As the birthplace of aviation, Dayton has enough museums and attractions to satisfy everyone from hardcore history buffs to casual tourists looking to learn a bit more about the city’s role in U.S. history. Plenty of the hotels in town are reasonably priced, with more upscale options located farther away near Miamisburg or Fairborn.
Best Spots For Fine Dining
- The steakhouse to try in Dayton, Oakwood Club offers 11 different beef and chop entrees -- which each come with a salad and two sides -- sure to leave diners feeling satisfied. Established since 1962, the restaurant also serves seafood flown in fresh daily from across the country.
- Meadowlark, a chef-owned restaurant, uses fresh ingredients with aplomb -- a standout is the juicy ‘Lark Burger, seasoned with red wine, coarse salt and rosemary on a buttered, toasted kaiser roll with white cheddar.
Must-See Museums
- Carve out a few hours for the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, a vast space dedicated to displaying historic and modern aircrafts. The collection is remarkably comprehensive, from a flying saucer to Stealth fighters to a massive C-17 and C-130, and more.
- To discover Dayton’s history as an industrial powerhouse in the 1800s and early 1900s, visit the Carillon Historical Park. A well-preserved 65-acre campus, the park is built more like a historic village, with numerous displays of Dayton inventions, including train cars, a carousel and an original Wright brothers plane.