50 THINGS TO DO IN DAYTON THIS SUMMER
50 things to do in Dayton this summer.
SUMMER!!! Whether you like hanging out at home, grabbing drinks with friends or exploring the Dayton area, we’ve got you covered.
Here are 50 must-do things this summer in the Dayton area.
Let the adventures begin! 1.) Take a walking brewery tour. Summer and beer go hand in hand. Start at the Fifth Street Brewpub and walk down Fifth Street to the Oregon. You can then hit Toxic, Warped Wing, Barrel House and Dayton Beer Company. The best part of the tour is you can stumble to all five breweries in just under a mile. 2.) Get out and paddle. The Miami Valley has plenty to offer when it comes to water festivities. Grab some friends and enjoy the thrill of canoeing, kayaking and rafting (and check out our guide to paddling for tips on where to go, including the brand new RiverScape River Run). 3.) Check out the Yellow
Cab. The ever-so-popular Yellow Cab Tavern in Dayton is home to lots of great events, food trucks, live music, craft beer, night
markets and more. 4.) Visit Carillon Historical Park. Ride the Dayton Carousel of Innovation, experience pioneer history, tour the Patterson Homestead, drink fresh-brewed craft beer and enjoy German-style hearty fare. The park is the perfect place for a day with the family or a night out with friends. 5.) View Dayton from the Woodland Cemetery. Aside from visiting the famous Daytonians who are buried here, Woodland offers a view like no other. Lookout Columbarium stands at the highest point in the city and is the ultimate spot for sightseers, lovers and lunch breaks. 6.) Cool off at the waterpark. Whether you’re looking to soak up the sun or take advantage of one of the many deals the park is offering
this summer, there are tons of great outdoor waterpark adventures a short drive from Dayton all summer long including Soak City at Kings Island, Coney Island in Cincinnati, Zoombezi Bay at the Columbus Zoo and The Beach Waterpark.
7.) Hike the Gorge. The prettiest 2-mile stretch of the Little Miami State and National Scenic River, east of John Bryan State Park, is a must-do summer adventure. It’s the perfect example of post-glacial canyon cutting and offers the most rad views for hikers. 8.) Hit the Great Miami River trail. Are you ready for an adventure? With 75 miles of trails, it’s the ultimate spot for runners, skaters or cyclists. The trail winds through downtown Dayton, Riverscape, museums and several monuments. 9.) The Celtic Festival. This is the festival of festivals, and it should be on everyone’s list of events to attend. Experience the luck of the Irish and immerse your senses in the rich Celtic heritage. Pro tip: Don’t miss the performance by headliners and area favorite Gaelic Storm! 10.) Yellow Springs Street Fair. A day full of hoopla and shenanigans filled with music, beer and street performers. 11.) Eat Dayton-famous food. Eat all Dayton made food for a day. Who doesn’t enjoy Mikesells potato chips, Esther Price Chocolates and Marions Piazza? 12.) Get your climb on at Urban Krag. When that adventurous spirit strikes, you know where to head.
The indoor rock climbing wall is designed to test your strength, provide a safe atmosphere and brings families together with a fun activity. Bonus: it’s great even when the sunny weather fails.
13.) Shop Local. Spend one full day shopping only local. Yes, you heard that right. And yes, you can do it. Looking for food? There are plenty of farmers markets and food trucks in the area. There are also plenty of unique local shops offering one-of-a-kind finds. 14.) Splash around at a
spray park. With more than 14 spray parks lining the Dayton area, there’s always a place to take the kiddos on a hot summer day. C’mon, who doesn’t love to splash in puddles? 15.) Shop at 3rd on Third. Check out some of the area’s hottest vendors at this outdoor market that runs from April through October. 16.) Check out some badass planes. The National Museum of the United States Air Force has some pretty badass planes that you’ll want to see with your own eyes. Grab the family for an all-day airplane extravaganza. 17.) Climb burial
mounds. One of the largest conical Native American burial mounds is located right here in Dayton. The Miamisburg Mound State Memorial is an exciting way to learn about the great Adena culture. 18.) Thrill-seeking festivals. The Ohio Challenge presents the Hot Air Balloon and Skydiving Festival in Middletown. This is one event a short drive away you won’t want to miss! 19.) RiverScape Inventor’s Walk. Admire Dayto-
nian inventions by strolling down the green-and-white towers at Patterson Boulevard Canal Parkway.
20.) Enjoy a Buckeye milkshake from Young’s Jersey Dairy. Enjoy the most delicious milkshake in the history of milkshakes while hanging out with farm animals. 21.) Try your hand (er,
foot) at footgolf. So WTH is footgolf, exactly? The ultimate summer sport that combines soccer and golf. Test your skills and grab some friends for the 18-hole challenge. Check it out at Rollandia Golf Center or Kittyhawk Golf Center, to name a few. 22.) Shop at 2nd Street
Market. Visit your local growers, bakers, artisans and culinary specialists at the one and only 2nd Street Market. If you’re lucky, you may even hear live music. 23.) Discover a new community with a festival. There’s no better time to explore some of the region’s charming communities than with a festival. This weekend, check out the Rock N Green Tomato Fest in Miamisburg, Poultry Days in Versailles or the Banana Split Festival in Wilmington. 24.) Try one of the area’s
hidden playgrounds. Step out of your comfort zone and visit parks and play structures you’ve never experienced. From the heart of the Oregon to the outer ‘burbs, you’re sure to find a new favorite place to hang with your littles. Hint: There’s a pretty spectacular slide hidden at Carillon Historical Park.
25.) Visit the Dayton International Peace Museum. Kids will fall in love with the Children’s Room that’s decked out with games and instruments. Not a kid? No worries. Stop by and tour
the exhibits, recline on cozy couches and curl up with a good book. 26.) See the Wright Brothers’ Bicycle Shop. Whether you’re visiting Dayton or a local Daytonian, you have to add the Wright Cycle Company Complex as a point of interest. 27.) Check out the Packard Museum. Dedicated to extravagant, gleaming masterpieces of transportation. 28.) Get on your bike and ride. Dayton has an abundance of bike trails for all ages and experience levels. 29.) Be a kid again at the
Boonshoft. No matter your age, the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is going to steal your heart. Check out animals up close, watch an array of laser shows, see yourself in a heat image camera and take part in presentations. 30.) Hit up all the MetroParks. With 19 MetroParks in the Dayton area, this could keep you pretty busy all summer. Pack a picnic and take a hike. 31.) Get your noms at local food trucks. Zombie Dogz, McNasty’s, Hunger Paynes, PA’s Pork,
The Drunken Waffle, C’est Cheese. These are just a few of the many, many Dayton food trucks you should get to know this summer.
32.) Catch some national acts at our local music centers. Enjoy outdoor summer concerts at the Fraze Pavilion or the Rose Music Center.
33.) Travel back in time at Sunwatch Indian Village. Step back in time to about 800 years ago and see how the Fort Ancient Indians lived. You’ll get to see reconstructed structures and villages, found artifacts and more. 34.) Drink margaritas! Grab your friends and refresh your thirst with Bad Juan Margaritas from Elsa’s. Or check out a new spot.
35.) Go camping. Spend a relaxing day getting back to basics with family and friends. Camp, fish and enjoy the great outdoors, even at one of our MetroParks. Don’t forget to make s’mores. 36.) Don’t miss the county fairs. Support your local county fair and immerse yourself in funnel cakes, livestock shows and the heat of the summer.
37.) Spend some time in
a local art gallery. Dayton’s art scene is vibrant and constantly moving. Take some time to see an exhibit at the Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Visual Arts Center or any other galleries in the area.
38.) Butterfly house: The butterfly house at Cox Arboretum is one of our favorite places. After you visit it, you’ll see why. 39.) Catch a Dayton Dragons game. America would not be America (and summer would not be summer) without its favorite pastime. Whether you’re a sports nut or not, there is plenty for everyone to enjoy at a Dragons game. Here’s a guide to making the most of it. Don’t forget to have your picture taken with Heater and Gem! 40.) Hit the Aviation
Trail. Whether you’re a Wright Brothers fanatic or a full-on aviation enthusiast, this is something you’ll want to check out. Make sure you check out the Parachute Museum! 41.) Enjoy a pint of local craft beer. Beer lovers, rejoice! Check out this guide to the area’s hottest breweries. 42.) Go get brunch. Indulge on a weekend with a fantastic meal and some boozy drinks (Bloody Mary, anyone?) at one of our fantastic local restaurants. A mustread: 9 of the best brunch spots in Dayton. 43.) Shop at local farmers
markets. Support your local growers and get the freshest food and products from one of the area’s top farmer markets. It’s winwin, really. 44.) Go old-time at the drive-in. Take the family to see a double feature at one of the area’s retro drive-in movie theaters.
45.) Go kayaking. Rent a kayak at Riverscape and paddle out to the fountains, or check out other great places to paddle (and what to know before you go). 46.) Take a bike tour of Dayton. Rent a bike from Link Dayton and tour the downtown Dayton area. 47.) Cool off with cool film. The Victoria Theatre Association’s summer film series at the historic theater is a bargain and a fun way to escape the outdoors. 48.) Take a mini road
trip. The possibilities are endless. Check out THE famous Yellow Spring, or head underground to the Ohio Caverns. Zipline at Camp Kern or see the Devil’s Bathtub at Hocking Hills. 49.) Visit the Little Art Theatre. Moviegoers of all ages can find something to love about this tiny, independently-owned and run theatre. A staple of the Yellow Springs community, it has just about every genre you can imagine, as well as special events. 50.) Spend a day in the
Oregon District. Whether you’re looking for a place to eat, shop or hang out with friends, the Oregon District is the place to go. Grab a cocktail from a locallyowned restaurant or enjoy a local craft beer at Toxic or Lucky’s. Look for vintage goods at Clash or Feathers, check out records at Omega Music or find a new hat at BRIM. Seriously, the list goes on.