Also located nearby is a re-creation of their childhood home on Hawthorn Street.

Admission: Free
Web site:  http://www.nps.gov/daav/index.htm
Location:  22 S. Williams St., Dayton
From UD:  10 min; 2.8 miles

Dayton History - Carillon Historical Park

Visit this nearby outdoor history museum situated on a beautiful 65-acre campus along the Great Miami River. The Park immerses you in the region's history, from Dayton's founding in 1796 through two centuries of Dayton expansion, industrialism and innovation. Stroll through the Park's 25 historical buildings Including Dayton’s oldest building, 1796 Newcom Tavern. See such well-known Dayton inventions as the original 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world's first practical airplane, and other transportation artifacts like Dayton-made automobiles, bicycles and railroad car.

Admission:  $8 Adults
Web site:  http://www.daytonhistory.org/
Location:  1000 Carillon Blvd, Dayton
From UD:  7 min; 1.9 miles

The National Museum of the Air Force

Visit Ohio’s most popular free attraction. The Air Force museum features a world class collection of hundreds of aircraft from an early Wright brothers’ 1911 military Flyer, WWI open-cockpit fighters, and WWII bombers to the modern day F-16, “stealth” fighter and B-2 bomber. Also included are space exploration aircraft such as Mercury and Gemini rockets, space capsules as well as test planes. An IMAX theatre is also in the museum with viewings daily (ticket prices vary).

Admission:  Free
Web site:  http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
Location:  1100 Spaatz St, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433
From UD:  18 min; 7 miles

Sunwatch Indian Village

Step back in time. Along the banks of the Great Miami River, an extraordinary place hides within a seemingly ordinary setting…SunWatch, the original site of an 800-year-old American Indian village. This National Historical Landmark protects, preserves  and researches  the cultural remains of the archaeological site and serves as a visitor and educational center for archaeology, Native American culture, and heritage stewardship.

Admission:  $5 Adults
Web Site:  http://www.sunwatch.org/
Location:  2301 West River Road, Dayton, OH 45417-6815
From UD:  12 min; 4 miles

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Aullwood Audubon Center & Farm

Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, an Audubon Center for environmental education and organic agriculture, provides activities that increase understanding and preservation of the planet by children and adults through education, research and recreation. Visit the Marie S. Aull Education Center to enjoy the interactive educational exhibits, live animals and many more things to see, hear, smell and touch.

Admission:  $4 Adults
Web Site:  http://aullwood.center.audubon.org/index.html
Location:  1000 Aullwood Rd., Dayton, OH
From UD:  27 min; 12.3 miles

Aullwood Garden MetroPark

This nationally recognized, historic estate garden is rich in plant diversity, habitats and tranquility. Many bird and butterfly species are observed here. The garden acquired its present configuration in the two decades following John and Marie Aull’s marriage in 1923. From the beginning, Wiles Creek served as a landscape focus and the forest shade determined the selection of plants. Tens of thousands of Virginia bluebells that now cover the hillsides in late April are the progeny of 500 plants they purchased. For decades, this living work of art has touched visitors emotionally and spiritually with its diversity and abundance of floral displays, towering trees and serenity. The 31-acre park has a picturesque creek, prairie, woods and gardens planted with native and exotic flowers.

Admission:  Free
Web Site:  http://www.metroparks.org/Parks/AullwoodGarden/Home.aspx
Location:  955 Aullwood Rd., Dayton, OH
From UD:  27 min; 12 miles

Cox Arboretum MetroPark

This beautiful 189-acre facility is a special place for visitors to escape among trees, shrubs, specialty gardens, mature forests and prairies. The arboretum hosts year-round educational programs that teach children and adults about sustainable horticulture, plant science and conservation. Cox Arboretum MetroPark is also home to a native-Ohio Butterfly House.

Admission:  Free
Web Site:  http://www.metroparks.org/Parks/CoxArboretum/Home.aspx
Location:  6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton, OH
From UD:  16 min; 7 miles

Dayton Dragons

The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds organization, and are one of the best-supported teams in all of professional sports. Enjoy a minor league game in beautiful Fifth-Third Field in downtown Dayton. 

Web Site:  http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t459
Location:  220 N. Patterson Blvd.
From UD:  10 min; 3 miles

RiverScape MetroPark

This popular park, found along the Great Miami River in the heart of Downtown Dayton, is a hub of activities for all ages -- from concerts and community events to pedal boats and other river rentals. Beautiful floral plantings, hanging baskets and fountains make RiverScape the Miami Valley's favorite community gathering place.

Admission:  Free
Pedal Boat, Bicycle Rentals:  (937) 278-2607
Web Site:  http://www.metroparks.org/Parks/Riverscape/Home.aspx
Location: 111 E. Monument St., Dayton, OH
From UD:  10 min; 2.6 miles

SHOPPING AND DINING

Second Street Public Market

Local growers, bakers, culinary specialists and artisans fill this charming historic freight house. Reminiscent of European markets, it’s alive with vendors, people and activity during market hours and is a great place for breakfast or lunch.

Thursday & Friday 11:00 am - 3:00 pm; Saturday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Website:  http://www.metroparks.org/Parks/SecondStreetMarket/Home.aspx
Location:  600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH
From UD:  8 min; 2.6 miles

The Greene Town Center

This innovative mixed-use, office, retail, dining and entertainment center serves as the third major shopping mall in the Dayton region. Designed to look and act like a town center, three-story buildings house ground level retail and upper level apartments with plenty of outdoor gathering spaces and sidewalk dining. The 72-acre site has free parking and also houses the Cinema Deluxe movie complex.

Website:  http://www.thegreene.com/
Location:  51 Plum St., Beavercreek, OH
From UD:  14 min; 6.6 miles

The Shops of Oakwood

A number of shops and restaurants are found along Far Hills Avenue in Oakwood just south of campus. Some are: Chico’s, Talbot’s, Inside/Outside, Park Avenue Antiques, Graeter’s Ice Cream , Starbucks and The Oakwood Club.

From UD:  5 min, 2 miles

Brown Street

Located next to campus, this shopping area is home to many eateries including Panera Bread, Chipotle, the Submarine House, Night and Day Cafe, Milano’s, Dewey’s Pizza, Five Guys, the Butter Cafe and Ben & Jerry’s or Coldstone Ice Cream, among others.  For dinner try the Pine Club, nationally known for its steaks and chops, or the Old Hickory Barb-e-que.