So Much To Do…

Plan a day in Your Downtown

Wondering what to see first or which activities work well together for a day-long excursion? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together several suggested itineraries for activities related to sports, arts & culture, everyday sights & sounds, and even seasonal festivities.

Ready to get started?

Sports & Recreation
1. Plan on spending a beautiful day outside at RiverScape where you can take an easy stroll along the water, look at the unusual flora, or watch the kids run through the interactive fountain. RiverScape is the hot spot for cultural festivals and events such as RiverBlast!, the Cityfolk Festival, and the City of Dayton’s Independence Day fireworks display.

2. Catch a Dayton Dragons baseball game at Fifth Third Field, rated as one of the “Ten Hottest Tickets” in all of sports in 2007 by Sports Illustrated CNN.com. Grab your buddies for some pre-game action at Brixx Ice Co. across the street where the drinks are always tall and cold.

3. Plan a day with the kids in the city! Pack a picnic and have lunch at Dave Hall Plaza, an oasis of grass and tall trees. (During the summer, be sure to check for music festivals happening in the greenspace!) Next, round up the kids and head over to K12 Gallery for Young People, where they’ll have an absolute blast being surrounded by colorful artwork created by their classmates. Wind up the day by taking them to RiverScape for river rentals, where you can paddleboat or hydro-bike in the Great Miami River.

Arts & Culture
1. Surprise your date by taking her to the Dayton Art Institute, where you’ll never run out of things to see and talk about. With exhibits ranging from African art to Renaissance oil paintings, you’ll barely be able to see it all in one day! Top it off with dinner at Stars Restaurant on the top floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, and she’ll always win the “dream date story” competition with her girlfriends, guaranteed.

2. Are you a museum buff? One of Dayton’s best hidden treasures is America’s Packard Museum, located on Ludlow Street. It was rated as one of the top 10 auto museums in the country by Auto Magazine, so pay a visit with your fellow automobile connoisseurs. Then head over to another unique museum: the Dayton International Peace Museum. It features unique exhibits that showcase local, national, and international peace efforts.

3. Plan a day for the arts! Check out artwork done by local artists at the Dayton Visual Arts Center, then head down the street to the world-class Schuster Performing Arts Center for first-rate opera, ballet, Broadway, and orchestra performances. For a more intimate experience try a performance at the Victoria Theatre or the Loft Theatre, both just across the street.

Everyday Sights & Sounds
1. Whether you want a classy place to sip wine or are shopping for vintage clothes, the Oregon Arts District is a stand-alone entertainment hub. Spend the day strolling along the brick streets filled with tall oaks and historic homes, then head to a restaurant for dinner and live jazz. End (or should we say begin?) the night by bar-hopping along the strip until you drop.

2. Spend your day exploring unique local treasures. Get lunch and experience the European-style environment at the PNC 2nd Street Market, where you can browse among 40 different vendors selling everything from fresh-cut flowers to fine Italian food. Then settle in with a coffee or beer for a film at The Neon, Dayton’s only independent movie theater.

3. During the workweek, Courthouse Square is the perfect place to enjoy lunch. Whether you pack a lunch, grab some food from the vendors in the Square, or get carry-out from a downtown restaurant, Courthouse Square offers a refreshing burst of energy to your day! It features live music during the week in the summer months and has a beautiful 70-foot fountain.

4. Spend an evening listening to talented local musicians. Put on something elegant and head to Gregory’s Piano Bar for a martini and a melody from local pianists or party at The 88 Club with the area's best jazz and R&B musicians. Looking for more of a jam session in a vintage club? Head down to Gilly's where greats like Louis Armstrong once played and the music rolls into the wee hours.

5. Looking for new ways to expand your knowledge? Lose yourself in a good book and relaxing atmosphere at the Dayton Metro Library, or check out what’s happening at Sinclair Community College. The downtown campus offers classes and workshops for all ages and levels, and there’s no better time than now!

Seasonal Festivities
1. Think you can keep up with the Irish this St. Patty’s Day? Raise your pint of Guinness at the Dublin Pub, where St. Patty’s Day lasts all weekend. The parking lot turns into an extension of the bar, and the pub hires professional Irish dancers and musicians to entertain throughout the day.

2. This October, don your most outlandish costume and watch (or participate in) the outrageous Ghost and Goblin run through at RiverScape. Then hit up the Oregon Arts District’s legendary Hauntfest, where Fifth Street shuts down to host an all-night party. You’ve never seen this side of Dayton before! Or celebrate your German heritage at the Dayton Art Institute's annual Oktoberfest.

3. Dreaming of a winter wonderland? Bundle up with your sweetheart or family and go ice skating at RiverScape, see the brilliant 45-foot lighted tree in Courthouse Square, stop to see the elaborate holiday arrangement through the Schuster Center’s “Wonderland Windows,” and dash across the street into Kettering Tower, where a huge train set fills an entire floor. The holiday spirit is here!