Rebecca & Virgil’s guidebook
Sightseeing
Local history, unexpected museums, fun shopping, and great walking spots.
A fun and informative look at the history of Dayton and aviation. A snack spot and a brewpub/restaurant that features German fare.
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Carillon Historical Park
1000 Carillon BlvdA fun and informative look at the history of Dayton and aviation. A snack spot and a brewpub/restaurant that features German fare.
A relaxing place to walk. Lots and lots of trees and paths. Walk as little or as much as you like.
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Cox Arboretum MetroPark
6733 N Springboro PikeA relaxing place to walk. Lots and lots of trees and paths. Walk as little or as much as you like.
A fascinating art gallery. Nice selection of art glass, much Asian art, one of the Monet “Water Lillies” paintings in the Impressionism section. Well worth a visit.
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I-Dayton Art Institute
456 Belmonte Park NA fascinating art gallery. Nice selection of art glass, much Asian art, one of the Monet “Water Lillies” paintings in the Impressionism section. Well worth a visit.
A breath of fresh air in a small public garden. A little jewel in a beautiful residential neighborhood. A local secret for contemplation and gentle walking.
Smith Gardens
A breath of fresh air in a small public garden. A little jewel in a beautiful residential neighborhood. A local secret for contemplation and gentle walking.
Our favorite garden, especially in the spring when daffodils, magnolias, and bluebells are blooming. Moderate walking with some gentle, grassy hills. Quiet, refreshing.
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Aullwood Audubon
1000 Aullwood RdOur favorite garden, especially in the spring when daffodils, magnolias, and bluebells are blooming. Moderate walking with some gentle, grassy hills. Quiet, refreshing.
Bicycles through history! A surprisingly large assortment of bikes. Odd historic examples, cool bikes from our growing-up years, and unexpected modern examples. About 90 minutes north, but worth visiting.
The Bicycle Museum of America
7 W Monroe StBicycles through history! A surprisingly large assortment of bikes. Odd historic examples, cool bikes from our growing-up years, and unexpected modern examples. About 90 minutes north, but worth visiting.
Dayton has extensive bike trails. Virgil is an avid bike-rider. He has planned out many routes that use bike trails and residential streets. He gladly rides with our guests! Bring your bike or rent one from a nearby bike store.
The closest trail to our house is the Iron Horse trail.
The MetroParks are also great for hiking, picnicking, and overall relaxation.
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Five Rivers MetroParks
409 E Monument AveDayton has extensive bike trails. Virgil is an avid bike-rider. He has planned out many routes that use bike trails and residential streets. He gladly rides with our guests! Bring your bike or rent one from a nearby bike store.
The closest trail to our house is the Iron Horse trail.
The MetroParks are also great for hiking, picnicking, and overall relaxation.
A fascinating look at some of the most stylish and distinctive cars ever made!
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America's Packard Museum - The Citizens Motorcar Co.
420 S Ludlow StA fascinating look at some of the most stylish and distinctive cars ever made!
Food scene
A sampling of our favorite eateries. All are within 15 minutes, unless noted otherwise.
Upscale but casual dining with a full bar. Delicious and interesting food. Lots of things you’ll recognize, but always with a twist. Great for meat-eaters, fish-eaters, and vegetarians. Only a mile from our house. Call-ahead or reservations are recommended. Our favorite restaurant.
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Meadowlark Restaurant
5531 Far Hills AveUpscale but casual dining with a full bar. Delicious and interesting food. Lots of things you’ll recognize, but always with a twist. Great for meat-eaters, fish-eaters, and vegetarians. Only a mile from our house. Call-ahead or reservations are recommended. Our favorite restaurant.
The two-block area that’s the home of many boutique restaurants, galleries, and some quirky shopping. Well worth a visit. Fave eating spots: The Corner Kitchen, Thai 9, Wheat Penny.
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Oregon Historic District
504 East 5th StreetThe two-block area that’s the home of many boutique restaurants, galleries, and some quirky shopping. Well worth a visit. Fave eating spots: The Corner Kitchen, Thai 9, Wheat Penny.
Food for just about anyone. Marvelous prepared foods bar, sushi, soups, sandwiches, huge salad bar, bakery. Great for meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. The Centerville location is just 2 or 3 miles from our home.
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Dorothy Lane Market
2710 Far Hills AveFood for just about anyone. Marvelous prepared foods bar, sushi, soups, sandwiches, huge salad bar, bakery. Great for meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. The Centerville location is just 2 or 3 miles from our home.
A magical little village about 35 minutes away that still seems to live in the 1970s. Fun and quirky little boutiques, many of which feature local wares—see Bonadies Glass Studio and Yellow Springs Pottery, for starters. Unique and delicious restaurants. Favorites are The Winds, Ye Old Trail Tavern, and Sunrise Cafe. A variety of woodsy walking and hiking spots (Glen Helen and John Bryan State Park). Home of Antioch College. Also nearby: Clifton Gorge and the Clifton Mill. All well worth seeing!
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Yellow Springs
A magical little village about 35 minutes away that still seems to live in the 1970s. Fun and quirky little boutiques, many of which feature local wares—see Bonadies Glass Studio and Yellow Springs Pottery, for starters. Unique and delicious restaurants. Favorites are The Winds, Ye Old Trail Tavern, and Sunrise Cafe. A variety of woodsy walking and hiking spots (Glen Helen and John Bryan State Park). Home of Antioch College. Also nearby: Clifton Gorge and the Clifton Mill. All well worth seeing!
One of our favorites. Great for meat-eaters, fish-eaters, and vegetarians. Chef-prepared food but affordable and casual. Rebecca loves the chicken rice soup!
Christopher's Restaurant & Catering
4211 E Dorothy LnOne of our favorites. Great for meat-eaters, fish-eaters, and vegetarians. Chef-prepared food but affordable and casual. Rebecca loves the chicken rice soup!
One of many brew pubs in the Dayton area. This one is just a few miles from our house. Unlike some of the other popular brew pubs in the area, this one serves delicious food.
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Eudora Brewing Company
3022 Wilmington PikeOne of many brew pubs in the Dayton area. This one is just a few miles from our house. Unlike some of the other popular brew pubs in the area, this one serves delicious food.
Think of it as “Greater Ice Cream,” because it is! Excellent ice cream treats. Three locations in the Dayton area.
Graeter's Ice Cream
2412 Far Hills AveThink of it as “Greater Ice Cream,” because it is! Excellent ice cream treats. Three locations in the Dayton area.
Authentic homemade Italian food, just 10 minutes from our home. A real local favorite. And there’s DiSalvo’s Deli a couple of doors away—great for sandwiches. For the restaurant, reservations are best.
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Mamma DiSalvo's
1375 E Stroop RdAuthentic homemade Italian food, just 10 minutes from our home. A real local favorite. And there’s DiSalvo’s Deli a couple of doors away—great for sandwiches. For the restaurant, reservations are best.
A place for locals. It looks upscale from the outside, but the inside is very casual. Food is great. Full bar, some homemade desserts. Still run by the family that founded it 40 years ago. About 5 minutes from our house.
Geez Grill & Pub
6061 Far Hills AvenueA place for locals. It looks upscale from the outside, but the inside is very casual. Food is great. Full bar, some homemade desserts. Still run by the family that founded it 40 years ago. About 5 minutes from our house.
A long-time local favorite. Our favorite breakfast place. Standard breakfast fare with excellent pancakes and potato pancakes. About 10-15 minutes from our house. They don’t take reservations, and weekend mornings get very busy. Be prepared to wait. Worth it!
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Golden Nugget Pancake House
2932 S Dixie DrA long-time local favorite. Our favorite breakfast place. Standard breakfast fare with excellent pancakes and potato pancakes. About 10-15 minutes from our house. They don’t take reservations, and weekend mornings get very busy. Be prepared to wait. Worth it!
A bit of a drive (maybe 40 minutes), but a marvelous historic inn with great food and ambiance. Well worth trying.
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The Golden Lamb
27 S Broadway StA bit of a drive (maybe 40 minutes), but a marvelous historic inn with great food and ambiance. Well worth trying.
A real neighborhood dive that looks the part but serves outstanding food. Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Gets very crowded for weekend breakfasts.
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Tank's Bar and Grill
2033 Wayne AveA real neighborhood dive that looks the part but serves outstanding food. Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Gets very crowded for weekend breakfasts.
Chiapas Mexican Grill
298 N Main StOur favorite Mexican restaurant.
A delicious array of Hispanic tapas, salads, entrees, sandwiches, and desserts. Many of the entrees may have familiar names, but we always find something unexpected in the way they’re made. About 15 minutes from us. One of our favorites.
El Meson
903 East Dixie DriveA delicious array of Hispanic tapas, salads, entrees, sandwiches, and desserts. Many of the entrees may have familiar names, but we always find something unexpected in the way they’re made. About 15 minutes from us. One of our favorites.
Colleges Nearby
Dayton is home to several colleges and universities.
Lots of our guests come here to visit UD—alumni, parents of students, those who are visiting universities, and people attending events.
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University of Dayton
300 College ParkLots of our guests come here to visit UD—alumni, parents of students, those who are visiting universities, and people attending events.
A vibrant and well-ranked two-year college with groundbreaking technology programs. About 20 minutes from our home.
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Sinclair Community College
444 W Third StA vibrant and well-ranked two-year college with groundbreaking technology programs. About 20 minutes from our home.
A large university about 30 minutes from our home. Visited by parents of students, visiting faculty, families checking out universities. Excellent theatrical offerings. Rebecca is an alumna.
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Wright State University
3640 Colonel Glenn HwyA large university about 30 minutes from our home. Visited by parents of students, visiting faculty, families checking out universities. Excellent theatrical offerings. Rebecca is an alumna.
Antioch is a small private liberal arts college, founded in 1850. It’s in historic and quirky Yellow Springs, about 40 minutes from our home. Parents of Antioch students have stayed with us quite a few times.
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Antioch College
1 Morgan PlAntioch is a small private liberal arts college, founded in 1850. It’s in historic and quirky Yellow Springs, about 40 minutes from our home. Parents of Antioch students have stayed with us quite a few times.
Hospitals Nearby
Just 10 minutes from us, a comprehensive medical center. An easy drive for medical staff and those visiting patients.
Kettering Medical Center
3535 Southern BlvdJust 10 minutes from us, a comprehensive medical center. An easy drive for medical staff and those visiting patients.
About 15 minutes from us, Dayton’s largest hospital, which is a trauma 1 center. An easy drive for medical staff and those visiting patients. Miami Valley also has a satellite location that’s about 15 minutes east of us.
Miami Valley Hospital
1 Wyoming StAbout 15 minutes from us, Dayton’s largest hospital, which is a trauma 1 center. An easy drive for medical staff and those visiting patients. Miami Valley also has a satellite location that’s about 15 minutes east of us.
Neighborhoods
Yellow Springs is a magical little village about 35 minutes away that still seems to live in the 1970s. Fun and quirky little boutiques, many of which feature local wares—see Bonadies Glass Studio and Yellow Springs Pottery, for starters. Unique and delicious restaurants. Favorites are The Winds, Ye Old Trail Tavern, and Sunrise Cafe. A variety of woodsy walking and hiking spots (Glen Helen and John Bryan State Park). Home of Antioch College. Also nearby: Clifton Gorge and the Clifton Mill. All well worth seeing!
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Yellow Springs
Yellow Springs is a magical little village about 35 minutes away that still seems to live in the 1970s. Fun and quirky little boutiques, many of which feature local wares—see Bonadies Glass Studio and Yellow Springs Pottery, for starters. Unique and delicious restaurants. Favorites are The Winds, Ye Old Trail Tavern, and Sunrise Cafe. A variety of woodsy walking and hiking spots (Glen Helen and John Bryan State Park). Home of Antioch College. Also nearby: Clifton Gorge and the Clifton Mill. All well worth seeing!
The Oregon District is a two-block area that’s the home of many boutique restaurants, galleries, and some quirky shopping. Well worth a visit. Fave eating spots: The Corner Kitchen, Thai 9, Wheat Penny. Want to sound like a local? Call it the “Or-uh-gone” District. Not “Or-uh-gun,” like the state!
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Oregon
The Oregon District is a two-block area that’s the home of many boutique restaurants, galleries, and some quirky shopping. Well worth a visit. Fave eating spots: The Corner Kitchen, Thai 9, Wheat Penny. Want to sound like a local? Call it the “Or-uh-gone” District. Not “Or-uh-gun,” like the state!
Brew Pubs
Dayton has lots of brew pubs. Some include food; some don’t. We’re not big patrons of brew pubs, but here are three you might be interested in.
Dayton is famous for having quite a few popular brew pubs. We aren’t drinkers, so we can’t give our personal recommendation,. But we’ve had quite a few guests who have loved this place. If you enjoy it, please let us know.
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Warped Wing Brewing Company
26 Wyandot StDayton is famous for having quite a few popular brew pubs. We aren’t drinkers, so we can’t give our personal recommendation,. But we’ve had quite a few guests who have loved this place. If you enjoy it, please let us know.
One of many brew pubs in the Dayton area. This one is just a few miles from our house. Unlike some of the other popular brew pubs in the area, this one serves delicious food. Virgil has tried some of their beers and says they’re great.
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Eudora Brewing Company
3022 Wilmington PikeOne of many brew pubs in the Dayton area. This one is just a few miles from our house. Unlike some of the other popular brew pubs in the area, this one serves delicious food. Virgil has tried some of their beers and says they’re great.
Not our favorite, but many of our guests have enjoyed it. Virgil says the beer is okay. The food is mostly German, which could be just what you’re looking for. The atmosphere is fun—with all the staff in historical costumes. If you go, take a sweater. It tends to be chilly inside.
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Carillon Brewing Company
1000 Carillon BlvdNot our favorite, but many of our guests have enjoyed it. Virgil says the beer is okay. The food is mostly German, which could be just what you’re looking for. The atmosphere is fun—with all the staff in historical costumes. If you go, take a sweater. It tends to be chilly inside.