Hoops, hipsters and hops: Ohio city has more than just old planes

1 THE WRIGHT STUFF

The city’s favourite sons are Wilbur and Orville Wright, who built the first airplane in their bicycle shop and, after making the initial powered flight in December 1903 at Kitty Hawk, N.C., came home to Dayton to work the bugs out. A memorial stands at Huffman Prairie, where they made flights in 1904-05 and really learned to control the plane. Don’t get us started on claims that anywhere else is the “birthplace of flight.”

A tribute statue commemorating the Wright Brothers stands on Monument Avenue in Dayton.

2 MORE AIRPLANES

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is one of the greatest museums in America and a stop on the Dayton Aviation Trail, which includes many of the Wright sites. The museum attracts about a million visitors a year and has such national treasures as a Wright 1909 Flyer, the Air Force One that brought U.S. president John F. Kennedy’s body back from Dallas, and the newly restored Second World War bomber Memphis Belle.

Visitors gather under open bomb-bay doors during a private viewing of the Memphis Belle.

3 THE OREGON DISTRICT

The centre of residential life in Dayton’s formative years, the historic Oregon District has some lovingly preserved buildings and homes. Fifth Street now is a hipster haven, lined with bars and restaurants and a great place to see live music.

Dayton resident Ash Lyn browses records outside Feathers antiques and vintage clothing boutique in Dayton’s Oregon District.

4 MMMMM ... SMOOTH BEER

Craft beer has become the next big thing, with at least a half-dozen bars/restaurants and four breweries opening within a mile (1.6 kilometres) of each other near Fifth Third Field, part of the Dayton Ale Trail. Besides sublime local brews, many of the places have excellent eats.

Brewer Tyler Barrett stirs a brew kettle at the Toxic Brew Co. in the Oregon District in Dayton.

5 FIRST FOUR

March Madness begins every year with great fanfare in Dayton. First Four play-in games of the NCAA basketball tournament have brought the national spotlight to the city for the past 18 years. The event is wellsupported locally as eight potential Cinderellas play at University of Dayton Arena for the chance to break into the big dance. The second night of this year’s First Four set a new attendance record for the event.

Providence and Southern California vie for the tipoff of a First Four game.