Dayton,OH
 

just wondering what else there is to do in the dayton area besides the air force museum?Is there any historial sites for the wright brothers?

i have children with me 10/13 years old

Thanks

Melissa

The Wright brothers home is located in the south end of Dayton, occupying a full block. It's owned as a corporate guest house so its not open to the public but is still kind of interesting to look at. Their relocated bicyle shop is located on one of the main streets of Centerville, just south of Dayton.

A bit further south, the little village of Waynesville is chock-a-block with antique stores, antique malls, etc.

Having said all that, Dayton is decidely not Disneyworld North. I think its probably a better area to live in than it is to visit and I HATED the 4 1/2 years I lived there.

I haven't lived there in many years! You can go by the Wright Brothers home (from adulthood days) in Oakwood, but it is not open to the public.

Go to Deeds Carillon Park in Kettering along the river. There are a number of historic buildings and recreations that are on exhibit there.

There's a nice science museum and planatarium on the north side. And the Dayton Art Institue is an interesting place for kids -- Egyptian exhibits particularly.

We were posting at the same time. Intereting comment dwoodon, about the bicycle shop. I always that the original one was moved to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, along with their boyhood home. I grew up in Dayton and lived and worked there until my mid 20's. I never knew about the one in Centerville.

South of Dayton, north of Springboro is the home of the Wright B Flyer. It's a replica that flies:

www.destinationdayton.com/wrightb

Young's Dairy Farm is a lot of fun if you're not from a rural area. I like to see the animals in the petting zoo. The ice cream is delicious.

www.youngsdairy.com

The Dayton Art Institute is very good. It's certainly not a Chicago Art Institute but still very pleasant.

Just to the southwest is Miamisburg. It has some antique shops in their old downtown. I like to eat at Bullwinkles.

The science center/children's museum is very nice too:

www.boonshoftmuseum.org

The Oregon District on the east/southeast side of downtown is a fun nightlife, bar hopping district. At least it used to be a few years ago when I went.

Dominic's on the near south side has excellent Italian food.

In the same area is the Pine Club a classic, old steak place. President Bush Sr. has eaten there. No reservations, no credit cards. Bush had to wait in his limo until the Secret Service told him his table was ready.

Roosters is a small local chain with buffalo-style wings that I like.

Elsa's for a "Bad Juan" margarita and Mexican food. After a couple of those I'm not quite sure what I had to eat or whether or not I liked it. :-D

I've been thinking about the AF Museum with 10/13 year olds.

There are a LOT of planes in the museum including the one that dropped the 2nd atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Bockscar. It's easy to get overloaded with the planes.

However do try to go to the secondary hanger. It has several old Air Force One airplanes that I find fascinating.

Patrick: Since they lived and worked in the Dayton area all their lives, I would not be surprised if they had more than one bicycle shop. The one in Centerville has a brass placque posted on the front that describes it as such. I never did any historical research on it so I'm only repeating the information I had from the placque.

I had the good fortune to be an executive with the company that owns their home and in the early 1980's, hosted a number of dinners for clients in that home.

I also recommend the Pine Club to anyone who likes a good steak.

Dwoodon, NCR, huh? I used to teach theatre at Oakwood High School a few blocks from the big Wright Home and also attended a couple of banquets there myself. Really a pretty home.

If there is anything I miss at all about Dayton, it is definitely The Pine Club -- my house charge there used to rival the national debt. I recently discovered their website and think about ordering some steaks -- but it just wouldn't be the same as being there, so I don't.

I recommend Young's Dairy as well. The town it is in, Yellow Springs, is fun to walk around. It has a couple of good casual restaurants and some neat shops selling the works of local artists.

I don't know how long you'll be in the area, but if you don't mind the drive to Cincinnati (less than an housr) and are looking for history, the National Underground Railroad Museum just opened.

I also recommend dinner at the Pine Club. We arrived at 5:30pm, seated ourselves at the bar and had drinks until our table was ready. By 6:00pm the bar was three deep and no seats!

Regarding the Air Force museum - I don't know if you know this, but there is an IMAX theatre there that the kids are sure to love. Also, you can tour the previous presidential planes (several versions of Air Force One) but you need a reservation, so stop by the desk early when you get there because they are free (I believe) but book up quickly.

Here is a link to the museum if you need it:

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/index.htm

It's one of my husband's and my favorite places to visit, but I have not taken kids there.

Joy

We lived in Oakwood for a few years in the early 80's; my kids were born there! What is the name of that pizza place, maybe in Kettering?, with the thin crust; their pieces were cut into little squares and there were autographed fotos of "movie stars" all over the walls.

The Pine Club...I am drooling just thinking about it. Guess I will have to take a road trip over to Dayton...

Goodness, I've never even been there! Guess I'll be planning a short road trip as well!!!

Buckeyemom - If I'm not mistaken you are in the Columbus area? Are there any spa hotels around there you would recommend? I've been fantasizing about running away from my family for a night and would love a nice hotel with a good spa where I can get a massage & facial.

I am in Columbus. The Marengo Institute has a spa now at the Westin Great Southern w/packages. http://www.marengoinstitute.com/index2.cfm?store=Westin Click on specials. I personally go to Penzones.

There are also a couple of day spas at Easton. There is a beautiful new Hilton there, not sure if they do spa packages or not. They do have concierge services, so they could probably arrange spa services for you.

Another place which I like is Cherry Valley Lodge in Newark. They do have spa packages.
http://www.cherryvalleylodge.com Click on getaway packages/year round.

Thanks, bukeyemom! The one at the Westin looks great (I know I'd sleep well on the heavenly bed). I've actually been to Cherry Valley Lodge once but it was for a work retreat to I didn't even notice they had a spa!!

Not what you asked for, but should you desire that romantic get-a-way, my daughter and her husband love to drive to Hocking Hills "Love Bug Cabins". http://www.ashcave.com/ A massage therapist comes to your fireplaced room and your jacuzzi tub is surrounded by windows and trees and very private. You can have dinner delivered to your front door. I've not been but we are looking forward to going.

Actually, I had suggested to dh that we have my parents watch the kids for one night and go someplace close but he said no - he was trying to save money (which didn't stop him from buying new speakers for our basement we're having finished). So I decided that even if he didn't need a break from the little ones, I did (which is why I'm looking for a nice hotel w/a spa for the night)!!

I've heard Hocking Hills is lovely and considered it several times. However my inlaws have a lake house in TN we can use whenever (though it's a 4hr drive) so it always seems to come down to the fact that TN is free and Hocking Hills isn't!! Oh well, someday!!!!

Snowrooster:
As I said in another post, If it's finished, it's NOT a basement, it's the "Lower Level". :-)

Right now it is half primered, not at all painted, and not at all carpetted. But it is drywalled, electric run, and lighting installed - so hopefully some day soon it will indeed be a lovely lower level!!