Introduction to Dayton
Dayton, Ohio is known as the birthplace of aviation because it was once home to Wilbur and Orville Wright, the inventors of powered flight. Dayton is also the home of research, industrial and aerospace businesses that have resulted in a number of technical innovations over the years. Dayton is known as the Gem City, and its surrounding metropolitan area includes communities like Vandalia, Trotwood, Kettering, Centerville and Beavercreek. It is located just north of Cincinnati in the Miami Valley. The city has much to offer, including sports facilities, shopping, restaurants, spacious parks, a busy downtown district, a thriving arts community and many historical sites.
Dayton Culture
Dayton has many cultural offerings that include all types of art and performance such as music, dance, theater and visual arts. Organizations such as the Dayton Ballet and the Dayton Art Institute have helped Dayton gain a reputation as a destination for entertainment and culture. Dayton’s art centers and museums include the Benjamin and Marina Schuster Performing Arts Center, the Dayton Art Institute and the Dayton Cultural Center. Brookville Community Theatre presents many different types of performances such as comedies and musicals. An organization called CITYFOLK presents a range of ethnic and traditional musical and dance performances. Culture Works, a cultural development organization, supports the arts in Dayton through community funding.
Dayton Sports and Leisure
The University of Dayton Arena is the place to see the University of Dayton Flyers basketball teams play. The Hara Arena and the Nutter Center both feature many different types of sporting events. The Nutter Center hosts Wright State University athletics as well as the Dayton Bombers ECHL hockey team. The Dayton Dragons, a minor league baseball team, can be see playing at Fifth Third Field. Dayton also is home to the Dayton Fangs, an amateur women’s ice hockey team. The newest addition to Dayton’s sporting activities is the Gem City Rollergirls, a women’s roller derby league.
Dayton Outdoors
The outdoors are a big part of life in and around Dayton. MetroPark offers an outdoor adventure program called Five Rivers Outdoors, which features canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, rock climbing, fly fishing, cycling and more. There are many exciting outdoor destinations near the city of Dayton. Many programs offer safe, careful, and fun instruction in a variety of outdoor activities. The Dayton area has great rivers, cycling trails, hiking paths and fishing spots to explore year round.
Dayton at Night
Nightlife in Dayton is exciting and varied. There are many options for places to explore for nighttime fun and socializing. The Ballet Barre is a club for young professionals who like to dance and have fun. Many local jazz artists perform in the downtown area. Blue Moon Bistro has 3-course dinners to enjoy by candlelight. If three bars, a large dance floor, amazing light shows, a booming sound system and an upstairs lounge is what you're looking for, try Hammerjax downtown. Murray’s Place has karaoke twice a week, and the Vue Ultra Lounge has 11 plasma screen TVs and a private "women’s only" bar.
