Dayton, Ohio is definitely not a city that tops a lot of tourist stops. However, Dayton is definitely a city that has a lot of attractions that you can enjoy as a family. At the same time, though, these attractions are generally lower in cost and do not cost you a fortune to partake in. In fact, some of the best attractions you can visit in Dayton are completely free to enjoy. With that in mind, I decided to share what I feel are the top attractions in Dayton, Ohio. By knowing about these attractions, it can easily take and elevate Dayton from a town that you may have never considered traveling to being one that should top the list of destinations for your family.
How Did I Narrow Down The List Of Attractions
Well, I have to admit this was the challenging part for me. While I did find a lot of different attractions in Dayton, the difficult part was trying to figure out which one to feature and which one did not really need to make my list. After much thought, I did narrow down my list and that is what I am sharing here and that will definitely help you in planning your trip to Dayton, OH and know it will be quite a bit of fun.
National Museum of the US Air Force
The military has a long standing tradition in Dayton and that is easy to see why with Wright Patterson Air Force base being located in the city. Now, as an offshoot and in a standing tradition of wanting to show off the beauty of the air force and its history it is only fitting that the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is located in Dayton.
Now, when you go to the Museum of the United States Air Force, it will make it easier for you to learn about the history of flight. If you go through the galleries that are present in the museum by the guide then you start off with the first part of flight. We all know that comes from the Wright Brothers who had their bicycle shop in Dayton. With the displays you can see the advances in flight and even see some of the original airplanes or reproductions of the planes.
Over time you have a chance to advance through the different ages of flight and the advances in military technology. These advances are often what is considered to be the helpful side of winning the wars that the United States fought in. What else is interesting is you even have a chance to explore what helped to keep the Russians at bay in the Cold War with the different ICBM missiles and the other warheads, deactivated of course, that are included in the different displays in the museum.
Boonshoft Museum Of Discovery
Going around to a museum may not really seem that interesting. However, the museum is one that is geared towards people of all ages. The Boonshoft Museum goes a step above what a lot of people would expect from a museum as it goes out and has a small zoo included as well. The location definitely is one that is geared more towards the kids with all the interactive displays that are available, but as an adult you are going to find something to do as well. This makes it quite a bit easier for you to have a great time at the museum.
Now, if you are planning a trip to Boonshoft make sure you check out their website for the latest information on the exhibits. Yes, the museum does have quite a few permanent exhibits, but it also has some that are changing and those are what will make the museum interesting with all that you have available to check out and see.
America’s Packard Museum
The Packard is an older car that is no longer in production, but it is a car that has a great history. The downside is not many people know about the car and think that hearing the name it is talking about something completely different. That is a mistaken that is common and one that can be avoided. With that being the case, it is always interesting to take a step back in time to see the shape of the cars and the different vehicles that were produced many years ago.
What is really interesting about America’s Packard Museum is the fact that it is built in an old Packard car dealership. Now, stepping into the museum with it being older is like stepping back into time. If you have a fairly vivid imagination you may even think about your grandparents, walking into the Packard dealer and looking for a new car. Once you start to see the cars that are inside the dealership it will be easy to see why the cars of yesteryear are often considered some of the best looking cars in history.
Dayton Art Institute
Art is a great thing to see and appreciate. However, when you are in Dayton, the city is one that does have its own art institute. Granted, it is not nearly the level as the Louvre, but for a smaller city it is perfectly suited and definitely a place that you can enjoy and spend quite a bit of time at. Now, at the same time, if you are looking for some masterpieces and even local artwork then you are not going to go wrong by coming here.
Depending on when you are in Dayton or if you are local to the area, then you may want to check out different classes the art institute offers. Yes, some of the classes are geared specifically for kids, but other courses that are offered are meant for people of all ages. No, this does not mean that as an adult you may not have the chance to enjoy the chance to create art, but it does mean you may have to carefully research what is available.
Carillon Historical Park
If you are looking for a different place to go and want to enjoy the outdoors then the Carillon Historical Park may be the best option for you. The park is a 65-acre location that is a combination of a park and museum that is located in Dayton. Now, as you can imagine the history of flight in the area was very important to Dayton already. Well, with that being the case, manufacturing and technology has definitely played an important role in the history of the city. That is definitely the case at the park.
The park will have different buildings, but also displays that are meant to guide you from the start of the city of Dayton in 1796 all the way to the present day. What else is interesting is the park and historical aspect of the park seem to flow together. Now, I will say this unless it is a warmer winter day you may not want to explore the park, but if you are in Dayton in the summer months then this could easily be one of the best options you have for something to do in Dayton.
Plan Your Dayton Ohio Vacation Now
Dayton, OH may not be on the top of your list of vacation destinations. However, if you are looking for a quick vacation in a small city that has plenty for you to do, then you need to consider why Dayton will make a great choice for your next vacation spot. Without this information, then you could be disappointed in what you think Dayton has to offer because you never explored the region like we did to give you the 5 best attractions in Dayton.
